My husband and I are first-time shelter dog owners. When we adopted our 9 month old border collie mix, we were told by a behaviorist that he was not well socialized and that we would have some catching up to do to keep him from developing aggression toward other dogs, and that we should do it quickly since he would be soon be entering adolescence. As our excitement turned to worry, we set out to find a trainer to help Oscar (and as we would later find out, us too!) Thankfully, we found Dog Evolve and Pamela! We chose Pamela because of her many years of experience, including her background as a dog walker before becoming a trainer, which gives her a particularly good understanding of dog-dog social interaction. This was confirmed when Pamela came to our place to evaluate Oscar, along with a large, medium, and small-sized dog in tow! Our jaws dropped as we watched Oscar transform right before our eyes, from a timid dog to a confident one who according to Pamela had excellent, natural play skills and just needed some work around the edges. We really appreciated her practical, "no panic" approach to training -- it's about progress not perfection, it's never too late, and she is there to help. We opted for intensive private training, and in just 6 weeks Oscar learned basic obedience, leash skills, play skills, and recall. I remember the first time we watched Oscar have a lesson with Pamela on Crissy Fields Beach, it just melted my heart. He greeted her with such enthusiasm and affection (I've never seen a tail wag so hard!) and to see him running around leash-free answering to his name was just amazing. She then taught us what we needed to know to reinforce the new behaviors that she had installed. (But you learn pretty quickly why she's the professional, and you're the amateur!) Pamela brings her whole heart and soul to her work. She worked really hard for us, answering all our numerous questions because she knew we were newbies and wanted to build our confidence as much as Oscar's. She is a dedicated advocate for dogs, a lover of teaching and learning, and is just a great person all-around. You never feel too inept because she is naturally positive and encouraging. She opened our eyes to what a truly wonderful relationship you can have with your dog using positive reinforcement, and she has taught us a lot about animal training and how to do it ourselves. We really feel like we hit the jackpot with both Oscar and Pamela! read more

Our pup just graduated from their Small Wonders class and it really was a big help. As with most dog training it is more about the owners than the dogs (let's face it, dogs are smart!). Pamela and Kelly were both fantastic. They gave us lots of pointers for teaching tricks, rewarding, and managing behavior. They were really good at catching us "cheating" or giving too much of a hint and were able to guide us as to how to properly train. We were even able to take problems we were having (Mochi joining us for dinner) to them and they gave us solutions. We look forward to taking more of their classes in the future. Did I mention that the location couldn't be more ideal? read more

My border collie mix is sweet, smart, and relatively easy to deal with at home, but he is also a bit of a spazz...I like to call him "special." Pamela and Jordaan have been major lifesavers for me and my silly pup, and I trust their judgment and care 100%. Hiring DogEvolve was the best thing I could have done when I started a new job in September 2012 and could no longer bring him to work with me. He runs and plays for hours every day with his best buds, and is happily snoring away when I get home after work. I get picture texts and emails with advice nearly every week, and both P&J are ultra-responsive if I have an after-hours question or concern. A couple months ago, puppy had some unexpected issues with being overly protective/cranky with other dogs, and their guidance (both via email and in person) has helped me get through it with easy tricks and tools to get him back on track. They're in hot demand, but snag a spot for your pup if you can! read more

Pamela W. is the best dog walker I've had in SF (she's my third). She delivers what she promises: - She improved my dog's behavior (he used to be very anxious around dogs, but her dog walks have improved him tremendously) - She walks him for a solid 2-3 hours, unlike other walkers I've had who dropped him off within 30-45 minutes. - MY DOG LOVES THEM! He runs to meet Pamela at the front door for his walk.. I can't tell you how happy I am with dogEvolve and Pamela - they are superb. read more

Our little rescue Beni is extremely anxious and Jordaan did a great job teaching us how to lower his stress level. Jordaan's philosophy made perfect sense and we have learned that we needed more training than Beni! We are definitely going to ask him back for more sessions - Great job, Jordaan!! read more

