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Meet Carlos
Experience. Education.
By Canine High School | k9HS Online
Carlos
CDBC | CPDT-KA
Head Trainer & Educator
Carlos (He/Him) is the head trainer and educator at K9HS Online, our online school, and at Canine High School in Long Beach, CA—a force-free Puppy School and Dog School. He is the creator of the k9HS Dog Training System, Curriculum, and Philosophy, all grounded in evidence-based, force-free training with a strong emphasis on relationships and honoring both dogs and humans as individuals.
Carlos is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). These credentials reflect advanced education in canine behavior, learning theory, behavior assessment, and ethical, humane training practices.
His behavior consulting work focuses on understanding why behaviors occur by examining emotional state, learning history, environment, and daily context. Rather than addressing symptoms alone, Carlos designs behavior plans informed by evidence-based behavioral theory, integrating training, practical management, and emotional support to help families build clarity, trust, and long-term stability.
Alongside his client work, Carlos leads the k9HS teaching school, where he mentors aspiring professionals through structured apprenticeship and internship programs. As a Certified Mentor Trainer for multiple national training schools, he emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and the responsible application of behavioral theory in real-world settings.
He lives in Long Beach, CA, in a little house by the beach with his human, three dogs—GoGo, Kiba, and Choji—and one sassy cat named Habibti.
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant | Virtual Assessments & Consulting
Online Tutoring Sessions | Online Courses | Educational Blog
Resources and Educational Tools For Professional Trainers
Carlos
CDBC
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
By the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed
By the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Occupational Aggressive Dog Safety Consultant
Los Angeles County
Training & Policy Advisory Role
Certified Mentor Trainer
Long Beach Economic Development Dpt
By Animal Behavior College and & CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
AKC Evaluator
Temperament & CGC
By the American Kennel Club - AKC
Volunteer Work
pay it forward
Shelter
Volunteer work
SPCA-LA | Seal Beach Animal Care Center
Carlos volunteered at SPCA-LA, where he worked directly with shelter dogs. During this time, he gained valuable experience in security procedures, cross-contamination protocols, and understanding shelter dog behavior. He also volunteered at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center, where he focused on working with more challenging cases to help increase those dogs’ chances of adoption.
Rescue
Volunteer work
Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation | Sparky and the Gang
Carlos has volunteered his time training, boarding, and rehabilitating several urgent cases for the Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation and Sparky and the Gang, two local dog rescues in Long Beach. Among these cases were dogs scheduled for euthanasia at the shelter who, through his efforts and the support of the rescues, were ultimately placed in loving forever homes where they now live full and happy lives. One especially memorable case was a feral dog named River, whom Carlos helped overcome severe trauma and fear; River now thrives with a caring local family.
Community
Education & Support
Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation | Sparky and the Gang
Carlos believes that community support is essential to building lasting success for both dogs and their families. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, he created and taught several online series of weekly community classes, ensuring that dog parents, fosters, and adopters continued to have access to positive training resources during a challenging time. Today, he leads the only local reactivity class in Long Beach, offered free of charge to financially impacted families who would otherwise be unable to access this specialized type of training. The program also provides critical support for rescue and shelter adopters, helping them address behavioral challenges, strengthen the human–canine bond, and reduce the likelihood of dogs being relinquished back to shelters.
Building on this commitment, in 2026 Carlos will launch the first Puppy Preschool program in Long Beach, also free of charge to the community. This program will focus on early socialization, confidence building, and positive foundational skills, ensuring that puppies and their families start off on the right path. Together, these initiatives reflect Carlos’s dedication to making force-free, high-quality training accessible to all, while fostering a stronger and more compassionate dog community.
Work Abroad
Spanish Language volunteer work
Vieques Human Society and Animal Rescue in Puerto Rico | Voz Animal in Sopo, Colombia | Territorio de Zaguates, Hereida, Costa Rica
Carlos volunteered his time training the dedicated team at the Vieques Humane Society and Animal Rescue in Puerto Rico, where he also created Spanish-language online training courses for staff and volunteers. He later supported Voz Animal, a dog rescue in Sopó, Colombia, by developing security and cross-contamination protocols. During his time there, he lived on the property, worked closely with many of the dogs, and cared for a seriously ill dog that ultimately recovered from a severe case of kennel cough. In Costa Rica, Carlos visited and donated to Territorio de Zaguates, known as the “Land of the Strays,” a sanctuary managing several hundred free-roaming dogs under the care of dedicated staff.
Work Abroad
Speaking / Training volunteer work
Dýrahjálpar Íslands (Animal Rescue of Iceland), Reykjavik, Iceland
Carlos volunteered his time with Dýrahjálpar Íslands (Animal Rescue of Iceland) in Reykjavík, delivering speaking workshops and training support for rescue foster families, caseworkers, local trainers, and animal control officers. His work focused on force-free training concepts, including cooperative care practices and the assessment, management, and treatment of reactivity, supporting more humane handling, improved safety, and better outcomes for dogs in rescue and community care.