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    David Utter - Dog Evolution

    4.8 (112 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - David Utter - Dog Evolution

    Pet boarding

    Private dog training

    David Utter - Dog Evolution Photos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dog
    Micaela F.

    I have a year old female Pitbull that I rescued from the shelter that has high reactivity. After dog versus dog aggression I knew we needed serious help immediately. I booked a set of 6 sessions with David and through his recommendations and suggested tools we saw improvements after each session. David showed us how to perform different techniques with our dog and then taught us how to replicate the movements and provided feedback. As the sessions progressed we moved from in home to outside the home to parks and dog to dog introductions. David is incredibly intelligent and has spread so much knowledge to me and my husband that has helped us understand our dog and her reactivity. David has helped us break through so many barriers with our dog that has led us to feel confident taking her outside in a variety of settings. Before our training, I was fearful walking her outside as she would react to anything that moved in her sight. I recommend David to everyone--especially if you are struggling with any level of dog reactivity. We will 100% be using him again in the future.

    Sasha transforming after applying David's methods.
    Mark N.

    (Rewriting review) My mom initially discovered him from seeking reviews on yelp for a dog trainer. At that time, we had lived with multiple dogs in the past and had some dogs go through random dog training and "classes" before our latest dog, Sasha. Nothing worked with her; Sasha was a menace as a puppy- even growling, biting, and refusing to listen to use. My family was ready to give her back to the pound, but gave it one last shot with David. Ill tell you, it was like magic when he came over. Within a minute she was a completely different dog. We were shocked at the 180 change. He showed us how to effectively correct, praise, and guide her behavior. Without a doubt David saved Sasha's life. That was 10 years ago. Since, I have been going to David and had my girlfriend go to him as well. David is a wealth of knowledge so of course I keep coming back. I heard he's moving to Utah, so I'm seeking to keep learning from his as long as I can. 10/10 I recommend David. As far as I can tell he's a dog whisperer at this point. Aggressive dogs are routinely put down at the shelters because people don't know what to do with them. David has fixed many of these aggressive dogs and saved many from euthanasia, including Sasha. I'm grateful I met him.

    Our dog after being trained

    David helped us so much! In only 2 weeks, he corrected the behavior of our French bulldog that was abused when she was born, and was attacking another one of the dogs in the house. After just 2 weeks, the fig learned all the commands and David helped us train her to be a sweet obedient pet. He gave us 2 hours of instructions the day we picked her up, and trained us to handle the dog. Also, he shared YouTube videos to watch at home. THANK YOU, DAVID!! You helped us save Tri Tip Ana & Bernie

    My husband, Steve, with Donny (on the left). David Utter is on the right. This was our last day of training.
    Lori R.

    Our dog, Donny, is a 4 year old, 100 pound pitbull/bulldog mix. He was very aggressive with other dogs while on-leash and was difficult to control. Our neighbors were afraid of him and my husband didn't want to walk him anymore. It was beginning to put stress on our relationship, so I reached out to David as a last resort. Prior to David, we had worked with 3 other trainers. We spent a lot of money, but not one had made a difference in Donny's behavior. David's training methods were different from our previous experiences. The training was focused on our (the owner's) behavior, which was pretty inconsistent at the time. At the end of the first session, our dog was able to be right next to another dog without showing any interest whatsoever. My husband and I were amazed. We did a total of 7 private sessions with David. Since then, we've received positive comments from other dog walkers in the neighborhood who noticed Donny's improvement, and people are no longer running away from us. My husband enjoys walking him again and our relationship has improved! My only regret is that we didn't start him with David a few years ago when he was a puppy.

    Murphy after coming from camp
    Sari V.

