Become A Certified Dog Trainer in San Diego
Peace Pups Pro Dog Trainer Program
Turn Your Love for Dogs Into a Meaningful Career
The Peace Pups Pro Dog Trainer Program is for rescue volunteers, fosters, passionate dog owners, and anyone feeling called to step into the dog training world. Through play-based, relationship-first training, you’ll learn how to help anxious, fearful, and reactive dogs build confidence and deeper trust with their humans.
We combine behavioral theory with hands-on skills—including marker training, classical conditioning, and off-leash recall training—so you feel clear and confident in what you’re doing. Your dog and Sunny’s personal dog join each lesson, giving you a fully trained dog and meaningful, hands-on experience working with another dog.
With over 15 happy graduates so far, this program continues to support people stepping into dog training and volunteering with more clarity, confidence, and joy.
📚 Module 1: Foundations of Dog Training
In this 3 week program, learn how to train puppies and adult dogs using play-based training games, loving corrections, and clear communication. This program gives you all the foundation skills you need to train any dog that walks into a shelter.
$750
📚 Module 2: Become a Professional Dog Trainer
In this follow-up program, you’ll learn how to train reactive and anxious dogs to become confident, calm companions, while also teaching all dogs the essential skills and techniques needed for reliable off-leash freedom in any environment.
$750
Who This Program Is For
Foster owners & rescue volunteers who want to help train anxious, reactive, or fearful dogs
Pet sitters & dog walkers ready to become professional trainers
Dog owners tired of desk jobs that don't align with their purpose
Dog owners who want to make money doing something they love—and that's outdoors
Most of our graduates are rescue volunteers or passionate dog owners who simply wanted to better understand and support the dogs in their care 🧡
Meet Sunny, Your Training Mentor
Hi! I'm Sanjana (aka ☀️Sunny), founder of Peace Pups Dog Training.
I created this program because I believe everyone who feels called to connect more deeply with dogs should have the chance to turn that passion into a career. Through my 15 years training horses and dogs and over 200 trained dogs, I discovered an effective play-based dog training method that works on every type of dog—from young puppies to reactive rescues.
My goal for all my students is that they can confidently help reactive and anxious rescue dogs find forever homes and develop the skills to one day build their own dog training business.
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When I first wanted to become a dog trainer, I had just transformed my own reactive dog, Ace, using YouTube videos, shadowing police K9 trainers, and my 15 years of horse training experience. I was ready to pivot away from software engineering and make this my full-time career. Finding a mentor was challenging without giving away hours of free labor, so I decided to dive in and learn as I went.
Two years later, Peace Pups Dog Training has helped over 200 dogs become more confident, calm companions.
So I created this program for you! Dog owners, rescue volunteers, and fosters who want to become a dog trainer in 4-8 weeks with a mentor who will always be there for you.
My goal? Make professional dog training affordable and accessible for families in San Diego—and that starts with giving aspiring trainers like you a real foot in the door.
🚀 Why Become a Dog Trainer?
Dog training isn't just a job—it's a lifestyle career that offers freedom, fulfillment, and flexibility.
🌤️ Work Outside - Spend your days in parks and neighborhoods instead of behind a desk
⏰ Flexible Hours - Set your own schedule and work when it suits your life
💰 Great Pay - Earn $35-$50/hour doing work you love
🐾 Help Rescue Dogs - Train challenging dogs through fostering or in shelters to improve adoption rates
This is work not only changes the dog’s life but also the owner’s life - a very, very rewarding process!
How the Program Works
This isn’t your typical crowded group class or online course. You receive private, 1-on-1 mentorship with Sunny, hands-on training with real dogs, and a proven curriculum designed to take you from beginner to confident trainer.
The program includes two 3-week modules. You can take just Module 1 if you’re looking to grow your skills as a foster or shelter volunteer and learn how to work with dogs who have behavioral challenges. Completing both modules (6 weeks total) prepares you to jump headfirst into the world of dog training—working confidently with reactive, anxious, and fearful dogs, while learning the fundamentals of service dog training and advanced off-leash work.
Graduate both modules to become a fully certified trainer equipped to handle reactivity cases and provide advanced off-leash training.
