Experienced, Force-free, Positive Reinforcement-based Trainers
Looking for the most experienced, skilled, effective dog trainers in San Diego and Long Beach? Please scroll down to learn more about us, and our effective, force-free approach to dog training and behavior modification.
Our services include: in-home dog obedience training, manners training, and behavior modification for a wide range of concerns (e.g. excessive fear/timidity, separation anxiety, house training, puppy nipping, on-leash aggression, aggression in the home with pets and/or people, trouble with focus/distractions, new pet introductions, leash walking, preparation for a new baby, destructive chewing, and much more! Our goal is to help you have the confident, happy, well-behaved dog of your dreams!
Wonder Dog trainers serve: Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Mira Mesa, 4S Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Valley Center, Rancho Penasquitos, Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Del Mar, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, Hemet, and Canyon Lake.
Jennifer LaBar
Jen knows from first-hand experience that even the most challenging canine behaviors can be overcome with the right approach.
She founded Wonder Dog Training in 2001 with a 3-part mission: to reduce conflict within the family “pack,” to work with the family to resolve difficult behavior concerns, and to help dog parents better understand their canine friends.
Jen’s education includes a B.A. in Biology (with an emphasis in Animal Behavior and Learning Theory) from San Diego State University, a Masters Degree from National University, certification as a Pet Nutrition and Dietary Specialist, Veterinary Assistant Certification, and Honors Certification in Dog Obedience Training from Animal Behavior College.
In addition to training canines, Jen has also had the privilege to work with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (training dolphins and sea lions), the SLEWTHS project (training horses and sea lions), and Rare and Wild Animal Productions (training and caring for North American exotics).
Jen believes that good trainers invest in their professional development. To that end, she is a member of APDT, and several other professional organizations for trainers. She is also certified as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
Jen’s training methods are kind, dog-friendly, practical, fun, and easy-to-implement! Each training plan is specifically customized to the individual needs of the dog. Jen approaches training and behavior modification from a holistic perspective, and considers such factors as diet, nutritional needs, environment, health, temperament, age, drives, and exercise, in order to create an optimally effective training plan.
In addition to obedience training, she also works with serious behavioral challenges, (including separation anxiety, hyperactivity, fear issues, aggression, house soiling, excessive barking, destructiveness, puppy concerns, and difficult/stressful relationships with other family members).
Jen is recommended by multiple North County Veterinarians, Groomers, and Doggy Day Cares. She has also had the opportunity to work directly with several local Veterinarians to resolve their dog’s behavioral concerns.
Jen brings a genuine enthusiasm and sincere love of dogs to the training process. She believes that each and every dog is unique and special in its own way, and endeavors to bring out the best in each dog.
Rachelle Heyveld
Rachelle has over 25 years experience as a professional animal trainer and behavioral consultant. She earned an Associates of Science degree in animal training from Moorpark College’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Program.
She is a seasoned professional who draws from a wealth of experience. During her career she has worked with a variety of exotics (wolves, cheetahs, sea lions, birds, and porcupines), and domestic animals in places like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. She has worked in the movie/TV industry, wildlife education, service dog training, as well as LA City shelters.
Rachelle offers training and behavioral consulting for a variety of challenging concerns. She continues to expand her knowledge and has her CPDT-KA and Family Dog Mediator certifications as well as being a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
Rachelle loves working with people as well as with their dogs. She believes that training should be enjoyable for the dog and family, and to that end, she uses positive, dog-friendly training techniques. Rachelle knows how important it is to create a bond between dog and owner based on good communication, understanding, trust and mutual respect.
Areas served: Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Rancho Bernardo, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Temecula, and Murrieta
Kim Feinberg
Kim is a graduate of Animal Behavior College and certified dog trainer. Since graduating from Animal Behavior College (ABC), she’s been putting her knowledge of positive reinforcement training methods to work teaching dogs and their owners how to build a relationship based on trust and mutual respect.
Kim is committed to helping dogs find and stay in their forever home. To that end, she’s spent many hours volunteering with the San Diego Humane Society and Helen Woodward Animal Society, where she helps bring out the best in each dog by teaching them focus/control, leash walking skills, basic obedience, and manners.
Kim also has extensive knowledge and experience working with adults and young adults with special needs, and is skilled at teaching basic dog training skills to people with mental and physical disabilities.
Kim’s primary area of focus is private in-home training. She teaches manners and obedience, and specializes in the resolution of challenging behaviors, including: reactivity, fear/anxiety, jumping, barking, destructive chewing, leash walking, puppy training, and more.
Her training plans consider the needs of both the dog and the family, and she works tirelessly to ensure that no family feels the need to give up their dog due to problem behaviors.
Kim’s education, training expertise, patience, and attention to detail make her an outstanding dog trainer and behavior consultant, and she is dedicated to making training a positive and productive experience for you and your dog.
Areas served: Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Poway, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain, Black Mountain Ranch, and Rancho Penasquitos
Carla Lewis
After receiving her dog training certificate from Animal Behavior College in 2008, Carla relocated to the SD area to begin her dog training career as a puppy trainer for a local breeder. Her job entailed structured training of puppies that started at eight weeks of age to be fully trained when they went to their new families. Their definition of a fully trained puppy was one that was trained to sit, stay, lie down, eliminate on command, love their crate or bed, walk on a leash nicely, and “leave it.”
She gained satisfaction from knowing that the puppies were getting a jump start on their training and manners for life with their new families.
Carla then utilized her acquired skills and knowledge to develop a puppy socialization class for young puppies, ages 10-20 weeks of age. The focus of this class was to provide a safe and positive way for people to socialize their puppies to people and dogs so they are not wary of strangers or children, be gentle with their mouths as not inflict serious injury to animals and people as the jaws get stronger and live in their human home without doing damage to their belongings and help them prevent separation anxiety.
Carla believes in nurturing the human-dog bond through positive reinforcement and motivation-based training. Over the past 10 years, she’s had the opportunity to work with dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. She understands that every dog is unique, and that what works for one dog doesn’t always work for another.
Carla carefully assesses each dog’s temperament and motivational drives (play, food, chase, praise, affection, etc.), and creates a customized training program that engages the dog’s focus and natural abilities. By customizing the training to the dog, she finds that dogs enjoy the training process more, acquire new skills quickly, and are able to retain learning from one session to the next.
Carla also understands that it’s equally important and necessary to instruct the humans so that they know how to create and maintain desirable behavior in their dogs. She teaches her human students how to read their dog’s body language, and how to communicate with their dogs effectively. She also provides them with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills so that they can live together in harmony.
Carla is an effective dog trainer who brings patience, a calm demeanor, and gentleness to all the dogs and people she meets. She teaches private lessons, puppy socialization class, and board and train.
Areas served: San Diego and SW Riverside
Colean Reed
Colean had a successful career in sales, but realized that as successful as she was, she wasn’t thrilled with life in the corporate world. And that’s when she started offering dog walks! Dog walks gave her a break from the computer, allowed her to get some exercise, spend time with dogs, and make a little extra cash.
