760-266-PAWS
About Us
HEY THERE!
I'm Sarah
Sarah Surritt, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Owner & Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Believer that great training begins with connection
Growing up, I was that kid...the one always bringing home stray animals and begging my mom to let me keep them. Thankfully, she usually said yes, and my lifelong love of animals began. But it wasn’t until I started volunteering with the San Diego Humane Society in 2001 that I discovered there was a different way to train: one built on positive reinforcement, kindness, and understanding rather than punishment.
That discovery ultimately inspired Get Pawsitive Dog Training and continues to shape my approach today. As a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), I believe effective training isn’t just about changing behavior—it’s about understanding why behavior is happening, listening to what our dogs are communicating, and giving them an active role in the learning process.
At the heart of my training is the relationship between dogs and their people. I believe trust, choice, clear communication, and positive reinforcement create not only better learning, but stronger connections that extend far beyond a training session. Over the years, I’ve applied these same principles with dogs as well as horses, cats, goats, chickens, and even my rescue pig, Toby...continually reinforcing my belief that good training begins with understanding the individual animal in front of us.
I also partner with Rancho Coastal Humane Society, where I mentor volunteer dog trainers and serve as an evaluator for its Pet-Assisted Therapy (PAT) program. I lead Get Pawsitive’s Heart to Heart Pet-Assisted Therapy Dog Prep Class, helping dogs and their handlers build the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed for therapy environments. This six-week specialty course provides important stepping stones toward therapy work while helping each dog-handler team determine whether this rewarding work is the right fit for them. I’m also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
When I’m not training, I’m a wife and mom to three boys and can usually be found cheering them on from the sidelines, spending time with my family, or enjoying the outdoors. At home, life is rarely quiet with horses, chickens, cats, goats, a pig, and Abby, my four-year-old Springer Spaniel. Abby and I especially love competing together in dock diving, while I also enjoy hiking, running, horseback riding, trips to the beach and river, and just about any adventure that gets me outside with the people and animals I love.
MEET THE TEAM
Patti O'Farrell, CSAT, KPA-CTP
Certified Dog Trainer & Separation Anxiety Specialist
Believer in positive reinforcement and understanding the “why” behind behavior
Patti has been an integral part of the Get Pawsitive team for more than 13 years, working with pet dogs, foster dogs, shelter dogs, and just as importantly, the humans who love them. Her approach is rooted in positive reinforcement and a genuine curiosity about why behavior is happening, rather than simply trying to stop it.
As a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), Patti brings extensive education and experience to her work. She has spent nine years training volunteers and working with behaviorally challenged dogs at Rancho Coastal Humane Society and has continued her education in areas including reactivity, aggression, fear and shyness, resource guarding, and family-dog relationships. Patti especially enjoys helping families navigate separation anxiety and behavior challenges that can feel overwhelming or difficult to know how to address.
At the heart of Patti’s training is her love of teaching. She believes good training should help people better understand their dogs while giving both ends of the leash the skills and confidence to succeed. Her goal is to create a strong foundation, make training enjoyable, and help families see just how much is possible when we work with our dogs.
One of Patti’s favorite parts of training is watching that understanding begin to click, seeing a dog engaged and enjoying the learning process while their person realizes, “We can do this.”
When she’s not teaching, Patti enjoys spending time with her two rescue pups, Peaches and Maggie.
Libby Lucas, CPDT,-KA, ABC-DT
Certified Dog Trainer
Believer of keenly listening to and observing our dogs
For more than nine years, Libby has brought her thoughtful, observant, and compassionate approach to the Get Pawsitive team. A lifelong lover of both domesticated and wild animals, Libby has a remarkable ability to tune in to the subtle ways dogs communicate. She believes that truly listening to and understanding what a dog is telling us is an essential part of building trust and creating successful, lasting change.
Libby is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), with experience in private training, Board & Train programs, and group and specialty classes. Over the years, she has taught countless puppy classes and helped families navigate everything from foundation skills and everyday manners to confidence building and more challenging behaviors. Her experience also extends beyond dogs, Libby is especially comfortable working with and training cats using positive reinforcement.
At the heart of Libby’s approach is the belief that dog training is really dog-and-human training. She understands that a successful relationship depends just as much on how we listen, communicate, and respond to our dogs as it does on the choices they make. She takes great care in meeting each dog where they are, building trust and helping clients develop greater confidence and understanding along the way.
A retired biologist with a background in habitat and wildlife conservation, Libby’s love of learning and animals continues well beyond her training work. She has volunteered with both Rancho Coastal and San Diego Humane Societies and continues to expand her knowledge through professional conferences, training publications, and continuing education.
Cydney Litt, CPDT,-KA, ABC-DT, CGC Evaluator
Certified Dog Trainer
Believer in building confidence through trust, choice
& positive reinforcement
Cydney’s love of dogs started long before she was able to have one of her own. As an adult, she rescued Leeloo, a two-year-old Lab mix from a Los Angeles shelter, and the two formed an immediate bond. Leeloo’s ability to bring comfort, connection, and plenty of smiles helped inspire Cydney’s journey into dog training and ultimately a career centered around helping dogs and their people thrive together.
Cydney began her professional training journey through Animal Behavior College, earning her ABCDT certification, and went on to earn her CPDT-KA and Fear Free certifications. She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Through her work teaching group classes, private lessons, Day Training, and Board & Train programs, Cydney has gained experience with everything from puppy foundations and everyday manners to confidence building, cooperative care, and more challenging behavior concerns.
Cydney especially loves working with puppies and adolescent dogs, helping families understand the developmental stages that come with raising a young dog while building strong foundation skills from the start. She also has a special love for teaching group classes, tricks, and cooperative care.
At the heart of Cydney’s training is a commitment to positive reinforcement and force-free methods. She believes training should be ethical, science-based, and designed to minimize stress while still being fun for both dogs and their people.
Her favorite moments as a trainer are the “lightbulb” moments—when a dog and their person suddenly understand one another a little better. Whether it’s watching a family have fun learning together, seeing a puppy master a new skill, or helping a worried dog become more comfortable and relaxed, Cydney loves seeing the progress that comes from building trust, communication, and connection.
Our Certifications & Memberships
