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dogEvolve
Rating Details »
Categories: Pet Training, Education
Classes in Lower Haight & North BeachSan Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 995-2364
- Hours:
Thu. 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
21 reviews for dogEvolve
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
2/16/2009
10/31/2009
8/14/2009
11/12/2009
10/4/2009
5/22/2009
1/28/2009
1 photo
10/28/2008
11/16/2008
6/17/2009
12/11/2008
6/12/2008
3/30/2009
8/9/2009
1/16/2009
9/28/2008
Updated - 3/9/2009
3/26/2008
10/12/2008
11/18/2008
8/22/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
I stumbled across their website when I was looking at the SF SPCA's list of graduates. I was looking for additional training - maybe for my Dane's CGC. He's sweet and not horribly behaved but we have higher goals than fairly polite.
When I saw the list of classes at Dog Evolve I was amazed. The lack of group classes that go on for weeks and weeks and teach tons of commands was too general for us. In our beginning obedience class at the Peninsula Humane Society he was so bored he wailed the whole time.
We signed up for Drop It! and then we registered later for Come! We are going to Drop It! on Tuesday, but we've done 2/3 weeks of Come! Kelley is amazing. Her ideas are humane, realistic and inspired. I was worried about the wailing in class, but she gave us a really great solution to stop problem behavior that's been working like a charm.
And thanks to the classes, it's built my confidence in my dog handling skills.
I have a list of classes I'm planning on taking from Dog Evolve and I can't wait.
My first stop was at their website. Leashmonster, skateboard hater, ball guarder: Holy crap, I thought, these people not only know my dog, but they know how hard it is to have a well-behaved dog in San Francisco.
So we take the "drop it" class so our land shark Danny will finally not consume everything he finds on Market Street and it was everything we were hoping for. Pamela and Kelly listened closely to our issues, ran a really well tuned class, and most importantly, showed us how to manage our insolent beast. They even showed way more than just getting us to drop it. Now granted, our dog is still a treat whore, but at least we're moving in life from annoying cop to full-fledged pimp.
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!
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!
Pamela knows what she's doing. She'll teach you how to interact with your pup to get the best behavior. She uses research-based, humane training techniques to help your dog think and learn life skills so you and your pup can be happy in the world and not be stressed by behavior problems.
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?
Pamela and Kelly are as good as it gets. Lately, I have been ready and willing to trade in my 14 month-old ridgeback for a gold fish. Something predictable, quiet, and easily entertained. Well, enter Pamela (who regularly walks doggy) and Kelly (her business partner) and their fantastic Boredom Busters class. Need to find ways to keep your spirited, four-legged friend quiet and busy while you go about your day? Starting to think that a muzzle is a positive way to silence the incessant whining? Fear not! Pamela and Kelly have the answer for you with creative, safe, smart and positive ways to keep your dog self-entertained (and exhausted afterwards.) Take the class. It will the best 1.5 hours you spend with your dog and it will leave you asking: "why ever would I want a gold fish?"
PS. Pamela is an awesome dog walker. Having seen the mess of people who supposedly walk YOUR dog at Fort Funston, Crissy Field, and Bernal Heights--your money, your faith, and your four-legged friend are in the best of hands with this woman.
My little heathen dog is now my little angel.
Franke was a 5 pound monster, a bad seed, her head could spin around quicker than that chick from the Exorcist. Notice my use of the past tense. We couldn't leave the house with our little leash monster without World War III occurring before we met Pamela. Seriously, the Dog Whisperer could take some tips. Our household, and consequently my life, had become so out of control because of the Frankster that at one point I imagined a foolproof Craigslist ad to adopt her out to the perfect family. One that lived far far away from civilization. Oh, but I couldn't do that with the tiny one--so, I called Pamela and dogEvolve.
Now Franke can take walks, go on car rides, and even plays outside with doggie society. (By the way, I learned treats are the key!) Okay, I'll be honest, not only has Pamela calmed down our little hell dog like a dose of Valium, but (and probably more importantly) she trained my significant other and I to be better parents.
Now, if only she could help me with my human issues....
You would look at my little Eskie and think what sweet dog, and then a dog would walk by and she became a white blur twirling and barking furiously on the end of her leash. Then the looks begin--the ones that say you should get that dog trained. I want to pull out the certificates from the four obediences courses she has taken, or the notes from the 3 sessions with a private trainer, or the recommendations from the behaviorist. And then I discovered a flyer in the pet store about DogEvolve classes named Leash Monsters and our life has changed.
Pamela and Kelley are WONDERFUL. We have just finished with the leash monsters class and I'm so happy that I have learned how to help my dog with her leash frustration issues. Pamela and Kelley offered insight into my dog's behavior, practical methods to handle her, and a how-to-lesson on easing my dog into meeting other dogs on leash. We did real life practice situations both inside the class and out on the street. My dog has improved so much and I have learned how to help her improve more. I cannot recommend them more highly. I only wish I had found them before I had spent so much on private training and consultations.