Before she knew it, one dog turned into two, and two dogs became three, and before long, she had a thriving business! Clients kept coming back again and again, and referring her to their friends and family. Soon after, she also started offering pet sitting (in the pet’s home), dog boarding, and doggy daycare in her home.
Now Colean takes calls for Wonder Dog Training, and provides boarding and daycare for Wonder Dog clients. Her home and yard are specifically designed for the comfort and safety of the dogs in her care.
Play sessions and interactions between dogs are supervised, and offer a safe way for puppies to socialize and learn proper play manners. Daycare and boarding also provide an opportunity for friendly, older dogs that weren’t socialized as pups, to enjoy the company of other dogs.
Clients have the added benefit of knowing that Colean and our trainers are in regular contact regarding each dog’s history, training, and behavior, to discuss challenges and training objectives. Having this knowledge allows Colean to provide helpful insight and feedback to the trainer.
Colean has created a safe, welcoming home and yard, for your furry friend. She provides videos and photos throughout the day, so that you can see how much fun your dog is having and how much love and attention it’s receiving.
Colean believes that all dogs are special in their own way, and she looks forward to meeting yours!
Areas served: Escondido and San Marcos
Catherine Intoci
Cat grew up in rural Massachusetts which inspired her love of nature and animals. She moved to Long Island where she lived for many years before moving to Carlsbad, California. She has a BS degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Library Science.
After adopting her first rescue dog, her library background was helpful in researching different breeds and training techniques which sparked her interest in educating others about positive reinforcement training. In conjunction with the San Diego Department of Animal Control, she organized dog bite prevention presentations and raised awareness in children at the library about homeless pets at the shelter.
Cat was a long time volunteer with the San Diego County shelter in Carlsbad where she provided kennel enrichment and lots of loving attention to the dogs and participated with the Pit Crew in taking the dogs on walks and outings around Carlsbad which resulted in several adoptions. She is a firm believer that positive reinforcement training is crucial in helping homeless pets find their forever homes!
Cat volunteered in rescue for over 10 years where she has fostered and found loving homes for 69 dogs. She has had many different breeds and all sizes of dogs sharing her home over the last 12 years. One of her favorite fosters was a 9 month old pit bull from the county shelter who was not doing well in a kennel situation. Cat went in every day to socialize and play with Chandra (now Pita) and ended up fostering and training her. Chandra was eventually adopted by a Veterinarian and his wife; her story is featured in Dog World Magazine, Jan. 2012 issue.
As an Animal Care Technician at Helen Woodward Animal Center, and most recently as a trainer for the San Diego Humane Society, Cat has had the pleasure of working with many dogs as well as cats with socialization needs. She has done board and training in her home for several years as well as private training in client’s homes.
Cat is an honor student graduate of Animal Behavior College, a Graduate with Distinction from Karen Pryor Academy, and a member of PPG (Pet Professional Guild, She continues to work with shelter dogs as well as dogs in private homes and is passionate about helping all animals in any way she can. She continues to research and learn all she can so that people and their pets have happy, healthy, loving homes together!
Areas served: Carlsbad, Vista, Bonsall, San Marcos, Oceanside, Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff, and Del Mar
Melissa Beeson
Melissa has over ten years’ experience training both domestic and exotic animals. Growing up she has always had a passion and love of animals and knew she wanted to dedicate her life to helping animals.
Melissa started on her career path while studying and interning at Hollywood Animals. While there, she began her study of animals, their behaviors, and what it takes to train large carnivores for TV and movie appearances using positive training methods.
Working in close contact with large carnivores like tigers and bears helped her to rely on her skill of reading the animals body language to stay safe and calm while working with some potentially dangerous animals.
Melissa moved to San Diego and began working at Helen Woodward Animal Center. As the lead education guide, she was able to share her passion for animals with kids of all ages. Melissa’s favorite thing about working at Helen Woodward was using her knowledge of dog body language to help adults and children to conquer their fear of dogs by understanding dog body language and communication styles.
After working at Helen Woodward, Melissa started working at the Safari Park giving tours of the park and its behind-the-scene animal areas. While at the Safari Park, she’s also clicker-trained animals, such as New Guinea singing dogs, red river hogs, and prairie dogs, for stage presentations and tours. Melissa loved working and training the animals at the Safari Park because each animal had their own learning style, behaviors, and personality that could only be exposed by gaining their trust. Melissa uses that same principal with every dog with which she works.
In her spare time Melissa volunteers at Judith A. Bassett Canid Education and Conservation center, where she is the lead trainer for the foxes and New Guinea Singing Dogs. While training at JABCECC, she has learned that every animal is a unique individual, and that training sometimes needs to be carefully tweaked to best meet the needs of the animal.
Melissa believes that training should be enjoyable for the trainer and for the dog. Chances are if you’re not enjoying training, your dog isn’t either. She uses positive methods that engender trust, improve communication, and make the training process enjoyable for all. Her goal is to help you better understand your canine friend, and to create a healthy, respectful relationship.
Her training philosophy is twofold: to produce desired training results, and to enhance the bond between owner and dog in the process. Melissa loves dogs because they are curious, sensitive, and have a high level of emotional intelligence. As she often says: “they remind me to laugh, not to take myself so seriously, and to cherish each moment.”
Areas served: Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Rancho Bernardo, Bonsall
Liz Hurley
Liz is a transplant from New York City where she worked with wild animals as a zookeeper for over 7 years. She has trained marine mammals, birds, primates, bears, red pandas, snow leopards and more! She currently still works with wild animals here in San Diego and extends her love of training to dogs and their human families. She has previously managed a doggie daycare and is passionate about helping dogs live their happiest lives.
Liz has a B.A in Biology and frequently takes animal training workshops, classes, and courses to stay up to date with science based positive reinforcement training methods. She believes training should always be positive, force free, and fun for both dogs and humans!
She uses her background of training zookeepers to teach dog parents how to use positive reinforcement methods to help their dogs succeed. Her goal is to strengthen relationships between dogs and their families. She enjoys connecting with people to help them better understand their dog’s behavior.
Liz brings compassion, patience, and enthusiasm to all of her training sessions. She has aimed to make the world a kinder place for wild animals and is excited to do the same for dogs!
Area served: San Diego County
Dennis Roberts
Dennis is an accomplished trainer whose focus is on teaching you and your dog all the skills needed to create peace and harmony within the family pack.
After 4 years in the Navy, Dennis decided to pursue (his passion/his dream career) as a dog trainer. He started by volunteering his time at Rancho Coastal Humane Society, where he was able to work with and care for a wide variety of dogs with different needs. He then went on to complete Petco’s instructor training program. Since then Dennis has been training dogs on a full-time basis, and has never looked back.
Dennis is a well-rounded trainer who enjoys a good challenge. His areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: problem barking, destructive chewing, boundary training, leash walking, and all things related to puppyhood, including house training, potty training, play nipping, socialization, and manners.
Dennis believes that good communication between you and your dog is foundational to the health of your relationship. Understanding your dog’s likes, dislikes, fears, needs, and motivations, and being able to accurately interpret your dog’s body language, facial expressions, and vocalizations is fundamental to building a solid relationship. Likewise, it’s important for dog parents to be able to clearly communicate with their dog to avoid problems and misunderstandings.
