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David Adams

Aug 7, 2026

Dog Trainers

Sarah Surritt

Dog trainer in San Diego

#60 in United States, #5 in California, #2 in San Diego

United States

San Diego

https://www.getpawsitive.com

Service areas:

Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Vista, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Clairemont, Sorrento Valley, Escondido, Poway, Oceanside, Leucadia, Cardiff, Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa, Pacific Beach, San Marcos

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Sarah was that kid growing up who was always bringing home strays and begging her mom to let her keep them. Ever do that? Thankfully, her folks typically said yes and she grew up surrounded by animals.

Until she began volunteering at the San Diego Humane Society and what was the onset of her training career in 2001, she didn't realize there was a different way to train and build a great relationship with her pets. Enter positive, kind and humane training!

Sarah successfully uses positive reinforcement training not only with the thousands of rescue dogs she's helped but also trains many other species like her goats, chickens, cats, and indoor rescue pet pig, Toby. Also included in the benefits of a relationship built on trust and joy is her mini-herd of horses: Lily, Stormy, and even Whinnie and Mahoney, both rescues.

She strongly believes in the benefits and effectiveness of positive training, and allowing our pets to have an equal role in the training process. This was the inspiration for the business name: Get Pawsitive.

Get Pawsitive helps dog owners all over the world through the online Pawsitive Puppy Training Academy and the monthly Pawsitive Training Club.

Sarah has helped thousands of pet owners over the years learn how to bring out the best and have an amazing long-lasting relationship with their dogs through her pawsitive training approach.

Certifications:

KPACTP, CPDT, CGC Evaluator

Dog training services include

  • Aggressive dog training
  • Deaf dog training
  • Reactive dog training
  • Board and train
  • In home training
  • Puppy training

More info about Sarah Surritt's dog training:

I offer positive, Safe & Humane Dog Training Online & In Person. I help pet parents train using kind and positive methods so that they can bring out the best in their dog and have an amazing relationship built on trust and joy. In-person Training: group classes are offered for all ages, sizes & breeds (puppy preschool, kinder, adult manners) in small group settings (4-5 dogs max). Specialty group classes like Loose Leash Walking, Come When Called, Bark class (for reactive dogs) and more. Private training in-person consultation for puppies (all areas of care for new puppies), basic manners and behavior modification for nervous, fearful or reactive dogs. Day training options are available also. Board and Train options for traveling pet owners are available in a home environment for puppies under 6 months. Online Training Options: Low cost monthly support group- "The Pawsitive Training Club", Private one on one training, and "The Pawsitive Puppy Training Academy"- a 6 week self-study puppy program.

Behavioral issue focus:

Often work with new, young puppies- mouthing, biting, jumping, potty training, basic manners. Other common issues heavily working with pet owners include: reactivity on leash, high level of fear of people, fear of dogs, fear of children, new child/baby in the home, working with human behaviorial issues, bite history, anxiety, generalized anxiety, socialization to all things, pulling on leash, counter surfing, chasing/barking at cats, inter-household aggression, resource guarding , multi-dog household, rescued feral street dogs, work with two rescues/shelters -hands on with their dogs

Dog training methods:

I help new pet parents train their dogs using kind, positive methods so that they can feel confident they can bring out the best in their dog and have an amazing relationship build on trust and joy. An initial consultation is starting point for all privates. Includes lengthy online application to gain dog's /family history/behavioral focus areas. Consult is in the home or online. Followed by a thorough follow-up plan for continued training/recommendations/management plan and package options for addtil support. For private ongoing sessions follow ups to clients vary based on their learning style. May include all/some of the following: text message summaries, email recap, video tutorials, shared google doc for goal tracking/daily tasks, daily or weekly check-ins with student. Access to our online client resource page with videos/printables is also offered to both in person and online students. All training is shaped, captured or lured. There is no use of punitive, aversive training or tools. I train using a marker signal (mostly a clicker) and teach students the same. Instruction style is verbal as well as hands on- I often use video to record and share for feedback and guidance as well

Why I became a dog trainer:

For my lifelong love of and experience training with my own animals as a young child- I knew there was a kinder way. To help make a difference in the lives of the dogs and to help educate and spread the power of safe, positive and humane training methods to as many people as possible. I strives to educate them, demonstrating that the safest, most effective, and humane way to train dogs, in the shelter or at home, is to reinforce the behavior you do want vs suppress/punish

My favorite part of being a dog trainer:

I love teaching people that giving dogs more CHOICES through science-based training leads to success and some really wonderful light bulb moments with owners and their pups- all resulting in a wonderful bond.

My #1 dog training tip:

Teach your dog to WANT to do what you want him to do.

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David Adams

Aug 7, 2026

Dog Trainers

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