We know that life can sometimes get off to a ruff start, but we believe that the universe can throw you a bone at any time. We’re here to help dog and human underdogs improve their communication and strengthen their bond through positive reinforcement training.
Maybe your dog is an underdog, too.
We're underdogs
Underdogs Long Beach offers force-free training for dogs through positive reinforcement. We train clients (and their dogs 😉) here in Long Beach and all over the world with remote, online training sessions.
Our primary goal is to help you understand your dog’s behavior and learn how to make sustainable behavior modifications through positive reinforcement.
Whether you want to enrich the life of your new rescue pup or you’re frustrated by behaviors like leash pulling or digging, we’re here to guide you and empower you to become an expert in dog behavior.
We want you to feel confident and calm with whatever surprises your dog has in store for you (even when your pup is snacking at the Kitty Litter Buffet). The Underdogs team will focus on you so that your dog can focus on being a happy dog!
Science-based dog training with heart
Jason Richardson is an artist, musician, and certified dog trainer—but please, call him Richie!
Richie joined the Underdogs team to allow Jill to help even more dog families and (let’s be honest) to spend more time with puppies. Richie is the Chief Pupperino Officer of Underdogs, where his sense of humor, infectious lightness, and unending patience will allow him to help puppies become confident dogs.
When Richie isn’t working with Jill, you’ll find him organizing his record collection and running the show at GARAGEROCK! Records, or working on his next sketch, poster, or painting.
Jill Guin is certified at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA CTP) and The University of Washington in Applied animal Behavior (UW-AAB), based in Long Beach, California, and works with clients virtually worldwide. Jill offers both canine obedience training and behavior modification therapy. Her goal is to improve the lives of dogs by teaching their owners a new way of thinking about dog behavior and demonstrating positive reinforcement techniques.
While Jill works with all ages and species, she takes a special interest in rescue dogs and dogs, learning to adjust to life in their forever homes. Jill is deeply committed to keeping dogs out of shelters and helping them become the dogs they were meant to be!
When Jill is not working with you and your dog, she fosters shelter dogs to help them prepare for their new beginnings! She’s a sucker for a happy ending and loves witnessing the amazing transformations of these dogs who otherwise might not find new homes.
Jill and Richie
Meet The Underdogs
Continuing education is a key part of the Underdogs training approach. Here are just some of the continuing education programs she has recently attended:
- Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior - University of Washington (in progress)
- Living and Learning with Animals - Dr. Susan Friedman
- The Great Big Dog Aggression Workshop - Michael Shikashio
- Let Animals Lead (Animal Reiki Certification Class)
- Instrumental Learning - Dr. Kristina Spaulding
- The Science of Fear - Dr. Kristina Spaulding
- Advanced Concepts in Instrumental Learning - Dr. Kristina Spaulding
- The Power of Choice: How it Can Decrease Stress in Dogs - Dr. Kristina Spaulding and Irith Bloom
Jill's Education
Meet The Underdogs
Some Kinds Words From Fellow Dog Owners
I cannot stress how integral of a role they played in helping me raise my German shepherd puppy. My puppy is still learning, as I am as well, but everywhere we go my puppy gets compliments on how sweet and well behaved she is! Their approach to training is supported by science and it’s force free. I’m super grateful for reaching out to them for their services! I highly highly recommend them!
Jill and Richie are seriously the best!
1/3
ill is absolutely the best. She is not just training your dog. She is teaching you to understand your dog and communicate better. We have 2 dogs. One has been adopted very recently and needed some help. Jill was so patient and so kind with her. At some point she worked with both of our dogs. Now our dogs get along better, behave better and we could not be happier.
I would have given 10 stars if I could.
2/3
Ginger has progressed so much over the course of the sessions we've had, but so have my partner and I as dog owners! It's clear that Jill cares not just about her work during our sessions, but the continued quality of life for the dogs and owners she works with.
Jill's been incredible and our dog absolutely loves her.
3/3
Our goal is to be the voice of underdogs everywhere. Whether that’s you, your dogs, or underserved and marginalized communities.
I am a certified animal trainer, using force-free methods backed by science. However, this doesn’t mean that I am no stranger to punishment— quite the contrary.
In my life and work, I am very well versed in aggression. I came from a childhood where punishment was a way to correct my behavior, as did my parents. This punishment style was a learned behavior, possibly a result of the environment and genetics.
I used to brag that I could out-mad anybody. Or that I could be tough “like a man” to be taken seriously.
I guess it’s no wonder that when I started training dogs, I found myself working under aversive dog trainers (we’re talking heavy duty stuff like kick corrections and shock collars). At the time, I thought that was Animal Science.
But luckily the universe threw me a bone and led me to positive reinforcement, the science of behavior, and in turn, a massive healing journey.
As I’ve dedicated my life to learning about behavior, I have also changed how I communicate in the world. I’ve been blessed with clients on similar healing journeys. We bond and grow while helping our animals heal as well as ourselves.
This journey has helped me understand why I once defaulted to punitive behaviors and helped set me on the right path.
Maybe that’s why I especially enjoy working with rescue dogs or misunderstood underdogs who may be experiencing excessive anxiety due to previous neglect or trauma.
Adjusting to family life can be tough for a rescue, but I would love to help your dog build confidence, learn new things, and live a truly enriched life. And I know that the only way to do that is to guide you to become a well-educated, compassionate dog owner.
Underdogs’ Values
As celebration and support of diversity of all kinds, we are donating 2% of our income to local BIPOC charities
We supplement our animal education with anti-racism and human rights education such as podcasts, courses, and books
We allow for open conflict and discomfort. We are looking to learn from our mistakes, so we will embrace uncomfortable conversations
Long-term, we want to hire BIPOC who are interested in working with animals
We have and will continue to talk about politics as a business. Many members and supporters of the animal advocacy community would rather “stick to animals,” but we refuse to be silent when it comes to human rights
Going forward, we are making the following commitments to learning, unlearning, and taking tangible action:
Underdogs Long Beach is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism.
We recognize all types of diversity including ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and abilities. We acknowledge our own privilege and the ways in which we benefit from white supremacist systems.
It goes without saying that we love animals and we want to educate humans to be incredible animal advocates. But we also recognize and witness that many pets in the US have a better life than many people in the same country.
While we are proud to see animal advocacy work grow, we see very little advocacy for racism and human rights issues in our own city. At Underdogs, we will fight and advocate for humans with the same intensity that we do for dogs.
Our Commitment to DEI