I can't say enough about these guys. If you're going to bring a new doggie into your home, especially if its a rescue and even more so if you have another dog in the home, call these guys. Start your new family off right by immediately getting into classes, talk to Pamela and get amazing consultation about your particular scenario. I love these guys - they've made the transition and our understanding of our new 1 year old a great experience. We're seeing real progress everyday. Thank you! Trish, Frank, Che Che and Hiro! read more

As an Academy grad, like these lovely ladies, I'd like to believe I can spot great trainers, and Pamela & Kelly are it. I had the pleasure of meeting these colleagues today and not only are they intensely knowledgable, but friendly - not to mention, hilarious! Working together for the betterment of dog life all over the city is one of the most important responsibilities facing dog professionals. As a trainer, I'm glad to have found two sincere & committed trainers to work with and refer to. Rock it out, ladies! read more

We've now had three private sessions with Kelley from dogEvolve... she is awesome. Patient, funny, and brilliant with our pets. She came to solve a very specific problem with our new dog and three cats --- he was chasing them and totally freaking them out. Kelley's tips, training, and advice solved the problem for two of the cats - but sadly not the third who remained completely freaked out (she was the shyest of all our cats) and because of this we couldn't keep the dog. We shared this news with Pamela and Kelley who were so compassionate, understanding, and helpful which made it so much easier to cope with such a difficult decision. We also enrolled our first dog into their "Small Wonders" class which was postponed for low enrollment (holidays, doh!)... because of the postponement, they very proactively offered a free, private session in our home. WOW.... I was amazed. What service! One of the reasons I chose them was because they do both classes and private training - but their commitment to their customers and expertise with training are totally unmatched. read more

I worked with Kelley Filson in December and January, 2011. She worked great with my dog. I think some people exude an energy that dogs react to positively or negatively, and my dog certainly had a positive effect being around Kelley. She was very pleasant and friendly to be around, but also took the sessions seriously and would not let casual talk get in the way, ensuring our time was always productive. Kelley came to my home for every session, and to my office for one session. She was always prompt and knew exactly what we were going to do. She was also very honest and charged me less if we ended even 15 minutes early. She has a deep understanding of dogs, and has in-depth knowledge about a multitude of techniques. She understands what really matters when it comes to working with a dog, and will fluidly work with an approach the owner is most comfortable with. read more

Pamela and Kristine are absolutely amazing. We hired them to train our new 5-month-old rescue puppy who had separation anxiety, was easily frightened by noises and new situations and was quite stubborn. (And also a wonderfully sweet girl!). Pamela and Kristine both clearly cared so much about our dog, and us as a family. Their training style is remarkably effective, and their deep understanding of dog behavior and psychology, as well as the psychology of how we humans interact with dogs, lead to a real turnaround for our pup. We mostly worked with Kristine, and with her attentive guidance, she is not only well trained to go on off-leash walks, but she also approaches new situations with confidence and, though she is very happy to see us when we get home, is much calmer when we are away. Kristine and Pamela are also both extremely responsive and kept up with us by email and text, sending lots of videos and photos of what they were working on so we could reinforce the training at home. They responded to questions immediately and were creative in coming up with ways to help. They were also wonderful with our 2 girls and helped them feel more confident in training our dog. I give them both my highest recommendation to anyone with a new dog, or an older one who needs to learn new tricks! read more