    Our 1 yr old labradoodle puppy was having a hard time being happy. The problem was that he was not socialized due to Covid so being around other dogs and being around people made him miserable. He had no confidence whatsoever (in himself) and he only enjoyed being around my husband and I. Really not the happy life you want for your little munchkin. He was also "running the show" at home, absolutely out of control. We contacted David and after a two week board and training program... holy smokes! Murphy is a different dog! He is now respectful with us, as loving as before and we are not embarrassed of walking him because he sees people and dogs in the street and doesn't freak out. We are able to be in elevators with other people... the positive changes are endless! We are so happy and the most important thing is that we have never seen Murphy this happy in his life! Thank you David! We can't thank you enough! See you for the off leash training!

    To say that David Utter is amazing would be a gross understatement!!! Rarely in life do have the opportunity to encounter someone so exceptional in their chosen profession... but boy what a gift it is when we do! I cannot express my gratitude or thank David enough for changing our lives! I brought my dog to David for an assessment shortly after adoption. Halo was a marshmallow at home, but crazy outdoors. He was aggressive towards dogs (biting them in the arse), snapping at people, chasing them, trying to bite ankles (see crazy little white dog in one of David's videos). He would go after bikes, cars, skateboards, basically anything that moved. This behavior was not what I bargained for when I adopted this sweet little dog, nor was I equipped to handle it. Initially I had Halo scheduled for camp with a trainer in Riverside. However, she was fairly certain that the aggressive behavior was a lost cause due to his age and the fact that he was a rescue. Also, I was not a fan of the prong collar. Then we found David and everything changed. Within the first 10 minutes of the meeting, my cute little dog attacked David and with one simple command "Off" my dog simply sat down. I couldn't believe my eyes and I still get goose bumps thinking about it. I knew right then & there we were in the right place. I sent Halo for a two-week boot camp and the transformation has been mind boggling. He now knows all the commands you see in the videos. Not only did David train Halo, he taught me how to be a pack leader and a better dog owner. Our training was intense, fun, fast paced and informative. Having Halo train with the other dogs was definitely a game changer. The result is Halo is a happy, confident, well mannered, obedient dog that is welcome everywhere. There is no doubt in my mind that although I adopted Halo...David rescued him!!!

    My new happy pack!
    Rani D.

    I had adopted a 6 month old pitbull from the pound, who was sweet as a puppy, but then grew into trying to attain the Alpha status in my house with my other large Shepard. After he turned 1 year old, he began having full aggression fights with my Shepard which led me think that I had made a mistake in rescuing this dog. I had many thoughts on what to do, but I gave David a call and I'm glad I did, cause his life has changed for the better. David gave me the tools to turn my dog into a fun-loving, goofy, lush with my Shepard now. I established myself as the leader of the pack, albeit the training took 4 months of consistent in-house training, and 3-4x's a day outdoor training. It was the most intensive commitment I had made of recent years, but what a huge feeling of relief and self-accomplishment I have now that my 3 dogs (2 big, 1 little) all co-exist happily, without retaining any of the animosity that was in the house before. My dogs do want to please me all the time now, and they are fully aware that there is established order in my house, and we all can be a happy pack, as that was the original plan when I introduced my new doggie to the family. Thanks David.

    Scott C.

    David did an excellent job training my German Shepherd. Gunner went to him at 10 months after showing signs of being territorial in the home and not allowing strangers to approach us. The other issue was pulling on the leash. In fact with his strength it was nearly impossible for my parents to walk him. It was far from a pleasure to take him for his daily walk around the neighborhood. Within two weeks David completely changed those behaviors. He now listens to commands, doesn't pull at the leash and no longer has issues with guests coming to the house. His aggressive nature towards strangers has also been cured. Gunner returned a sweet lovable puppy and is no longer the needy spoiled boy he once was. I highly recommend David for your dog training needs and look forward to taking him back to off leash training in four to five months. The follow up YouTube video tutorials he sends are also fantastic for reviewing what you need to do for the next 120 days to reinforce the behaviors. I look forward to seeing how Gunner progresses!