Dennis uses gentle, effective, positive reinforcement-based methods, tools, and techniques to train and shape behavior. There are no prong collars, choke chains, or shock collars involved. He strongly encourages the whole household to participate in the training since training is just as much for the humans as it is for the dogs. It’s important that everybody is on the same page, and that there is consistency with respect to dog-human interactions.
Nothing brings Dennis more satisfaction than when a new dog parent thinks that their dog is untrainable, but quickly learns that their dog is both trainable, and a fast learner!
Dennis knows that by training the dog, and giving dog parents the knowledge and confidence they need to bring about positive change, with time and patience, even the most challenging behaviors can be overcome.
Area served: San Diego County
Jonathan David Lopez
Jonathan is here to help you gain a better understanding about your dog. He will get to the root of all the questions you have and maybe help our dogs understand us better too, because a relationship is a two-way street. It can be a very confusing world for our furry friends, especially if they are trying to guess what to do next. Some of us can speak English and French, maybe even Spanish, but most of us cannot speak dog. There is evidence showing that the most effective way is through rewards; so when we reward behavior that we consider desirable, it is positive reinforcement.
Jonathan uses positive reinforcement and the mirror method, incorporating a clicker. It is his philosophy that dogs look to us more like parents, so a mutually respectful relationship is essential since it fosters a desire for a dog to be on his best behavior.
We come from very different worlds, but in many instances there are cross associations that we can relate to. We all want to share our lives with someone caring and someone that truly loves us. Dogs want someone who cares too, someone that can lead us down the right path, someone that we can trust and always go to for answers.
Jonathan has a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. He is a graduate of Dog Training Internship Academy (DTIA) in San Francisco, and has earned a Certificate in Dog Training, Behavior Consultations and Applied Behavioral Analysis. Jonathan’s most rewarding endeavor is working with dogs and dog owners. Dogs are his passion and his purpose in life. Jonathan trained under the tutelage of Janis Bradley and her academy stemming from Jean Donaldson academy for dog trainers at the SFSPCA. His experience with dogs began in San Francisco and continues now in Southern California. Jonathan has been training dogs for more than 9 years. He looks forward to working with you and your dog.
Areas served: Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Poway, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain, Black Mountain Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Carlsbad, Vista, Bonsall, Oceanside
Amillie Zickmund
Throughout her career, Amillie has tried all styles and methods for training dogs. In her experience, based on her education, knowledge and mentor guidance, she has found the most success with reward-based methods. This means she realizes that dogs learn best through motivators and rewards that speak to their natural instincts and biology.
Dogs live this world through their noses and their mouths. They are opportunistic predators, which means they are very observant of every little detail in every situation, and they react accordingly. Due to this, they are masters at reading our body language, feeling our energy and reacting according to how they see fit. Knowing this, we can use our natural body language to communicate with them.
Reward-based training is not all about treats. It’s about understanding what motivates our dogs, and using that to teach them what we expect from them. By doing this, we enrich their lives, fulfill their needs, and decrease the language barrier between us. This, in turn, strengthens the bond we have with them, which increases their desire to do what we ask of them.
Amillie Zickmund has been a professional dog trainer since 2013. She has worked in the dog field since 2010 as a pet care associate (4 years), a groomer’s assistant (11yrs total), a kennel tech (3 years) and as a daycare attendee in two daycares ( total of 4 years exp.), where she learned the most about dog to dog communication.
Throughout her life, communicating with animals has come naturally to her, and she has always been passionate about working with dogs. It wasn’t until college when this dream became a reality.
In 2013, while working at a pet store in Indiana, Amillie and her husband John got a Great Dane puppy together named Appa. Knowing his breed and future size, they started group training classes with him right away. Amillie very quickly fell in love with training and all she had learned, so when the store offered her a training position there was no hesitation. The rest as they say was HISTORY.
Throughout her career she has worked with other amazing trainers, and is constantly attending KPA Clicker Expo Workshops, and other seminars to consistently further her knowledge and education. Amillie is a CGC evaluator, a member of APDT, and is currently taking two of the IABBC certification tests: Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant; ACDBC, and Accredited Dog Trainer (IAABC-ADT).
Amillie understands and believes that continuing education is a must when working with dogs, and she is always willing to learn and expand her knowledge! Each dog teaches her something different, and she individualizes her training plans around each of them.
Currently, Amillie’s family consists of her husband, John (who occasionally helps with their training needs), their son, Dean, (a very dog savvy toddler who helps dogs that are fearful of children understand that kids are not always scary), their cat, Kit Kat, (who also helps many of her clients communicate correctly with another species).
Accompanying them are their two dogs: Katara, a Cattle Dog-Pyrenees mix, (who is Amillie’s most used helper dog because she communicates beautifully, and helps many dog-reactive / fearful dogs work through their fears while making new friends), and her new Great Dane puppy Heimdall, (who when fully trained will follow in Katara’s PAWsteps)!
We are so thrilled to have Amillie on our team, and she looks forward to working with you!
Area served: San Diego County
Nicole (Niki) Walters
Niki is a passionate and driven certified Professional Dog Trainer, certified Vet Assistant, Pet CPR & First Aid certified, and has boarding, daycare, and training management experience in the pet industry for over 9 ½ years. Her passion and purpose in life is helping both pets and their families be the best pets and companions they can be.
Her animal career started as a pet care specialist at Petsmart, caring for small animals, reptiles, birds, and fish and quickly advanced into dog training, boarding, daycare, and training management. Her drive and passion for animals has inspired her to be the best trainer and caregiver, and she is always striving to further her knowledge and expertise on animals.
Specializing in basic obedience, group classes, private training, puppy training and development, body language, socialization, desensitization, separation anxiety, resource guarding, leash reactivity, leash manners, behavior modification, tricks, enrichment, agility, and more, Niki uses that experience to ensure each and every pet and family she works with is educated and most importantly having fun!
By focusing on her wealth of animal knowledge, Niki has been able to put the certifications she has earned to good use. Over the years, Niki’s strengths as a dog trainer and boarding, daycare, and training facility manager has garnered recognition as associate of the quarter and most loved animal expert.
Niki strongly believes in the importance of being a pack leader, understanding canine communication, positive reinforcement, motivation-based training, balanced training, LIMA training principles, and that each pet and family she works with deserves the best quality care and training plan.
Niki is striving to achieve her CPDT-KA certification and is on her way to becoming a CGC evaluator. When she is not training, Niki is an avid adventurist, musician, artist, and loves spending time with her dogs, family, and friends.
Tiffany Ferguson
As a young child, Tiffany was raised in orphanages, and did not have a traditional family to call her own. She did, however, have a great love for dogs, and they soon became her extended family. She learned at a very young age how to read dogs, how to interpret body language and vocals, and how to communicate with them in a way that few can. She developed strong, enduring bonds with her dogs built on trust and respect. It is this foundation of trust and respect upon which she developed her own unique training methods and expertise. It’s the reason that dogs respond so well to her gentle, steady hand, and well-honed skills.