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.
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.
I'll be the first to say it - my dog can be a handful. I mean, he's cute as hell and for the most part he's about as great a dog as I could ask for. But let's be realistic, we've got a few issues.....
After seeing a DogEvolve ad at our nearby doggy day care, I looked them up on-line and was immediately impressed. Their approach to dog (and human!) training is firmly planted in the real world. Rather than a one-size-fits-all technique, they realize that everybody is busy these days and that dog training has to fit into a hectic lifestyle.
I emailed Pamela to talk about Radar's needs and she came over for a little one-on-one. When she came in, Radar took to her immediately (the pocketful of treats didn't hurt but it was something more than that....). She really seemed to listen to us and to address real-world solutions to help us meet our dog's needs.
Soon after, we signed up for DogEvolve's recall class. Just as Pamela seemed to be realistic in her approach to training, Kelley really understands what dog ownership is like. They've both been great in helping us to understand what motivates our dog and how we can help him behave in a more urban-friendly way. Even having the class' "problem dog" has been no challenge for either Pamela or Kelley. Even in the middle of a busy class, they've taken the time to help us out. They've helped us realize that most of the training comes with adjusting how we act and respond to our dog and it's made a ton of difference. Even though we still have a ways to go, it's been great to see nearly-instant progress.
We've also taken the Boredom Busters class which turned out to be a lot of fun. While teaching recall takes some serious time, this class was all about keeping your dog happy and busy. Kelley and Pamela were so enthusiastic about sharing their considerable knowledge which translated to a fun class for people and dogs. Even though my carpet is covered with peanut butter and chicken bits, Radar now gets a kick out of eating.
There is no quick fix to training your dog but DogEvolve, both the classes and private sessions, have helped us to get on the right path. Kelley and Pamela have an obvious love of dogs - all dogs....even ones that jump on them, bark during class, and occasionally pee on their floor - and have found a great way to share their considerable knowledge.
I was drawn to DogEvolve by their hilarious and poignant (if you happen to have one) Leash Monsters flyer, which i spied one day as I was getting coffee at my local cafe. It has a picture of a blurred, teeth-bared *monster* straining on a leash toward the camera, with the simple and eloquent caption: "LEASH MONSTERS!" I laughed, I cried, I registered for a class.
I originally took their Skater Haters class, for dogs who can't deal with skateboards. It was great: concise, to the point, with lots of information and lots of practice. It was also fun, which makes it much easier to do the work.
After that class, I began to realize how much more work was needed to get my 2 little "monsters" to a better place with calmer walks, less barking, some old fear issues, etc. I decided to do some private lessons with Pamela.
I am so glad I decided to do so, because I have seen and experienced so much improvement in their behavior, and also in mine. I feel like I am learning how to be a better dog owner/dog mom, and they are learning how to deal with the many scary things in the world in a more constructive way. Pamela is very clear, knowledgeable, understanding, and patient, and is amazing at explaining both the hows and the whys of dog training. She has a great sense of humor about everything, and she is really good with people as well as dogs (I can't say the same about some other dog people I have worked with).
I love that both with the private lessons and also after the group class, both Pamela and Kelly were very open to further questions and issues that came up, and answered emails in a very thorough and thoughtful way. They obviously love what they do, and they are very good at it.
Yay!
(shake canister, deliver treat)
My husband and I brought one of our dogs to the Quiet class and learned a lot of really great tools to help us move in the right direction! Pamela had a great sense of humor and made us feel comfortable right away. We are definitely going to utilize a private lesson!
I love DogEvolve. As a puppy instructor with 15 years of experience I can honestly say that DogEvolve is truly a professional and knowledgeable school! The dog training and walking industry is a crazy and scary place -- there are no standards and just about anyone can call themselves a trainer and set up a business! At DogEvolve you know you will get sound, science based training that will benefit both you and your dog. I feel super-confident when I refer people to DogEvolve.
Charlie and I attended the Skater Hater workshop in August. It was excellent. I've been applied what I've learned to every day situations with him. It was a great investment! As a side note, Kelley and Pamela helped me with a behavioral issue. They are AWESOME. We can't wait to take another class. Charlie say WOOF!
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.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/5/2009
I have a very active, very smart, relentlessly energetic dog. She is tons of fun to be around, but… 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.
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.
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!
Thank you, Kelley and Pamela for coming to the rescue with my overzealous chihuahua Joey! I've worked with these Dog Evolve gals both in a group class and privately in my hood. They've been patient, creative in their interventions and they make it fun, which goes a far way for frustrated dog owners on the edge! Dr. Dolittle meets Comedy Central. They have gone the extra mile to ensure that we succeed and made me feel so supported in my efforts with Joey. I know I have an excellent resource in these ladies when we're ready to "attack" the rest of our doggie issues. Top notch, Yelpers, top notch.