Pamela is excellent and we are long overdue in saying so! She helped us in all stages of setting up life with our new buddy, George, an Australian Labradoodle, from selecting a breed best suited to our family with toddler (and now baby), to picking a breeder, to assessing the temperament of each puppy in the litter, to, most importantly, helping train George to be the most amazing family dog. She worked with George 2-3 times a week for about a month or so when he was just a few months old. She helped him master basic commands, get comfortable with all sorts of people and dogs, and minimize puppy mouthiness. Later on she helped us nip some problems in the bud when he showed some signs of isolation distress and territorial barking. She is always willing to answer follow-up questions or troubleshoot via text message, which is enormously valuable. One of the things that makes Pamela so great is that she tells it to you straight. If something is concerning she lets you know and urges you to work on it. But she is also very reassuring and lets you know when something is *not* a big deal -- she doesn't try to capitalize on your worry to sell you on training you don't need. For example, we previously had a dog who developed extreme and severe fear-based aggression, so when, a few months back, George began barking and lunching at a neighborhood dog, we freaked out and called Pamela in a panic. Based on the information we gave her she told us it was likely just a teenage phase, or an isolated reaction to one dog, or both. Pamela then volunteered to coordinate with the other dog owner to schedule a meet-up to suss out the situation (which was really above and beyond). After spending an hour observing George with the neighborhood dog as well as taking him around to gauge his reaction to other dogs, she told us she was confident it was an isolated thing and we didn't need to worry that it was going to develop into a problem. She didn't try to sell us on a bunch of reactivity training we didn't need, and she was totally right -- George is now almost an adult dog and still doesn't love that particular dog, but it's literally the only creature in the world he isn't friendly with. I'd absolutely recommend Pamela, and highly recommend anyone with a puppy to book a package and work with her early. It's not cheap, but so worthwhile. George is amazingly tolerant and gentle with our kids, great with people and dogs both on and off leash, has no issues with strangers entering our home, and we can take him anywhere or leave him at home alone without worry. Well worth the investment! read more

I think dogEvolve is the greatest. Pamela and Kelley are really knowledgeable and have a great attitude. Classes were always fun and entertaining and they really know how to motivate the dogs as well as their owners to strive to learn more. I almost gave up on my dog Casper but am blown away at the vast improvement after taking their Recall class and having a private session with Pamela. Kudos-- you guys are the best! read more

The class, called "Leash Monsters", was just what I needed for my headstrong little Boston terrier. She was behaving badly when on walks, which made the experience less than enjoyable. And while she still has more progress to make, things have improved a lot thanks to Pamela and Kelly. The class was fun and they are really focused on each dog's personality and problems. They give lots of one on one attention and advice. I'm looking forward to some more of their classes. I think I probably need them all if I had the time. read more

I just had the pleasure of taking a class called "Boredom Busters". I've worked with both Pamela and Kelley in the past, but this was my first experience with their class. They are genuinely welcoming to dogs and people, alike! It was clear to me that even the timid little dog to my right was put at ease in no time at all! My dog enjoyed the class, and worked diligently on her food puzzles while I learned the importance of such things, and how to change up the skill level for her. The Ladies are personable, professional, and approachable. There is so much experience between the two of them and they share their expertise in an easy to grasp, frank and often amusing way. All questions and concerns were treated as important and relevant, and answered intelligently. The 90 minutes flew by, and the dogs seemed as relaxed as if they'd been to the spa! We also got a nifty take-home sheet underlining the important points of the class. Got problems with Fido? These two women will show you how to motivate and inspire him to get the behavior you want, so neither of you are frustrated! read more

I completely recommend DogEvolve and Pamela to anyone with dog issues. My very friendly golden retriever recently developed significant leash aggression and was becoming difficult to walk. He also had no recall and would "take off" when approached with a leash following a trail walk. Pamela's deep understanding of dog behavior and ability to teach (me and my dog) worked wonders in just a few weeks. My dog is now so much better behaved and he can walk both on leash and on the trails. I've tried other trainers, and Pamela is the best. And aside from being an excellent trainer, she is just a fun person with whom to work! read more