Tiffany has been training dogs for more than 20 years. She knows that dogs are at their best when they have structure, balance, mental stimulation, and regular daily exercise. She gets to know each dog as an individual, and works with her clients to create a customized program best suited to the needs of her clients and their dogs. She helps her clients implement the training protocols, and gives them the confidence they need to achieve their training objectives.
Tiffany has been blessed with the opportunity to work with many rescues in several states. As a canine behavior modification specialist, she has been the last fighting hope for many dogs with serious behavior concerns. Happily, due to her efforts, expertise, and commitment, many of the dogs she’s worked with over the years have found loving homes and a brand-new lease on life.
Over the past 20 years, Tiffany has carefully and methodically honed her training. She has worked with all breeds and temperaments, including dogs with high energy, high anxiety, impulsive reactivity, and aggression. She has done scent training for military dogs. She has also trained dogs to accompany wheelchair bound individuals, and to assist individuals with a variety of disabilities, including training canines for autistic kids.
Other areas of expertise include: puppy training, house training, puppy socialization, leash walking, basic and advanced obedience, calm greetings, distraction proofing, home manners, new pet introductions, and much more.
Her unique background and experiences have helped Tiffany become the amazing trainer she is today: diligent, thorough, calm, focused, and effective. She sees the unique beauty and potential in every dog, and taps into each dog’s natural instincts and drives to bring out what is best about them. Tiffany thrives on challenge and goes the extra mile because the transformation is always so gratifying. She looks forward to meeting you and your dog soon!
Areas served: Spring Valley and surrounding areas
Krystin Withers
Krystin has an underlying passion for dogs that drives her dedication to continual education of breeds, behaviors, and humane training methods. She has been around dogs her entire life and loves to observe and study their body language. This has built her skill set that allows her to act as a translator, further helping people understand dogs.
Krystin was born and raised in Southern California and lived in a home where her family bred and raised Siberian Huskies. At a very young age, she began to understand how dogs think and learn. By the age of 8, she had studied and memorized most AKC-recognized dog breeds and their respective breed groups. By the time she was 16, she had a deep understanding of dogs, and was able to successfully help friends and family members with their dog training needs, including behavior modification, basic obedience, basic manners, and all things puppy!
Krystin served four years in the US Navy, then earned her Master’s in Business Administration. She is certified through the Council of Professional Dog Trainers, Knowledge Assessed, and is a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for the American Kennel Club.
In 2017, she decided to pursue her passion and career as a dog trainer. Now, with over 20 years of experience, Krystin has helped clients through preventative and proactive training, using the LIMA approach (least intrusive, minimally aversive), while also ensuring dogs have enrichment, exercise, and mental stimulation. She absolutely loves working with puppies, teaching agility and tricks, and working with fearful dogs. She’s a valuable resource for families with a changing dynamic (new baby, other pets, multiple dogs), and loves working with children and involving them in training. Krystin also helps with behavior modification, loose-leash walking, reactivity, and basic obedience.
Krystin believes that the best dog-human relationships include healthy boundaries, mutual respect, and bonding through engaging in fun activities and spending quality time together. She teaches you how to use specific tools and methods to help your dog reach its full potential, and become the happy, confident, calm, well-mannered dog it is meant to be.
Areas served: Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Mountain, Rancho Penasquitos, 4S Ranch, Scripps Ranch, Ramona
Corrina Babiash-Clark
Corrina has always had a love for animals. Growing up in Green Bay, Wi, while her family’s pets were limited to dogs and hamsters, she was afforded the opportunity to visit relatives’ farms to ride horses and interact with several different animals. After high school, she joined the United States Marine Corps, but never abandoned her love for animals. Over the years, she shared that love of animals with her own family by caring for many different animals from birds and bunnies to lizards and hermit crabs, and of course, dogs and cats. No matter where she was stationed, she found time to volunteer at local animal organizations. Even when her duties took her overseas, she was able to foster both dogs and cats through the Okinawan American Animal Rescue Society.
As her United States Marine Corps was coming to an end after 20 years of service, she decided that training dogs and their people was what she wanted to focus on in her next chapter. She graduated from Animal Behavior College in 2011 and spent the next year getting hands-on experience training while also volunteering at the animal shelter on Camp Pendleton and a local private zoo in Fallbrook, CA.
After military retirement in 2012, Corrina earned her BA in Sociology and continued to hone her training skills by working with a variety of dogs, both big and small, on a wide range of skills from puppy training to common behavioral issues and participating in continuing education in the field of dog training.
As the owner of large dogs, Corrina is well-versed in their training, but enjoys working with small breed dogs as well. She knows from first-hand experience the importance training makes in developing the relationship between a dog and their people. She believes that communication is the key to that relationship and that training both ends of the leash is a vital part of the process. Corrina welcomes and encourages all family members to participate in the training.
Corrina loves working with puppies and their puppy parents. She believes that having a “well-trained” dog is much more than just learning training cues. Understanding our puppy’s emotional and physical needs is just as important as the cues they learn. Corrina takes time to help puppy parents understand these requirements for their individual puppy so that good habits can be implemented from the very beginning.
Corrina uses positive reinforcement and motivational based training to help both dogs and young puppies learn desirable behaviors and eliminate unwanted behaviors. She does not use prong collars, choke chains, or shock collars, but relies on understanding the individual dog’s motivation to accomplish training goals and foster trust between pet parents and their furry family members.
She provides private sessions, board and train services, and boarding services often times developing a lifelong relationship with the dogs she works with and their pet parents.
Areas served: San Diego and SW Riverside
Kylie Nichols
Kylie is a Karen Pryor Academy certified dog trainer with a proven track record of achieving goals and resolving negative behavior patterns in dogs. She is skilled in assessing root causes of behavioral issues, stressors, and social anxieties in dogs.
She has over 8 years of experience working with many different breeds of dogs, using positive reinforcement, and a variety of training methods. She is knowledgeable about proper nutrition, diet, and exercise for dogs, and committed to helping find desired solutions.
Kylie has been a longtime dog lover, owning dogs her entire life. She has experience with many different breeds, but her favorite breed is “rescue”! Her love of dogs really took off when she began fostering for a local SoCal rescue, and has personally fostered, trained, and found forever homes for dozens of dogs. She has a soft spot for dogs with a rough past, and makes sure to take the time to learn and understand their stories in order to curate a training plan that works for them.
Her experience fostering dogs fresh out of shelters or poor living situations, has made her adept at desensitization, socialization, and engagement through the use of marker/clicker training. She also has a lot of experience with leash walking, reactivity, and dog body language.
Kylie has two primary objectives: to produce desired training results, and to enhance the bond between owner and dog in the process. She uses positive methods that engender trust, improve communication, and make the training process enjoyable for all.
She understands that each dog is unique and special, and comes up with creative solutions to bring out their best strengths and help shape behavior.
Kylie’s education, training experience, patience, and attention to detail make her an outstanding dog trainer and behavior consultant. She is dedicated to making training a positive and productive experience for both you and your dog.