    3 minutes of staying and checking

    The words "Thank You" aren't enough. Our dog Mr. Bo Jangles is a Bluetick Coonhound and is 1 year 4 months. He was a great puppy and would listen but when only giving him treats. Once he hit over a year old, the treats wouldn't work and he became mean, food, people and dog aggressive, would jump up on you, charge guests that would walk into our house, pull you while walking (so bad my rotator cuff was almost torn) and the worst part of it all, he would actually bite me and my husband; and not a nip, I mean bite where we needed stitches. His behavior became unpredictable and I was scared to take him for walks because what if he bite someone else or another animal. I found David on Yelp and explained all the negative behaviors and over the phone David immediately stated giving me suggestions on how to deal with Bo. I booked five consecutive sessions with David and he came to our house. He even brought other dogs he was training to help with Bo's dog aggression. The techniques that David taught us were simple and they worked. There was a fence in our back yard that Bo would run to and try and get over to get to the neighbors dogs, after the first session, Bo left the fence alone. I can honestly say that David not only trained Bo but he trained me and my husband and we now enjoy each other. Bo sits, stays, heels, listens, doesn't attack other dogs, people, food, leaves the fence alone, doesn't jump up on you, attack our guests coming into our home, loves his crate and doesn't bite anymore. If you are looking for someone to really train your dog and not treat train then David is your man. You have to trust him and listen to what he says, even if his methods may seem a little unconventional, but they work! Thank you David soooo much, we finally have a well behaved, happy hound!

    Scar thanks David Utter from his home in Sherman Oaks...
    H N.

    Over two years ago we rescued a Rottweiler mix (Scar) from a local shelter who was about to be put down. He had very noticeable scars on his body from prior abuse and was severely damaged psychologically. Scar began growling and showing signs of aggression towards us and one of our small dogs. At one point he chased and attacked our small dog after the small dog continually barked and aggravated Scar. After working with a few dog trainers with zero results - we seriously considered returning Scar. One trainer told us there was no hope but to keep Scar confined and away from other people and our small dogs. Now over two years later with the training from David, I'm glad to tell you all that Scar is disciplined, happy, healthy, and enjoying being a part of our family. David Utter's techniques and philosophy made an immediate difference to Scars behavior only after a few sessions. We highly recommend David and know he will make a huge impact in your lives with your beloved dogs.

    Biscuit says: "Thanks David for making me a perfect pittie"

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    Great to hear he is transformed to a better version of himself.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - David Utter - Dog Evolution

    Review Highlights - David Utter - Dog Evolution

    David's training has taught me how to earn my dogs' respect as their pack leader, which has made a world of difference

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    EveryDog

    EveryDog

    (173 reviews)

    We had such a great experience with Dave! We elected to do in-home training sessions for our…read more(roughly) 1.5 year old pup, Knox. Dave was super patient and informative and gave us great tips for helping with Knox's energy and excitability. Not only that, he did a great job navigating our other dog, Maddox who was along for the ride and sometimes really interested in Dave's treats! Dave helped us with methods on how to help handle Knox's excitement when new people come into the house and to keep him calm when he sees dogs on walks and some things in-between, providing step-by-step instructions for ways we can work with him to get him to those calm places. We really liked his approach and the kindness he showed our dogs. So many places we looked at used electric collars and it was not something we wanted to do, so we were really happy when we found Dave!

    Dave came to train our pup, Hanky who had serious issues with anxiety, aggression, and resource…read moreguarding. Dave was compassionate, informative, and incredibly helpful. He took time to get to know our family and tailor Hank's training to his personality and needs. He is incredibly knowledgeable and we have seen a huge improvement in our dog's behavior. Hanky is happier and now we know how to support him in order to avoid aggression. We also started taking both of our dogs to EveryDog Daycamp and it has been amazing to have a safe place where our dogs can play with other pups without me worrying something might happen to them. I can't recommend Dave and EveryDog enough!