I just got a shelter puppy and I'm already a loyal DogEvolve client! Pamela helped me find my K9 match through local shelters....exactly the personality I was looking for...it was love at first sight....Not even a week yet and I'm devoted to this pup. His fixin was less than 40 hours after I got him...which kinda threw me for a loop because I didn't line up exactly what care I was going to do, but realized it was no time to try to start crate training or anything like that...I haven't had my own dog since I was young, so this is my first dog, so I'm quite green. And things have REALLY changed since the 80's when it comes to training. I have always had a firm belief that there is no excuse for not bringing your dog (and you) to obedience training. It's an animal,a being with a personality unique to it's own and no, you're not a natural, they may always love you at first sight, but humble yourself and know you have to be trained on how to train the dog. Anyways....being green, I was completely unprepared for my dog's moodyness after the surgery, and the problem behavior that would happen and in literally a day he'd go from my angel to my devil. And I secretly ignored her advice to not try to alpha male an aggressive dog because it can backfire because hell it's the old way I was trained and my last dog came out fine (he was a lot less to handle!) as she said "you can't stop aggression with aggression"...Well my move was a complete failure, ended up being a battle of the wills, and he won and tore my nice leather glove, and left me feeling completely overwhelmed and helpless about his behavior. And she was very right, that whole be the alpha male thing just made us argue, and a spectacle (thank god it was night and nobody was around...I don't know who they would think is worse, the dog, or the guy who should know better than to argue, then negotiate, then argue with an angry dog). I contacted Pamela in a panic, feeling completely overwhelmed and unprepared for his behavior- she pointed out the obvious, that he's going through a huge hormonal imbalance, of course he's cranky (duh), she spent 45 minutes for an emergency intervention appointment in the middle of the day, and showed us both what we needed to do. She has such a knack for knowing why dogs do what they do, and how to handle it, and has insight that would put that "dog whisperer" guy to shame....(She pointed out the many things that don't work about the way he does it, and apparently a lot of people who deal with animals professionally agree that this guys tactics can sometimes be way wrong). The things she showed me with him worked instantly, as if they collaborated behind my back to make me look like the obvious ass who didn't know what the hell is doing. Their training is not fear based (old school alpha mistake), they are positive reinforcement methods. So your dog is not going to end up messed up in the head, and you don't have to be a big bully. I look forward to their leash aggressiveness training "Leash Monsters" (though man he's being so much better!) and other classes, so he can be the best dog and I can be the best owner for him. As I said in the beginning....I'm completely in awe of the skills, and a loyal client now. If this was just one short session, I can't imagine the things I'll learn in the future. I am optimistic and happy again...and so is Lucky- the pep in his step came back! read more

I've been meaning to write this review for over a year, so Kelley & Alice, please accept my apologies! [but I'm making up for it by referring every ill-behaved pet I see to you!] I have a deaf dog, a big, tank-like deaf dog [american bulldog], and he's a rescue, so, I already have my hands full. He's a love-bug, but spoiled and stubborn. Then one day he gets beat-up badly at the dog park by 2 large dogs, and he is never again the same dog-loving dog. Now we're both fear aggressive, and of course, I'm making it worse. After a horrible trainer, who insisted on a prong collar, a grand down the drain and we're no better. Enter Alice, a client at the vet hospital I work for- who tells me Kelley has deaf dog experience [which is almost impossible to find]. I was very lucky in that I got to work with both Kelley and Alice [and my dog was very lucky as well, two trainers, two new friends, more treats] - amazing, quick results, it was this huge, horrifying burden lifted off me. It wasn't so much he was fear aggressive, but dog hyper, and I was just too nervous to ever let him get close to other dogs- but Kelley handling the reigns at a dog park proved it. Of course, I stood back biting my nails, terrified there would be blood shed, but no, he played gently, tail wagging, having the time of his life! Very reasonably priced, very thorough, and using all positive reinforcement, I couldn't have asked for more! Kelley and Alice- you two are the best! Popeye and I can't say thank you enough! read more

I can't say good enough things about dogEvolve! We bid on a gift certificate at an auction and set up a 1-1 with Kelley for helping our young doberman to come when she is called. Within two minutes Kelley had our puppy happily coming when called, even when she was playing with other dogs off leash. Completely amazing! She didn't stop there, she taught US how to continue to work with our pup and always get her to come. We have been using Kelley's tips and tricks since January with 100% success. If you are ever are in need of some training - CALL dogEvolve you won't be disappointed. read more