Areas Served: Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, San Marcos, 4S Ranch, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Carmel Valley, Black Mountain Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, Del Mar, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, North Park, Allied Gardens, San Carlos, Tierrasanta, Clairemont, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Pacific Beach, City Heights, University City, Sorrento Valley, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Serra Mesa, Mission Valley, College Area, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, La Mesa, and El Cajon
Rachel Wright
Rachel has spent all her life loving animals. She grew up around dogs, cats, and horses, and has always known deep down that her passion for animals would lead her into a career that could fuel that passion. Growing up, she had wanted to become a veterinarian in order to help animals in need, but after a lot of thought and consideration about the hardships that come with being a veterinarian, she began to explore other options for a career that would allow her to work with animals.
As a teen, Rachel began working for a horse trainer who specialized in equestrian therapy. This experience sparked her interest in finding novel ways to bring animals and people together in a way that benefits them both. In large part, this interest led her to pursue a Bachelor’s in Psychology.
After graduating college, she was still unsure how to pursue her passion in the workforce. That’s when she started researching her options, and realized that she could pursue a career as a dog trainer, with a specialization in service and therapy dog training. She thought, “huh, why didn’t this ever occur to me that this was something I could’ve pursued earlier?” This realization pushed her to investigate accredited programs that would give her the knowledge and expertise she required to become a certified trainer.
Shortly after, Rachel completed the Service and Therapy Dog Training program through Animal Behavior Institute. She began shadowing with a mentor who had over 30 years of experience training dogs, and learned many LIMA-based techniques and the value of positive reinforcement training.
Rachel is an accomplished dog trainer and behavior consultant. She offers puppy training, potty training, leash training, obedience, manners, socialization, crate training, therapy dog training, and more. She is currently training her Malinois Ripley for service dog work.
Rachel aspires to continually learn and grow as a trainer, and welcomes the challenge that comes with each new dog. She enjoys creating plans specifically tailored for each dog she has the pleasure of working with. She’s excited to utilize her therapy dog training skills to assist a wide range of people, including those with disabilities or special needs. She looks forward to bringing out the very best in your dog, and to helping you create a long and happy relationship.
Area served: Southwest Riverside and North County San Diego
Paige Adams
Paige has loved animals for as long as she can remember. She grew up with large mixed breeds, specifically Golden Retrievers and Great Danes. From a young age, she enjoyed observing dog body language, teaching basic manners, and socializing dogs to new people and experiences. Today, she strives to enhance communication and understanding between humans and their dogs through humane training methods.
More than half of Paige’s professional career has been spent working with and training dogs and their humans. After receiving her BA in Psychology, and working in the mental health field, she began working at the San Diego Humane Society, and volunteering at the Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Sanctuary. Soon thereafter, she realized her true passion had four legs, and went by the name of “dog!”
Paige worked at Petco, became a Petco Certified Dog Trainer, and later graduated from the Amanda Gagnon Dog Training Apprenticeship. She was also employed as a Vet Assistant, and later as Canine Behavior Specialist with Animal Care Centers of NYC, where she assisted with dog playgroups (to provide enrichment, and assess dog’s behavior around other dogs), conducted behavior evaluations to assess each dog’s behavior, adoptable status, and needs in a home, provided socialization, and made placement calls to potential rescues, fosters, and adopters.
As an advocate for animal welfare and awareness, Paige has a special place in her heart for rescue dogs. She worked as an Animal Caregiver for the Humane Society, where she expertly addressed behavior challenges, such as aggression and reactivity. She also used her knowledge of desensitization and counterconditioning to help anxious, fearful dogs overcome their insecurities, and become calm, confident dogs, giving these dogs a better chance of being adopted into loving homes.
Paige is CPDT-KA Certified (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. This certification measures a broad range of knowledge and skills in ethology, learning theory, dog training technique, and instruction.
As a trainer and behavior consultant, Paige has been providing private, in-home lessons, group training, and board and train for many years. Her specialties include leash walking, manners, obedience, socialization, puppy basics, house training, and behavior modification for leash reactive, and fearful, anxious dogs.
She believes that training should be an enjoyable activity for dogs, and finds creative ways to keep them motivated, using force-free, positive methods. In so doing, she establishes a foundation of trust with dogs, and as a result, training progresses quickly because dogs are attentive, focused, and engaged.
Paige is committed to providing effective, safe, and humane training for every dog she has the pleasure of working with. Creating memorable milestones and happy homes is the driving force that inspires her to provide the best care and training possible.
Swetlana “Lana” Falke
Lana is a CCPDT-certified dog trainer and professional-level member of the Pet Professional Guild.
Lana grew up around dogs, and they have been a large part of her life for as long as she can remember. As a teen, you could find Lana with her Rough Collie, Iris, competing at dog shows all across Germany. She has always had a big heart for homeless pets, and at the age of 10, she started visiting the local dog shelter on weekends to walk the rescue pups, and give them a break from their kennels.
Soon after moving to the U.S., Lana signed up to volunteer at the San Diego Humane Society, and enjoyed it so much that she stayed for 5 years! During that time, she took on a variety of training and behavior-related roles and responsibilities with shelter dogs. Lana was fortunate enough to apprentice with Lindsey Lieberman, CBCC, CPDT, who was the Behavior & Training Coordinator at that time. Lana’s time as a Behavior & Training shelter volunteer gave her the opportunity to become acquainted with a wide variety of dog personalities, temperaments, and behavioral concerns, and it greatly shaped how she approaches training and behavior modification, particularly in the most challenging cases.
If you are seeking assistance with dog training or behavior modification, Lana can help you and your dog build a relationship based on trust and cooperation, without using techniques that involve intimidation, or cause physical and/or emotional harm to your dog. She specializes in helping fear-reactive and/or anxious dogs and their humans. Being an owner of sensitive, fear-reactive dogs herself, she can relate to the struggles that other owners of behavior-challenged dogs experience. By sharing her knowledge and skills, and implementing individualized plans, she provides her clients and their dogs the proper tools and guidance to create positive and lasting changes.
Teaching dogs (and cats!) fun, complex tricks is also something Lana is passionate about because she found that learning tricks helped her rescue pups build confidence and strengthened the human-animal connection.
Whenever Lana is not training clients’ dogs, she pours her heart into her two shepherd mixes, Pollux and Fern, and her kitty, Antares. She’s also a certified yoga instructor, and enjoys bouldering, being creative, spending time with friends, and being outdoors.
Lana believes that all dogs are precious and unique, and she works with each dog as an individual to bring out their best strengths. Her education, training experience, patience, and attention to detail make her an outstanding dog trainer and behavior consultant. Lana is dedicated to making training a positive and productive experience for both you and your dog.
Areas Served: Carlsbad, Oceanside, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Encinitas, Vista, and San Marcos
Rosa Romero
At the age of 16, Rosa began volunteering her time to assist and care for shelter dogs at the West Valley Animal Shelter in L.A. As a volunteer, she was entrusted with the socialization and exercise of the dogs in her care. While there, she also completed courses in obedience training, reactivity, and behavior modification.
Soon thereafter, she began volunteering for the Mayor of Los Angeles’ Homeless Pets Program, where she provided in-home training for a variety of concerns, including: potty training, socialization, and reactivity. She also worked with the Padres Paw Squad to help prepare for games, meet and greets, and charity events.
