About Caitlin Lee

CSCC (2025)

Hi, I’m Caitlin Lee, founder of Sunshine K9! I’ve seen firsthand how K9 fitness can transform a dog and I’m not just talking about strength. To me, that’s just a bonus. The most rewarding part about K9 fitness in my opinion is the confidence that comes with it and I cannot wait to do that for your dog! 

I’ve loved dogs from the moment I was born! I grew up being surrounded by Labrador Retrievers and was constantly doing obedience training, watching my mom show conformation when I was a baby (so she tells me, I can’t remember, ha!) and so much more.

My journey with canine fitness actually started in 2023 with my dog Annie (also known as Annie Bananie in AKC. I just know the team loved inputting that into their system along with my other dog Diesel Weasel, who you’ll meet next HA!). 

Annie is my first dog that ever needed to have a job and she’s also my first sport dog. I’ve never done the DNA test but I’m fairly confident she’s got border collie in her. Once you meet her or even watch her go, you’ll get it. One summer I decided to try something new indoors to keep her going since it was too hot to do her agility training and discovered the AKC Fit class. It was like this light bulb went off with the two of us. 

We completed all three levels of AKC Fit, and the dog that walked into level one was not the same dog that walked out at level three. She was confident, less fearful, stronger, happier, fulfilled. This struck a nerve in me to learn more about K9 fitness. That’s when I discovered companies like FitPaws and Blue-9 which then introduced me to the very program I got my Canine Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification through: North Carolina State University and North Carolina State University Veterinary Medicine.

In that same year, 2023, my dog Diesel tore his CCL. He had TPLO surgery and made a phenomenal recovery. Since Annie’s AKC Fit class and Diesel’s recovery was happening at the same time, it made me wonder, should he be doing K9 fitness too?

At the time, all I saw in any K9 fitness videos were your typical sport dogs: border collies, australian shepherds, etc. (which don’t’ get me wrong, I want one of each, ha!). I thought, why is it that I don’t see any XL breeds being represented? Is anyone else wondering if their large or giant breed dog could do this too? I instantly started showing Diesel in fitness videos and everyone loved it. It made my heart so happy to see people giving him just as much love as Annie. 

This gave me my number one motto/mission: K9 fitness is for ALL dogs. ALL breeds. ALL ages. ALL sizes. Because it’s just like with us right? Staying healthy and fit isn’t just for athletes or olympians. It’s for everyone! If you’re ready to learn how fitness can help your dog, let’s get started!