Yay dogEvolve!! I adopted from the SPCA a sweet little Chihuahua mix named Sophie, not knowing that even though she is super sweet with her humans, she has a ton of issues - basically she is afraid of dogs, children, some strangers... Anyway, I took her to a basic class at the SF SPCA which was meh, left me needing/wanting a little more personalized work. I found dogEvolve by reading these reviews on yelp, and looked over their website. I loved how the classes seemed geared towards city dogs and their city issues (it is embarrassing when your little 10-lb mutt starts lunging and growling at your neighbor's well-behaved super sweet giant dog). I spoke with Pamela on the phone about Sophie's issues (leash aggression, fear, separation anxiety), and she recommended I take the small dogs basics class. She and Kelley were super awesome at the class about addressing each of the dog owners' issues, and accommodated my mutt even though she hadn't been socialized with other dogs enough. (Some other trainers have this as a requirement - but if you can't socialize your dogs in a safe environment like a class with trainers, where are you supposed to do it??) They gave us all some tools to work with our dogs on our own, which was great. The socializing with other dogs at the class really helped Sophie as well. It is obvious they are both super into what they do - very knowledgeable and super friendly. But since Sophie has her own fear issues, I've started working with Pamela and Sophie in some private sessions. The timing was great too, as Sophie had just freaked out randomly (or so it seemed to me at the time, now I'm better educated thanks to Pamela) and bit a friend of mine!! :( Pamela was really good about calming my anxiety about this and teaching me all about reading Sophie's body language, how to keep her under her freak-out threshold, and to condition her to not be so afraid of people and other dogs. Pamela is really good about making sure the humans understand how the dogs are thinking. She really seems to love Sophie too, and the feeling is mutual; Sophie is super excited when she sees Pamela at the door and still wants to kiss her even when the treats are all gone. I also appreciate the acknowledgment that part of managing your dog's behavior is managing how it might look to other people: e.g. you don't want to look like you are rewarding your dog for bad behavior, when you are really just trying to create a positive association for them. Pamela also was real about expectations; I know that I'm not going to get the sweet golden retriever I grew up with out of Sophie, but we can probably get her to some kind of a happy place for us all. I'm going to take the recall class soon too, so that if and when Sophie can play nicely with others at the dog park, I'll be able to get her back again. This after she ran off leash on Mt Tam and we didn't see her for 15 minutes, she was off having the time of her life in the shrubbery.... Thank you dogEvolve! Oh and their prices/schedules for the classes are right on their website; perfect for someone like me that wants to see everything about a business online. :) read more

I don't think we could have stayed committed to our recent dog-adoption without Pamela. We adopted thinking we were getting an easy mellow dog and we found out he was... not. Her training for him and education for us showed us a way that we could make a life with our new companion work out well for everybody. Our dog's separation anxiety is now under control. We are continuing training by focusing on his reactivity. We appreciate Pamela's expertise with our dog's reactivity to city stressors and separation anxiety. She delivers it in chunks we can absorb without overwhelming us. We also appreciate her genuinely caring support. She's really good with our dog, patient with us, and willing to go above and beyond. Her methods with our dog are effective. She makes effective training by watching our dog's cues and easily adapts her technique. We've worked with her via private training sessions and training walks. We've also taken two workshops with Kelley specific to our dog's behavioral problems. We continue to benefit from what we learned at those workshops today. Our dog is on his way to being a well behaved metropolitan resident. We look forward to attending the Small Dog Social next Saturday. read more

This is actually Tripp's wife writing... I truly cannot say enough good things about Pamela, but I will try. We first met Pamela when our puppy, Biscuit, did a 4 day board & train with her while we were out of town for a long weekend. Biscuit came back SO happy, with lots of puppy friends and social skills, a "come" command that would knock your sock off and a "touch" command that deserved some kind of award. After Biscuit's training, Pamela sent me a highly detailed email with lots of advice for continuing her training, getting her to love her crate, and helping her channel her abundant energy. We also met regularly at Chrissy Field so Biscuit could play with all of her fellow small dog friends. Pamela would always treat Biscuit like one of her little crew and work with her on her manners, even though we were just crashing. Sadly, last month we were out of town Biscuit was being boarded elsewhere, she was in an accident and did not make it. Pamela was one of the first people I let know, and she has been endlessly supportive. She's cried with me, talked and texted with me, and been a huge support as I've pulled myself back together and started to look for a new puppy to love. If you are looking for someone to train your dog, train you for your dog, board your dog, walk your dog, anything for your dog - definitely call Pamela. 1 million stars. -Jessica J. read more

we have a 1 yr yorkie poo who barks at large dogs and kids, and sometimes people, so we wanted to know what we should do. we have been socializing him, so we didn't know what else to do. we found them on yelp and contacted them. they got back to me quick and we met pamela tonight. she is very fun and easy to talk to. she gave us easy-to-understand examples to explain her methods. we had a lot of questions about mochi's behaviors and what we have been doing to deal with them. she was patient and answered all of them, which made sense to us. it was our first meeting. mochi barked at her when she came in, but he was humping her towards the end of our session! he really liked her and got comfortable with her. we liked her also. so we will be working with her again at a park! read more