Rosa has a wealth of experience training dogs and shaping behavior. Her expertise includes: separation anxiety, leash reactivity, resource guarding, socialization, puppy raising, leash manners, basic and advanced obedience, trick training, agility training, AKC Canine Good Citizen preparation, and task training for service work. She also has a passion for helping timid or fearful dogs overcome their fears, and become calm, confident dogs.
Over the years, Rosa has learned that behavior is greatly influenced by a dog’s physical and mental well-being, and that training progresses more easily when dogs are at their best. She has a great deal of knowledge about optimal dietary and nutritional needs, exercise regimens, socialization, and environmental enrichment activities.
Rosa continually works to maintain, enhance, and expand her skills and expertise in order to serve her clients and their dogs to the best of her ability.
When Rosa meets with you and your dog, she helps you define and clarify your training objectives, and then teaches you how to implement the training plan, one step at a time. She is also able to adjust training methods and techniques as needed to better suit the individual dog or situation.
She knows that clear communication between dog and owner is crucial to the training process, and believes in using body language, hand signals, and vocal tone to communicate intention.
Rosa is passionate about the human-dog bond. She cares about dogs and the people who love them and takes great pride in watching them succeed. She loves to teach people how they can enrich the lives of their dogs, deepen their bond, and create harmony and balance in the home.
Areas served: Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Carlsbad, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Temecula, Valley Center, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Black Mountain Ranch, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar.
Sophia Thim
Sophia is an animal lover, with a special fondness for horses and dogs. At age 12, she volunteered at a local therapeutic riding facility, and soon became indispensable. She volunteered more than 100 hours of service grooming horses, leading lessons, and offering a helping hand wherever needed. She took lessons and began riding at an advanced level when she was just 16 years old.
It was at this time that Sophia began dog sitting for her next-door neighbors, and soon became a well-known, trusted, and respected sitter that all her neighbors raved about. Her clients describe Sophia as patient, conscientious, dedicated, and caring. She views her client’s dogs as her part-time pack because she cares for them as though they are her own, showering them with love and affection, while providing them with a safe environment and lots of fun activities to keep them happily entertained.
Sophia grew up with German Shepherds and spent much of her youth learning how to train her dogs. Whether it was basic obedience, behavior modification, or trick training, she soon realized she had a talent. She found dog behavior and training fascinating, and continued to expand her knowledge and expertise as a trainer, and to create a strong bond with her dogs based on trust and mutual respect.
Sophia caught the eye of many while she was out walking her dogs, at dog beach, and in a variety of public venues. They would often stop and comment how well trained and behaved her dog was. She even started getting requests to train their dogs and help resolve behavior concerns.
As a young adult, Sophia worked as a dog bather where she gained experience with different breeds, personalities, and temperaments. She also worked at a dog boarding and daycare facility where she spent time getting to know each dog, and went above and beyond to make sure that all dogs in her care were comfortable, safe, well-exercised, and having fun.
Sophia is kind, patient, and understanding of a dog’s needs. She reads dogs well, and understands how to bring out the best in them. She uses positive reinforcement methods, and believes that all dogs, no matter their age, breed, or temperament are trainable if you are patient, commit to the process, and stay the course. She loves seeing dogs overcome challenges, learn new skills, and become successful, and she enjoys teaching puppies and adult dogs how to harmoniously co-exist with their human pack.
Sophia offers dog walking, daycare, overnight boarding, and training. She maintains a clean, well-organized home, and goes out of her way to make sure that dogs are safe, comfortable, engaging in appropriate play, getting lots of exercise, and enjoying fun activities…whether it’s playing in the doggy pool, hanging out inside, sleeping with Zen music in the background, or going on pack walks. She does it all!
Sophia sends out plenty of photos and updates, so that dog parents can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their fur kid is having fun playing with other dogs, getting lots of exercise, receiving topnotch care, and lots of TLC.
Areas served: Carlsbad, Oceanside, Bonsall, Vista, San Marcos, and Encinitas
Veronica Rolfe
Veronica is originally from Michigan where she grew up with a house full of dogs. She loves animals, big and small. After moving to San Diego, she got her first rescue pup, Meeko, from Mexico, and started her doggy daycare business, in part, to socialize her puppy.
Once Meeko became an adult, she brought a Great Dane, Loki, into the family pack, and they soon became fast friends. Both dogs were fortunate to grow up enjoying the company of Veronica’s daycare dogs. They got to meet dogs of all ages and breeds, and soon became a wonderful welcoming committee for regular visitors, and new dogs alike. They romp and play, and have the time of their lives.
Veronica has been offering in-home daycare and boarding as her full-time business for 3 years. She is CPR certified, has 10 years of experience handling and training dogs in basic commands, and has been helping dogs and puppies become their best selves ever since.
She loves hiking and taking dogs with her that would benefit from hikes, exercise, and the great outdoors. She does daily walks through her neighborhood with her husband, kids, their dogs, and boarding dogs.
Her home is set up with dogs in mind, and revolves around their needs. She has everything they need, including: beds, bowls, and toys, and she goes out of her way to make sure they are comfortable and happy in her care.
Her clients love her passion for their dogs, and her devotion to always being there for them when needed. She is available 24/7 for her clients and their dogs, and loves her regulars so much that she views them as her own dogs. She has 2 children, ages 8 and 9, who have grown up with dogs, and love showering them with love, attention, and lots of playtime.
Veronica welcomes every breed, age, and size of dog into her home. She loves learning each dog’s specific needs, and does whatever she can to make them comfortable. She realizes that some dogs love to play and romp all day, but that others do not. She also considers a dog’s size and temperament, and creates appropriate play groups for each dog, so that they are all able to coexist happily and comfortably.
When in public Veronica receives lots of compliments from passersby on how well trained and behaved her dogs are. She understands the importance of a well-trained dog, and works diligently to make certain that your dog’s manners and training are also maintained.
Attention to each dog’s individual needs is her biggest strength. She loves meeting new dogs, getting to know their personalities, and making each dog’s stay extra special. Veronica sends out daily photo and text updates, and is always reachable for check-ins. She prides herself in giving your dogs the best care possible. She keeps a clean home and relaxing environment.
Veronica’s hope is for you to have peace of mind, knowing your dog is in the best hands possible, and is having a fantastic time. Dog parents often comment to her that they know their dogs loved their stay because their dogs are so overjoyed when they realize they get to visit again!
Areas served: Tierrasanta, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Poway, Lakeside, El Cajon, Hillcrest, Santee, Clairemont, Mission Valley, La Jolla, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Coronado, Chula Vista, National City, and more
Julianne (Juli) Duran
Juli has a love and passion for dogs and their whole being. She has a positive “do-with” approach and believes in the cooperative relationship between owners and their dogs to achieve mutually beneficial results, while simultaneously enhancing and strengthening their relationship.
She believes in continually educating herself to provide better training/results for both dog and owner. Juli is a Certified Dog Trainer through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. She is also a member of APDT and is certified through Pet Tech in CPR and First Aid.
In her quest for more knowledge, Juli completed Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training Workshop. In addition, Juli was a student and mock client at Bergin College of Canine Studies, a highly regarded college with a mission of advancing the human-canine partnership through research and education. Juli’s focus was learning how to work with service dogs. She considers this one of the best experiences of her life, giving her firsthand knowledge of the service dog partnership.