    OC Paw House - Celebrating Rocky's birthday

    OC Paw House

    (96 reviews)

    I was looking for dog boarding at the very last minute and Wendy was very accommodating in taking…read morein my 2 dogs. I literally booked with her 2 days before the stay. My 54 lb Jindo does not do well with strangers, she is all bark but no bite. I was very anxious bringing her to any dog care but Wendy was willing to do an assessment prior to their stay. This was my very first time doing any sort of dog care so I was really worried about leaving them. They did really well and my other dog had so much fun (he's a social butterfly). The main reason I chose this place vs all the other dog boarding is because they offer a "home" living experience rather than a facility/warehouse. My dogs always freely roams the house and lays on our bed, couch, wherever they please so I wanted something similar and Wendy's house provided that. I couldn't bare the thought of them being kept in a narrow sleeping quarter locked throughout the day. Thank you for taking great care of my babies! This place will definitely be my go-to for any future dog boarding.

    Leaving our dogs Jax and Frank for a whole week was something we were honestly nervous about…read morebecause they've never stayed with anyone outside of our family before. From the moment we dropped them off, the entire experience put us completely at ease. We received constant updates, photos, and messages from Wendy and Madison, letting us know how they were doing, which meant so much to us and made being away from them so much easier. It was clear they were genuinely cared for, loved, and treated like family the entire time they were there. Seeing Jax and Frank happy, comfortable, and well taken care of gave us so much peace of mind. You can truly tell OC Paw House cares deeply about the animals they watch. We are beyond grateful for the care they gave our boys and will absolutely be using them again in the future. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy, caring, and attentive place for their dogs!

    Dog Den

    Dog Den

    (182 reviews)

    This daycare really impressed me with how professional and well-managed it is. They have both…read moreindoor and outdoor play areas for the dogs, and both spaces are quite large, so it doesn't feel crowded at all. The facility itself is very well equipped, with more than 100 rooms. They also have separate isolation rooms in case a dog gets sick, which helps prevent illnesses from spreading to other dogs. I thought that was a huge plus. All new dogs are required to provide vaccination records, and they also do about a 20-minute temperament assessment before joining. Based on each dog's personality, they arrange suitable playgroups instead of just mixing all the dogs together. The staff are also very professional and attentive. They keep daily records of each dog's eating habits and bathroom activity, which really gives owners extra peace of mind. Overall, it feels like a very responsible and well-organized place for dogs.

    The moment I walked in, I immediately had a really good feeling about this place!…read more You can truly tell how much care and thought has gone into everything -- from the clean and spacious environment to all the little details. There's plenty of room for the dogs to run around and play comfortably. What made me feel the most reassured is that they don't just "keep" the dogs there -- they actually spend time playing with them, observing their behavior, and caring about their emotions. If your dog wants to socialize and play with other dogs, they do require proof of vaccinations including Rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP. They also do a simple temperament test (around 20 minutes), which honestly made me feel they're super responsible and genuinely care about the safety and well-being of every dog. As pet owners, the hardest part about traveling isn't the distance -- it's worrying whether our fur babies are truly being cared for. At Dogden, you really get a sense of peace of mind. They understand dogs so well. It's not just boarding -- they treat every dog like a little kid and care for them with so much love and attention. When the dogs are happy, the owners can finally relax too Now I can travel without constantly worrying about my little baby at home

    Club Cat - Play. Sleep. Nosh. Repeat.

    Club Cat

    (191 reviews)

    I'm so happy a place like this exists!! We are so thankful to Club Cat for taking care of our cat…read moreMabel. The boarding facility was great and felt like it was ran by real cat lovers. Our cat is very shy so we were a bit worried about her. I picked Club Cat due to their webcam options. We were able to see Mabel jumping on the perches in her room in the middle of the night. We also saw them cleaning her litter which is so reassuring! We will definitely be back here and we highly recommend this place to any other cat owners!

