Meet Our Cleveland Dog Trainers

Mike Homan

Owner / Head Trainer

Mike’s journey with Sit Means Sit began as a customer after encountering Paul Pollock and his trainers at the RV Show at the IX center. At first, Mike was skeptical they could help his two challenging dogs: Dozer, a rescued Basset mix who showed aggression toward strangers, and Penny, an extremely energetic chocolate Lab puppy. After witnessing a remarkable demonstration where a trainer successfully worked with Dozer, Mike was convinced to give the training program a try.

Through Sit Means Sit’s training methods, both dogs underwent incredible transformations. Dozer overcame his fear-based aggression and developed the confidence to share his affectionate nature with others, while Penny learned valuable self-control and off-leash obedience. The success was so profound that Penny even accompanied Mike to his nursing job, bringing joy to patients.

Inspired by these results, Mike joined Paul’s team as a trainer and eventually pursued franchise ownership, completing his certification at the Sit Means Sit Dog Training and Business Franchise Ownership school in Las Vegas, NV. Today, his personal experience with the program’s effectiveness drives his passion for helping other pet owners achieve their dreams of having well-behaved, confident canine companions.

Leslie Richards

Director of Operations

Leslie has been a devoted animal lover since childhood, choosing stuffed animals over dolls and spending countless hours playing with neighborhood dogs while growing up in West Virginia. Her lifelong passion for animals manifested in a home filled with various pets, from dogs and cats to more exotic companions like raccoons and turtles.

Danielle Howard

Trainer

Danielle’s deep connection with animals was cultivated in the small village of Wellington, Ohio, where she grew up on a diverse farm raising horses, sheep and alpacas. Her childhood experiences showing Jersey cattle in 4-H, helping with her parents’ Boxer breeding program and caring for an array of unique pets from conures to wallabies laid the foundation for her future in animal training. The values of discipline and responsibility she learned on her grandparents’ farm continue to shape her approach to dog training today.

Five years after working as a kennel technician at Sit Means Sit and becoming a mother, Danielle pursued her dream of becoming a trainer.

She’s especially passionate about pit bulls. This began in high school when she purchased Sitka, her first blue and white piebald American Pit Bull Terrier, with her first paycheck. Since then, Danielle has admired bully breed’s eagerness to please and loyalty to families. Her current companion Kahlúa, a five-year-old American Bully (pictured above), has shown her firsthand how proper training can transform a dog’s life.