I've taken a "Never too late" older dog behavior class and a "Boredom Busting" class with this dynamic duo of Kelly and Pamela and not only did my dog Chuck and I see immediate results, we had a great time doing it. Chuck has brought so much furry goodness to my life, but as an older adoption, he also came with some issues to work through. In particular, he has serious separation anxiety. We've been working with Pamela (and occasionally Kelly too) on an individual basis for about 3 months and he has made real progress to becoming a happy and well-adjusted little guy. It brings me great joy to see to see him enjoying his new life. These women are very skilled and have big hearts as well. read more

Pamela Wyman is on it! I expect all dog trainers to speak dog and be clued in to dog behavior/instincts but she goes way beyond that. She: 1. Gets right to it (your money is well spent). 2. Does excellent follow-up (you process what you just learned by writing it up, she replies w/clarifications so you really get it and put the thoughts into action). 3. Offers fantastic Board & Train (dog sleepover at her place w/focused training & hearty romps, she picks up & drops off). Our goldendoodle cries when she says goodbye. 4. Is super reliable and has great energy Pamela helped us with what we see as crucial life skills for being part of our family (beyond just the basics). Our pup now has great manners (sit to greet, wait before going thru doorways, play gently w/small & young dogs) and amazing recall even at the beach. She also worked w/us on handling his "spooky bark" instinct. Our young daughters ask "Mom, how do you think Pamela would handle this?" We all see her as the young but wise Auntie with strong guidance and deep knowledge. read more

Pamela was a tremendous help with my two dogs each of whom had their own set of unique issues. One of my dogs had developed issues on-leash and was unpredicable with his behavior. I believe it stemmed from a few encounters over the years with some aggressive on-leash dogs that really scared the heck out of him. We once encountered a dog while walking on-leash that unexpectedly put his jaws around his head, no physical harm was caused but it clearly scarred him mentally. My once happy-go-lucky on-leash dog, started being very reactive and would bark like crazy at certain dogs, mostly the bigger ones who seem to intimidate him. Off-leash, his behavior is excellent and he is very social, so I would pray I could make it the two blocks to the park to let him off-leash without any negative on-leash encounters on the way that would set him off and make him appear to be a raving lunatic. Pamela did an incredible job with helping me to manage my 'leash monster'. Her techniques are excellent and she really understands dogs. I am far more confident walking my little guy on-leash again. I know how to better manage certain situations that may trigger his anxiety and/or barking and while he's still a work in progress, the difference in him has been remarkable. My other dog is about a year, and is a bit of a shy pup when she's not in her environment. Inexplicably, she was quite fearful on-leash, not necessarily of dogs, but with strangers, certain sounds and other 'scary things'. She was also learning from my other dog to bark sometimes at dogs while on-leash. Between the two of them, I had my hands full while walking them on-leash. I am so grateful for Pamela coming to the rescue and working with both of their fears and issues. She not only helped to train them, she helped to train me! read more

Kelley is the Bay Area's Dog Guru! She speaks dog...but more importantly she speaks human! For 3 months I have referred to my dog as "Satan" and I have tried every trick in the book to make her the perfect dog! Not only do I look to Kelley for behavior modification for my pups but I adore training with her. Its motivating to have an educated trainer help me with my insanely barky dog and myself, I am an incredibly anxious insane human. She teaches me the skills I need to improve my dogs obedience and she speaks in terms that are fun to follow! I love the results I am getting from her skills and I will continue to keep working with Kelley, since after all, she has proved "you can teach an old dog new tricks." I have only done private classes but I cant wait to enroll in some workshops! read more