Juli has a heart for dogs in the shelter and knows that every dog is deserving of a happy, loving home. She volunteers with an elite group of dog walkers and provides enrichment for the dogs in the shelter (in the form of games and activities) to prevent and reduce boredom, anxiety, and stress, while stimulating their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Juli recently adopted her dog, Cody, an Australian Cattle-Beagle mix, from the local shelter. When she first brought Cody into her life, he was riddled with fear and anxiety because he hadn’t been properly socialized. However, after living with Juli, all of that changed. With Juli’s expert care, training, and gentle guidance, within the span of just 4 months, Cody became noticeably calmer and more confident in new situations.
She gave Cody the stability and support he needed by earning his trust, using clear, consistent communication, and implementing force-free, positive reinforcement-based training methods. The transformation has been astounding! Today, Cody is the happy, calm, confident dog she always hoped for. Helping Cody overcome his fears and anxiety has been a transformative experience for Juli too! She has learned as much from Cody as he has learned from her.
Juli volunteered at Guide Dogs of America, a service dog organization that breeds, raises, and trains guide dogs for individuals who are blind/visually impaired, and service dogs for veterans, and children with autism. At Guide Dogs of America, Juli helped raise puppies in her home. She enjoyed raising service dogs, and spent countless hours bonding with them, socializing them, training them, and taking them on public outings with her Labrador retriever, Dessa.
She also volunteered her time in the administrative department, but soon realized that she wanted to be hands on with the dogs. She then volunteered as a kennel assistant for dogs in boarding or training. She was also a volunteer for the Head Start Puppy Program, where very young 4 – 7-week-old puppies had some of their first interactions with people, encountered new experiences, and were exposed to new sights and sounds in a safe environment.
In addition to trick training, AKC Good Citizen classes, nose work, and agility, Juli participated in Flyball competition on the All-American Racers Team with her rescue dog, Daisy. In addition to having a lot of fun with Daisy, Juli was astounded to learn what Daisy was capable of learning and doing. In fact, all of Juli’s dogs have amazed her in their own unique way, and she’s learned that each of her dogs has their own special strengths and natural abilities,
Juli is a member and volunteer for Pet Partners Therapy Pet Program. Pet Partners mission is to improve human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. To this end, volunteers and their pet visit hospitals, colleges, and workplaces to ease the stress of others. Juli and her rescue dog, Jumbo, a 100-lb Lab, offer therapy visits to people from 5 years to more than 100 years of age.
Juli works well with all ages, sizes, and breeds of dogs. She enjoys teaching leash walking, home manners, socialization skills, house training, and enrichment, and helping dogs overcome a wide range of challenging behaviors, including leash reactivity, jumping, barking, chewing, and digging.
Juli is committed to helping dog owners bring out the best in their dogs by tapping into their dog’s natural strengths and capabilities. She utilizes her knowledge and skills to help dogs and owners build a solid, enduring bond, so that they can live their best life together, and she looks forward to helping you and your dog overcome any challenges you are currently experiencing, so that you can enjoy more harmony in your home.
Areas served: Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, Menifee, and Temecula
Missy Lipinski
Missy has loved animals, with a special fondness for dogs, for as long as she can remember. She originally started out as a client of Wonder Dog’s when she got her puppy, Jupiter, in 2018. At that time, she sought help to work on basic obedience and dog-dog introductions, and in so doing, was inspired to become a trainer herself.
Missy began her animal career working at shelters and doggy daycares, where she was able to learn canine body language and behavior. She graduated from Animal Behavior College’s Dog Trainer Certification Program in 2020, and soon thereafter, became a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Now she puts her experience, knowledge, and education to good use as a Wonder Dog trainer and behavior consultant.
To this day, Missy continues her education, and is currently working towards her CPDT-KA certification. She stays up-to-date on the latest science-based training methods practiced by the most respected and knowledgeable canine trainers, teachers, and behaviorists.
Missy is dedicated to using positive reinforcement and force-free, non-aversive training methods, tools, tips, and tricks. She wholeheartedly believes that it is never necessary to use a heavy hand with any dog or breed, and she strives to make training fun and enjoyable for everyone involved (dogs and people).
Missy knows how to teach the basics including, but not limited to: Sit, Down, Come, Loose Leash Walking, Stay, Focus, Placing, Potty Training, Leave-it, Drop-it, and so much more! She specializes in dog behavior and body language, and utilizes her knowledge to tackle such situations as Jumping, Nipping, Frustrated Greetings, Barking, Leash Reactivity, Resource Guarding, and Separation Anxiety.
Whether your dog needs a tune up, the basics, or a total behavior overhaul, Missy is there to help! Missy knows that the foundation of all training begins by first establishing a relationship with your dog based on trust and mutual respect. She teaches you how to accurately interpret your dog’s motivations and behavior, and how to clearly, consistently, and compassionately communicate with your dog to meet your training and behavior objectives. She is dedicated to your success, and will work with you and your dog to create the best outcome possible.
When she’s not being a “dog nerd”, Missy spends her free time being a self-proclaimed “regular nerd”; playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends and boyfriend, Neil. She is also an amateur character rug tufter, avid video and board game player, and novice Lego collector.
Areas served: San Marcos, Escondido, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Valley Center, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, 4S Ranch, Black Mountain Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain Ranch, and Sabre Springs
Emily Beltran
Emily has always had two great loves in her life: animals and art. In 2008, she began volunteering with a greyhound rescue in Florida, and any trepidation she had about which career path to choose was quickly washed away. Since then, Emily has dedicated her life to animal welfare, earning a Bachelor’s degree in psychology (with an emphasis in behavior modification), her CPDT-KA (certified canine professional Dog trainer, knowledge assessed), Fear Free certification, with the intent to use that knowledge to help people and their animals build a shared language and stronger, more harmonious relationships. Emily follows the least intrusive minimally aversive training philosophy, and adheres to methods that are scientifically proven to create stronger behaviors/relationships and the least amount of fear, stress, and anxiety possible for both pet and guardian/owner.
Over the past 16 years, Emily has continued working toward her goals while working for some of the best animal welfare organizations in the country (the Oregon Humane Society and the San Diego Humane Society) to train staff, volunteers, foster parents and adopters how to better understand and work with the dogs they care for. While continuing to further her own knowledge and skills to better serve animals and their people, Emily has focused on building and improving Behavior Foster training programs to offer animals that struggle in the shelter environment increased opportunities to thrive and transition toward adoption.
Most recently, Emily worked at one of the only Behavior Modification Programs in the country (at the San Diego Humane society) where she created and implemented behavior modification plans for an average of 10 canines and 6 felines at a time (some of whom had never been touched before) to help them prepare for adoption and address common behaviors that negatively impacted their chances of adoption (I.e., mouthing, jumping, barking, pulling on leash, “stranger danger,” etc.)
Emily specializes in helping pets improve impulse control and better coping mechanisms for arousal (reducing behaviors such as barking/lunging on leash, inappropriate greeting, etc.), and building confidence, trust and mutually respectful relationships with shy/fearful dogs and cats (addressing behaviors such as excessive barking, growling, aggression and more).