    We had an amazing week-long stay at Club Cat with the AristoCat Experience Deluxe Suite in the…read moreRomeow and Juliet room. It's clear just how much thought and care has gone into planning the optimal experience for the cats and their owners. There were so many nice touches from the welcome board, the pun-ny postcard updates and adorable photos, 24/7 webcam, the fact that they noticed my cat was a little skittish and brought her a little cat cave bed to hide in, the bird feeder outside, and the printed photo and catnip gift at the end... I also appreciated the easy online registration, informative emails, organized check-in/ check-out process, attention to detail, and the comfort of knowing an emergency vet was housed in the same complex. It was also evident that everyone who works there really loves cats. My cat really enjoyed the fur therapy, but she was a little too shy to partake in the play room. Maybe next time! All in all, we had an incredible stay and would recommend Club Cat without hesitation!

    Paw Sweet Paw Pet Resorts - Leo and Bella

    Paw Sweet Paw Pet Resorts

    (193 reviews)

    We recently started bringing our two dogs to daycare at Paw Sweet Paw at the Irvine Spectrum…read moreCenter, and we couldn't be happier with our experience in especially because of Ian. Our little family includes George, our Frenchie who recently underwent back surgery, and Waldo, our Portuguese Water Dog/Poodle mix who struggles with extreme anxiety. Leaving them anywhere can be stressful for us, but Ian immediately put our minds at ease. He is incredibly friendly, professional, and, most importantly, genuinely wonderful with our dogs. He takes the time to understand their individual needs and treats them with such patience and care. With George's recovery and Waldo's anxiety, that extra attentiveness means everything to us. It's clear Ian truly loves what he does, and it shows in the way our pups light up when they see him. We keep coming back because of Ian and the way he treats George and Waldo. I'm sure the entire team is just as kind, but Ian consistently goes above and beyond, and we are so grateful to have found someone we trust with our babies.

    My dog spent one night with them. When we went to pick him up, he was found to have peed on…read morehimself, odd but we waited for a quick wash. They lost his bag with his Tupperware and food. Lost his dog bed.Walking to the car he was very weak on the back legs. Something was not right but we decided to get him home and see him relaxed before assuming the worst. At home, his back paw was bloody on the pad of one foot and a small bleeding area on the other back paw. We waited to clean him and calm down before addressing this. The next day my husband went to speak with the manager, whose was in a meeting and we asked to be called. No call. The inside lobby was also dirty and garbage overflowing when we were picking him up. Beyond angry now.

    VCA PetPoint Medical Center and Resort

    VCA PetPoint Medical Center and Resort

    (412 reviews)

    I've written a review before for Dr. Andrew and he is our go-to veterinarian for all our fur…read morebabies. We recently had an emergency with our oldest having constipation so we had to come in on a day when Dr. Andrew wasn't there. Dr. Seggerman was the veterinarian who helped my old boy clear his constipation and she was able to help him do so without sedation. She kept me updated throughout the day with his progress and was very patient with me. I know she is busy with many patients, so I really appreciate the time she took to talk to me and ensure that I knew what procedures were done and confirming the cost with me before proceeding. At pickup, Dr. Seggerman personally took the time to come out and talk to me for my fur babies discharge after her vet technician already came to give me the rundown. I am so thankful that now, I have another veterinarian whom I can trust will take good care of my fur baby and have the expertise in working with cats when Dr. Andrew is not in.

    My dog got to see Dr Kathy today who's here on a limited basis but what a treat! She is truly the…read morebest vet out there - experienced, kind, and loves dogs. I had a situation that Kimberly helped us sort out so super grateful to her - clearly a dog lover too. What initially drew and kept us here were Dr Kathy and the great staff. Over the years, it's been different people at the front desk. Kimberly just reminds me why we have our dog here so kudos to her for listening and advocating.

    David Utter - Dog Evolution - pet_training - Updated June 2026

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