Pamela has been a godsend for my family. She came into our lives at a time when we thought our 1-year-old dog's separation anxiety was untreatable. She gave us hope, she helped us create a solid training plan, and after several months of solid work, our lives are completely different. Our dog has made such huge strides. We've gone from being unable to leave him for more than 2 minutes, to being able to leave him -- completely at peace! -- for over 3 hours. Pamela's plan really worked. We are forever indebted to her, and we cannot recommend her highly enough for all training purposes (she also helped us with leash reactivity), but ESPECIALLY for separation anxiety! Thank you, Pamela!!! read more

My 1 year old mutt-princess Holly Golightly has been with the DogEvolve's daily group walks for 2 months+ now and I can't be happier! Jordaan is a consummate professional with a heart of gold. He is extremely calm and patient, listening to all my stories about Holly and her issues, and he has been super accommodating. Jordaan is great with Holly, I see how excited she gets whenever he comes to pick her up (the few times I've been home to witness!) He is great with communicating and also sending pictures during the day! I highly recommend Jordaan and DogEvolve to anyone who's looking for a dog walker! read more

My expectations were exceeded with this training! I took my puggle to the Leash Monsters class and it has made a huge difference in our lives! They taught me how to gently guide and help my dog during frustrating situations such as spotting a dog from a distance or simply greeting a dog. The techniques they teach help relax my dog and make our time together more pleasant. Pamela was right on with her tips...they all really work! She was able to guide me and give me tips to improve my techniques. I still have a little work to do, I admit, but I feel like I have all the tools I need to be successful. Nevertheless, my dog is happier and I'm able to enjoy the walks as much as she does. Thanks DogEvolve! read more

Couldn't have been happier with DogEvolve. Pamela and the rest of the staff were incredibly helpful and didn't hesitate to step in and lend a hand. All of the lessons were full of practical and informative advice and more importantly worked. I enjoyed how the class covered everything from basic obedience, to body language at the dog park. I've been to other dog training classes and DogEvolve was the first one where I felt my pooch made strides. Training a dog is never easy, but DogEvolve made it feel like a breeze. read more

Updated because I thought there'd be a place to review Pamela's private training sessions separately ... and there isn't! So here's why it was beyond worth it to work privately with Pamela. She is professional, funny, patient, and she adapts her methods to fit the dog she's working with! She doesn't just listen to what you say is happening with you and your dog. She actually WATCHES what's going on and then uses her experience and knowledge to tell you what's really happening. She has a very helpful way of getting things across from the dog's perspective. I gained tons of insight and didn't feel blamed for not getting things "right" the first time.. Don't hesitate to book a private session with Pamela. read more

Love doesn't even begin to describe the feeling that comes over my 6 year old 83lb boxer when he turns the corner and sees our trainer Kelley waiting for him at the park. Frankly, I share that same feeling. Kelley has taken my champ to new levels of greatness. He had basic obedience down but wasn't great on leash and had some on leash aggression. He previously spent almost everyday in the dog park but since moving west hasn't adjusted perfectly and needed some guidance. Kelley has gotten him from lunging on leash to trotting politely by with maybe a play hop or two in just a few sessions. We have also learned proper handling techniques for him and she really gives practical real world advice as to how to have a dog in the city. She sets realistic goals and meets them in a VERY timely manner. After our sessions Champ not only listens to Kelley, but to me and my boyfriend. We know that soon enough we will be able to walk with ease (and maybe even a coffee!) when taking a stroll with Champ and have Kelley to thank for that. When our other pup graduates from SF puppy prep she will go on to advanced training in one of the dogEvolve classes, what a lucky girl she is! read more

Pamela really gets it about dog training and she clearly loves dogs. I have watched her work for years and she just gets dogs. She is patient and kind and smart. She is professional and makes the experience fun as well. read more

I have been working with Kelley..or Kelley has been working with me to help my 2 year old rescue dog with her "challenges". But what I find must helpful is Kelley actually teaches me what Calie is thinking when she gets fearful or crazy. So now I can see the problem coming miles away and can help Calie deal with the issue. Kelley works us so hard that after our sessions both Calie and I take a long nap. She has also made herself available in between sessions for touch ups or quick "am I doing this right" emails. Kelley has allowed me the luxury to actually enjoy my dog so I don't have to spend our time together constantly correcting her or me getting frustrated. Calie and I give Kelley 5 paws up!!!! read more

