Inside the PetSmart at 9896 Mission Gorge Road, PetSmart Dog Training in Santee runs multi-week group and private courses led by Accredited Pet Trainers certified through the chain's internal program. Group classes cap at four to ten dogs and progress through three levels — puppy foundations, beginner obedience, and advanced skills — while controlled in-store distractions build focus, a structured socialization model also employed by off-site facilities like Pawsome Pups Dog Care in neighboring La Mesa. Virtual sessions are available for owners who prefer at-home instruction, and combination packages bundle two or more course levels at a reduced per-class rate. Behavioral concerns that may have a medical component are screened in coordination with Pet Urgent Care in La Mesa, where veterinary assessments can rule out pain-driven reactivity before a training plan is finalized. The Stress Less program, a three-week module for dogs ten weeks and older exhibiting separation anxiety, uses desensitization protocols and graduated departure exercises.