THE HUMAN BEHIND SUNSHINE DOG TRAINING

Howdy! I'm Stacy Greer.

CERTIFIED DOG TRAINER. MOM. FELLOW DOG OWNER.

I help you enjoy the puppy you were so excited to bring home.

I’m a mom, a dog owner, and a certified professional dog trainer who’s been helping families since 1999. I know what it’s like to love your puppy and still need five minutes when nobody is biting you or stealing something. I help overwhelmed puppy owners make sense of the chaos, figure out what to do next, and start enjoying life with their dogs. Expect practical help, straight answers, and a sense of humor. Puppyhood requires all three.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT ME

Why me, how I train & what I believe . . .

Why Families Choose Me
How I Train
What I Believe About Puppy Training

Science, Structure, and a Redhead Who Means It

I'm a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed and Fear Free Certified Professional who's been helping puppies and their people since 1999.

I’m known for being fun, confident, and not easily rattled. Redheads are known for their fire, and I use mine to bring consistency, clarity, and follow-through to every client I work with.

Your puppy will get structure. You’ll get straight answers. And I’ll make sure you both succeed.

Download my free guide, "Understanding How Pups Learn".

Real Life. Real Families. Real Schedules.

I understand that you have a life outside of your dog. Kids. Work. Activities. Exhaustion. Noise.

I do not expect you to rearrange your entire world around your puppy. I teach you how to train within your lifestyle, not abandon it. Training should support your life, not take it over.

I help you build structure that fits into busy days, chaotic evenings, and real family dynamics. The goal is not perfection. The goal is a dog who can live successfully in your world.

And yes, I will hold you accountable, but I will also make it doable.

What is a Yes Trainer?

A “Yes Trainer” is a mindset.

It means I focus on reinforcing what is going right instead of waiting to correct what is going wrong. I do not just stop unwanted behavior. I teach and strengthen a better alternative until it becomes the obvious choice.

Dogs repeat what works. When calm, focus, and polite behavior consistently pay off, they become habits.

Kind Does Not Mean Soft

Yes training is not permissive. It is intentional, structured, and rooted in how learning actually happens. The result is a dog who understands the rules, feels confident following them, and responds because they know what works, not because they fear getting it wrong.

Download my free guide, "Understanding How Pups Learn".

Science-Based Methods

My methods are rooted in behavioral science and positive reinforcement. Research in operant conditioning demonstrates that reinforced behaviors increase reliably, while aversive methods risk stress and fallout. I focus on clear communication, motivation, and skill building so behavior change is lasting.

For those who like receipts, explore B.F. Skinner’s work on learning theory and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s statements on humane training practices. Download my free guide, "Understanding How Pups Learn".

Reward-Based Training

Reward-based training means I teach your dog what to do and reinforce those behaviors so they become reliable. Decades of research in operant conditioning show that behaviors followed by reinforcement increase in frequency and strength.

Instead of relying on fear or discomfort, I use motivation, clear communication, and structured practice to build lasting skills.

THE STORY BEHIND SUNSHINE DOG TRAINING

The dog who changed my life.

One dog changed the course of my life. When my first dog bit me in college, I wasn't looking for a quick fix—I wanted to understand why. That question eventually became my career.
I was bewildered and sad.

I didn’t want to punish him. I only wanted to understand him.

I left college, packed my bags, and moved to New York City to attend dog training school full-time. Because I needed answers. And I knew other people needed them too ... and so it began for me ...

My Story

Vision
To help every puppy owner replace overwhelm with clarity and raise a calm, confident dog they’re proud to live with.
Journey
A bite from my own dog in 1999 launched a two-decade career helping families understand and train their dogs the right way.
Promise
I deliver science-based, reward-focused guidance that works in real life — no gimmicks, no guesswork, just lasting results.
Personal
First and foremost, I’m a wife and mom. That responsibility drives the integrity, patience, and standards I bring to my work.
Vision
To help every puppy owner replace overwhelm with clarity and raise a calm, confident dog they’re proud to live with.

Replace overwhelm with confidence.

I believe puppyhood should bring more joy than stress. My goal is simple: help families replace overwhelm with clarity, build calm behavior one step at a time, and raise dogs they're proud to live with for years to come.

Journey
A bite from my own dog in 1999 launched a two-decade career helping families understand and train their dogs the right way.

Understanding behavior

When my first dog bit me, I wasn't looking for someone to tell me how to punish him. I wanted to understand why. That question led me to New York City, where I immersed myself in canine behavior and learning theory. What started as a search for answers for my own dog became a career dedicated to helping other families understand theirs.

The foundation hasn't changed in 27 years: understand the dog, teach with clarity, and build trust that lasts.

Promise
I deliver science-based, reward-focused guidance that works in real life — no gimmicks, no guesswork, just lasting results.

Proven in real life, backed by science

You won't find intimidation, outdated dominance myths, or quick fixes here. You'll find practical, science-based training that fits real life and helps you build calm, lasting behavior one lesson at a time.

Personal
First and foremost, I’m a wife and mom. That responsibility drives the integrity, patience, and standards I bring to my work.

Rooted at Home

Before I'm a trainer, I'm a wife, a mom to three daughters, and dog mom to Charlotte Betty, and Rudy. I know what it's like to juggle work, kids, busy schedules, and a puppy who's determined to turn your evening upside down. That's why everything I teach is designed to fit into real life—not take it over.

If you've made it this far, thank you for trusting me with a little of your story. I'd be honored to be part of the rest of it.