I am a senior citizen, and I have a big, energetic coonhound. Now hounds have a reputation of never coming when they are called and generally being indifferent to comands. My previous two coonhounds certainly lived up to that reputation. This time I decided I wanted things to be different. I brought in the big guns -- Kelley Filson of DogEvolve. After one session she had Caleb, my 1-year-old hound, coming when called. It seemed like a miracle. With Kelley to help us, we learned to sit, walk on a leash politely, not steal other dogs' balls in the park, and wait in the car without howling. After a couple of years, I recently had her back to help Caleb to remove a tiny chip he had managed to put on his shoulder. In each case of bad behavior, Kelley evaluates the situation and gives me a method of training to follow which is fun for both Caleb and I and works. She does not use punishment or domination in her training, but just rewards. She is flexible and takes into account the nature of your dog. Caleb is crazy about her even though she makes him behave. Kelley teaches the person to teach the dog, and so the training is effective even when she is not around. She has taught me a lot about dogs' body language when they are in groups; this has made me more confident to help Caleb to become more social and relaxed in groups of dogs. Caleb and I have worked with Kelley over the course of the past 3 years since I adopted him from the shelter that picked him up as a skinny stray. Today he is a relatively calm, well-behaved 4-year-old, thanks to Kelley. She is just terrific. read more

We loved Pamela's "Never too Late" training class for our little trick pup WInston! We all really learned a lot from the amazing staff, and Pamela really knows her stuff. I really felt like everyone taking the class got a lot of one on one attention too. It's really improved WInston's behavior a ton and has left us with so much helpful information and things we can continue to work on now that Winston graduated! read more

We had the great fortune of meeting Pamela one day at Chrissy Field while we were walking our dog, Bocce. Pamela noticed that he was wearing muzzle (he had a bit of a bullying problem) and instantly went into dog trainer mode, giving us tons of pointers before we were even paying customers! Bocce's actually a really great dog, but his bullying, coupled with poor recall skills, had us at our wit's end. We had tried numerous other trainers but hadn't seen very much progress. We decided to work with Pamela and couldn't be happier with the results. She's fun, responsive, and great at developing and communicating a specifc plan of action for each dog. Bocce's doing great now, he comes whenever he's called and is being weaned off the muzzle and it's all thanks to Pamela. read more

Pamela is just great. We were getting ready for a new baby, and wanted to reinforce / improve training with our dog (older pup, a little over a year). We had 1 online training and 2 in person trainings and learned so much about our dog's body language, preferences, and tips and techniques for getting her behavior on track. Pamela has great energy and spends time explaining the "why" of your dog's reactions. It's been a pleasure working with her and if we need support again in the future we'll be back!! read more

We have nothing but praise for Pamela, who was our contact at DogEvolve. We lost our blind and deaf 16-year old Australian Shepherd mix (Doc) in October 2009, and brought home a wonderful bundle of energy in July 2010 from the SPCA: Frankie, 1 part Shiba and 4 parts who knows what. Frankie is very sweet, but like other rescue dogs has his own unique challenges. He was so energetic on the leash that Jim, the person who helped us care for Doc, couldn't handle him. He had an obsession with wanting to get inside cars - even when they are moving. He was also obsessed with joggers - and wanted to nip them on the heels as they were running. We (of course) thought that was so cute - but the joggers, not so much. We found Pamela through Jim and with her help Frankie is now still full of energy but is well-mannered on the leash. And the best part is we can take him off-leash (not near the street) to parks and beach areas around town. He comes to us when called, and gets to run hard to use up all that energy. He's still fascinated by joggers, but will sit on command and watch them go by (although with a look of yearning on his cute face). Sorry for this long post but Pamela and DogEvolve are worth the effort. Check them out! read more

Kelley and Pamela are fantastic. The classes are perfect--they're short (1 day or 3 weeks in a row) and tailored to meet the needs of people living with dogs in the city. Grey is so well-behaved and is learning off-leash behavior more quickly than I thought possible. Thanks! read more