With experience in formal behavior modification as well as teaching obedience classes and private lessons, Emily is able to untangle your frustrations and your dog’s needs to arm you with the skills and solutions that will provide all members of the household with greater peace, comfort and trust. These solutions are created through positive methods such as play, access to choice, food and physical affection, and so much more to make training fun for you *and* your dog.
Areas served: North Park, Spring Valley, Hillcrest, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside, Oak Park, Serra Mesa, Del Cerro, Tierrasanta, Allied Gardens, San Carlos, Mission Valley, Linda Vista, Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Clairemont, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Poway, Sabre Springs, Rancho Penasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Coronado, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Pt. Loma, La Jolla, and Del Mar
Paige Milam
Paige has over 8 years of animal training and handling experience. She got her start working at the San Diego Humane Society’s Behavior Center. There she worked with a variety of challenging behaviors such as leash reactivity, resource guarding, stranger danger, lack of impulse control, destructive/escape behaviors, separation anxiety and aggression.
Paige went on to work as a Sergeant in the Humane Law Enforcement department working with dogs in the field and serving the community.
After her time at the San Diego Humane Society, Paige worked at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as an Animal Trainer working with a variety of exotic animals.
Paige has a BS in Environmental Science from the University of San Diego and a dog training certification (KPA-CTP) from the Karen Pryor Academy.
Paige views canine behavior from a holistic perspective. She understands that a dog’s behavior is largely influenced by its physical and mental well-being, and that without optimal nutrition, exercise, and environmental enrichment, dogs cannot easily focus, learn, or improve. She offers specific suggestions designed to help each dog achieve its full potential.
Paige understands that clear communication between humans and dogs is essential in order to create a bond based on mutual trust and respect. She teaches pet parents how to communicate clearly and effectively with their dog, correctly interpret their dog’s actions and motivations, understand the “whys” of canine behavior, and accurately read their dog’s body language.
Paige develops meaningful relationships with those who seek her help, and thoroughly enjoys teaching and helping people experience easier, happier lives with their dogs. She looks forward to working with you and your dog to resolve difficult or challenging behaviors and create more harmony in your home.
Areas Served: All of San Diego
Keira Moore
Keira is a long-time teacher who loves working with dogs just as much as she loves working with their humans. As much as she enjoys teaching, she enjoys learning as well. Keira holds a Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University, and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral Level (BCBA-D), as well as a proud graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy for dog trainers (KPA-CTP).
Keira’s goal is to create happy and harmonious relationships between dogs and their humans, where everyone is thriving. She draws on two decades of experience as a human behavior analyst, specializing in working with individuals with special needs and severe behavior problems.
Keira believes in compassionate, ethical dog training, making sure that both the dog’s and their human’s needs are met. She is a fear-free, force-free trainer. She knows that the most effective way to achieve long-term results is through positive reinforcement-based training strategies. Her training methods help dog parents achieve amazing results, bring out the best in their dogs, and foster positive relationships with their dogs based on trust and mutual respect.
As part of every training program, Keira teaches dogs and humans to “speak the same language.” She understands that clear communication between humans and dogs is essential in order to avoid confusion. She teaches dog parents how to correctly interpret their dog’s body language, actions, and behavior, and gives her clients the knowledge and skills they need to clearly communicate their intentions to their dog.
Her range of skills and abilities is impressive! In addition to teaching basic manners and foundational skills, Keira addresses multiple challenging behaviors, including barking, jumping, and destructive chewing. She especially enjoys working with reactive dogs, resolving separation anxiety, and helping timid/fearful dogs gain confidence. She also enjoys working with service dog teams.
Keira goes out of her way to make training rewarding for everyone! If you’re looking to have some fun with your dog, enhance your bond, and build your dog’s confidence, trick training can do wonders! Keira loves trick training. Her own dog, Frida Pawlo is a certified Trick Dog Champion! Check out Keira’s YouTube channel here
Keira is committed to ensuring happy, healthy relationships between dogs and their owners. She customizes her training, and works with each dog as an individual to bring out their best strengths. She looks forward to working with you and your dog to help you attain your training objectives, and is dedicated to making training a positive and productive experience.
Areas served: Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, 4S Ranch, Valley Center, San Marcos
Peter Gross
Peter’s journey into the world of dog training was paved by his extensive experience in search and rescue. With a recent retirement from a distinguished career in the fire service, a significant portion of that time was dedicated to training and handling search dogs. During this time, Peter had done all of the training to become FEMA certified and deployable as a disaster canine handler with his Border Collie, Angus. It was during these years that Peter got the “training bug” while training with some very knowledgeable force-free trainers, he began to develop into a skillful dog trainer. Peter furthered his experience while working as the canine training lead for the search and rescue task force, California Task Force 3 for over 4 years. During his last years at the San Francisco Fire Department, Peter was instrumental in creating the Canine Urban Search and Rescue Group that is a valued part of disaster response today for the SFFD and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dog behavior seemed like a natural path when considering a 2nd career. Peter enrolled and graduated, earning a Certificate in Training and Counseling from The Academy for Dog Trainers, a 2-year comprehensive program on animal learning, behavior modification and client counseling. Through this program, Peter has committed himself to fear & force free dog training. “I am dedicated to humane, evidence-based training principles that focus on positive reinforcement and building trust. I do not use techniques that rely on fear, pain, force or intimidation.” His approach to dog training reflects this understanding that dogs learn best when they aren’t stressed and when they are having fun. Peter stays current on evidence-based training techniques and receives continued education through membership with The Pet Professional Guild.
Peter’s training philosophy is rooted in patience, empathy, and a profound appreciation for the incredible potential that dogs possess. He’s excited to share his knowledge and expertise with dog owners, helping them create stronger, more rewarding relationships with their beloved pets. Recognizing that our pets are integral members of our families, Peter is passionate about fostering meaningful relationships with them. “I’m committed to helping both dogs and their human companions achieve a deeper bond through effective training techniques,” Peter says. He firmly believes that the key to a harmonious connection with our furry companions lies in effective training and understanding their unique needs. If you’re looking to strengthen the connection with your canine companion and explore effective training methods, Peter is here to guide you on this incredible journey.
If you’re looking to strengthen the connection with your canine companion and explore effective training methods, Peter is here to guide you on this journey. He is qualified to address most all of your dog’s behavior concerns including, but not limited to anxiety, fear, dog-dog reactivity, dog-human reactivity, house training, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. The behaviors that he enjoys training the most are basic manners like not jumping on people, loose-leash walking, staying in one spot, and having the dog go to its bed on cue. Peter says, “teaching a dog a reliable recall or coming when called can be very rewarding for everyone because it can allow the dog new off-leash opportunities and provides the client with a sense of comfort and degree of safety.” These are the kinds of behaviors that improve everyone’s lives.
Peter loves living in North County where he shares a home with his wife and daughter and their Golden-doodle, Archie. They love taking Archie on adventures to the beach and hiking trails.
Areas served: Oceanside, Bonsall, Carlsbad, Vista, Fallbrook, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar