Make Yours A
Happy Dog!
Dog Training & Caregiving Support
Serving the Santa Ynez Valley, North and South Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County and Malibu.
About Us
26 Years of Experience With All Breeds and Sizes
Our founder and dog trainer, Gem Rillwell, has over 26 years of experience training dogs at a professional level in the areas of basic obedience and behavior correction. She trains all breeds and sizes. She specializes in German Shepherds and Border Collies. She also specializes in rescue dogs who've experienced abandonment, abuse, neglect, or any other traumatic event in their lives.
Gem is a gifted dog trainer. She combines her excellent communication skills, comprehensive understanding of dogs and canine behavior, keen sense of intuition, and knowledge of what actually works when training dogs and their owners together to help her students meet basic obedience or behavior correction training goals with great success!
Gem has independently rescued, trained and/or placed myriad abandoned dogs over the years. Dogs trust Gem. They sense her warmth and the depth of LOVE she holds for them.
About Our Founder and Dog Trainer
Gem Rillwell currently serves as an active Volunteer with HEET (Horse Emergency Evacuation Team) of San Luis Obispo County & Santa Ynez Valley. She is dedicated to helping all animals when they are in need of help. Gem holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She's also the recipient of advanced educational training from the University of California Los Angeles, Professional Program Screenwriting. Gem has always had a great Love for dogs and all animals. She is passionate about helping dogs and their owners with their dog training and dog caregiving support needs.
Sometimes one dog can change your life forever.
- Gem Rillwell
Our Services
Commitment & Excellence
Basic Obedience
Our trainer comes to your home to work with you and your dog together. This is a 6 to 8 week minimum program with 3 follow-up refresher courses offered free of charge after the completion of training.
*Modified basic obedience training programs also available when applicable. Specific issues such as improving leash work usually apply here. Rates vary.
**Sliding scale rates available for qualified clients and their dogs. We want to be there for you and your dog, regardless of unforseen challenges you might be experiencing.
Behavior Correction
Our trainer comes to your home to work with you and your dog together. This is a 4 to 8 week minimum program with 3 follow-up refresher courses offered free of charge after the completion of training.
*Modified behavior correction training programs also available when applicable. Rates vary.
**Sliding scale rates available for qualified clients and their dogs. We want to be there for you and your dog, regardless of unforseen challenges you might be experiencing.
Dog Caregiving Support
Happy Dog! offers extensive caregiving support for canine graduates of our dog training program AND for other well-behaved dogs. We can help to administer prescribed veterinary medicines (when you are away from home and your dog needs his/her prescribed medicines at a specific time during the day). We can help with other caregiving needs that may arise for your dog while you are away OR while you are home, yet handling a very busy workload or schedule.
Happy Dog! offers educational consultations for veterinary healthcare RESOURCES to help empower you, if a health crisis or health challenge were to occur for your dog. In such cases, we serve to educate and guide you to Western veterinarians, Holistic veterinarians, and other veterinary healthcare resources in your area. We also serve to guide you to other resources to help you take good care of your dog. Our educational consultations purpose to help you gain clarity, strength, and support. Within the framework of the educational consultation, we work with you to create a useful and practical caregiving support plan of care for your dog. *We are not veterinarians. We do not prescribe veterinary care. All information that we provide is solely for educational purposes.
We care about your dog and his/her best friend: you. We want you to have everything you need to remain calm, educated, well informed and strong, if a health crisis or temporary health challenge were to occur for your dog.
We know the path. We are here for you.
Happy Dog! extends itself to you for all of your dog caregiving support needs.
Animal Communication & Transition Support
Questions often include matters of importance to you related to your dog. The communication Gem receives is from your dog’s perspective. Photos are necessary, unless Gem has met your dog in person.
Dog Sitting
If you live in proximity to our home office and need someone to look in on your dog at your home, we can be your resource. We can also extend this service to include other animals in your household who are home with your dog (cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, & goats, for example).
Dog Walking
If you live in proximity to our home office and need someone to walk your dog for you, we can be your resource.
Advanced Training
Advanced Dog Training available for scouting and other specialized requests. Solid basic obedience dog training skills required before entry into Advanced Training programs. *Rates vary. Discounts for basic obedience Happy Dog! graduates. Advanced Training can be a lot of fun!
Happy Dog!
Tails are wagging! People are smiling! Hearts are filled with Love.
The bond you share and create with your dog has the potential of being one of the most profound and joy-filled experiences of your life.
With clear understanding on the part of both your dog & yourself and a practical dog training program that utilizes a gentle, yet disciplined approach, anything is possible with regard to educating your dog for lasting positive behavior. - Gem Rillwell