Module 1: Foundation of Dog Training
3 Weeks | $750 | 3 Private Lessons + Shadowing
This is where it all begins. You'll master the fundamentals of dog training using play-based methods that make learning fun for both you and the dogs you work with.
What You Get:
1.5 hours of private lessons each week for 3 weeks
The opportunity to shadow Sunny’s client lessons each week — including reactive dogs, puppies, and high-drive dogs
What You'll Learn:
How to handle and work with different shelter dogs
Understanding canine behavior and body language
Resolve behavioral issues such as jumping, barking, leash pulling, and separation anxiety
Building a reliable communication system with marker words (yes, no, good, okay)
Play-based games to build focus, confidence, and engagement - great for foster dogs and shelter dogs
Essential obedience commands: sit, down, stay, come, heel, leave it, drop it
Leash training fundamentals & tug work with high-drive dogs
How to work with puppies and young dogs - resolve puppy nipping, potty training, crate training
✨ Upon Completion:
Become a Certified Peace Pups Foundation Trainer
Work with young puppies and dogs with mild behavioral challenges
Module 2: Advanced Training - Reactive Dogs & Off-Leash Freedom
3 Weeks | $750 | 3 Private Lessons + Shadowing
This module is perfect for dog owners ready to step deeper into professional dog training. Reactive dog training is the most in-demand—and highest-paying—specialty in the field. You’ll learn how to work confidently with anxious, fearful, and reactive dogs, while mastering off-leash training techniques that give dogs freedom to live their best life!
What You'll Learn:
Working with reactive and anxious dogs (the largest market in dog training!)
Play-based games to help reactive, anxious, and fearful dogs build confidence and calmness in new environemnts
Off-leash training and reliable recall using remote collars
Choosing the right training tools for each dog (collars, leashes, harnesses, etc)
How to assess each dog and create a clear, effective training plan
How to adapt and modify training programs to match each dog’s drive, personality, and interests
Upon completion:
Become a Certified Peace Pups Pro Trainer!
Work with all dogs including reactive dogs and provide off-leash training
Get the opportunity to work as a dog trainer for Peace Pups
Earn between $35-$50 per hour with Peace Pups
“Fostering reactive dogs used to be so stressful because I didn't know how to help them.
After this program, everything changed! I can actually train them now and give them a real shot at getting adopted. Using play and communication has been a game-changer, and I'm so happy to have Sunny as my mentor!”
- Lucy, Certified Peace Pups Pro Trainer
Program Overview
What You Get
✅ Private 1-on-1 mentorship with Sunny, who has trained over 200 dogs
✅ 1.5 hours per week of hands-on private training for 3 - 6 weeks
✅ The opportunity to shadow Sunny’s client lessons each week — including reactive dogs, puppies, and high-drive dogs
✅ Real-world practice with your own dog and foster dogs at Home Depot, parks, and neighborhoods
✅ Dog training & pet sitting clients to get you started once you complete the program
✅ Unlimited lifetime support - text and phone calls during and after your program
✅ Professional certification as a Peace Pups Trainer
Investment & Timeline
Module 1: $750 | 3 weeks | Foundation Training
Module 2: $750 | 3 weeks | Advanced Reactive & Off-Leash Training
Full Program: $1495 | 8 weeks | Full Certification!
What You'll Earn
💰 $35-$50 per hour as a certified Peace Pups trainer
Competitive pay in the growing dog training industry
Flexible schedule working with amazing dogs and grateful families
Opportunities to grow with Peace Pups as a certified trainer
How To Get Started
1.Book Your Free Discovery Call
This is your opportunity to share your goals and ask any questions about the program. We'll discuss whether Module 1, Module 2, or the full certification is the best fit for you and work with your budget to create a path that makes sense for your career goals.
2. Get Certified
Once you enroll, you'll spend 3 - 6 weeks in private, 1-on-1 mentorship with Sunny, training 3 hours per week with real dogs while mastering play-based techniques and building your confidence as you earn your Peace Pups certification.
3. Start Earning As A Dog Trainer
After completing your training, you'll immediately start receiving client and pet sitting referrals from Peace Pups to launch your new career, all while having Sunny as your lifelong mentor to support you every step of the way.
Ready to become a dog trainer?
Book A Free Discovery Call
Learn more about Sunny, our head trainer, and this program. Ask all your questions!