Meet The Team
Liz + Dylan
Welcome to K9 Evolution! 🐾
K9 Evolution is led by husband-and-wife duo Liz and Dylan, who have been transforming dogs and their owners together for over seven years. Their mission is simple: unlock each dog’s full potential while empowering owners with the tools to build a lasting, balanced relationship.
Specializing in behavior modification, rescue rehabilitation, and relationship-based training, Liz and Dylan tailor their approach to fit every dog’s unique needs. As members of International Association of Canine Professionals and Certified AKC Evaluators with extensive experience in canine psychology, they make training clear, effective, and fun!
At K9 Evolution, it’s all about building the perfect partnership between dogs and their humans 🎉🐶
Rachael
Rachael is great at blending creativity and canine know-how! As a mom of twin girls, she’s a pro at juggling chaos with grace—whether it’s wrangling toddlers or dogs. With four years in the dog industry and a background in business development, website design, and sales, she brings a unique mix of strategy and artistry to everything she does.
When she’s not working with dogs, you’ll find her immersed in art of all forms, always looking for ways to combine creativity with training. Whether she’s designing, painting, or problem-solving, Rachael loves making every experience fun, engaging, and beautifully crafted—for both dogs and their humans!
Ozzie
[Papa, Poppy, Oswald]
Born in 2014, Ozzie is the wise old man of our crew—the unbothered, slow-blinking patriarch who’s seen it all and still demands all the belly rubs. A retired Demo Dog and Certified Therapy Dog, Ozzie’s resume is impressive, but he’s traded public appearances for a slower life full of naps, sunbathing, and supervising the property like the king he is.
His hobbies include being adored by strangers, casually hanging out with our barn cat and chickens like he’s one of them, and occasionally howling into the abyss for dramatic effect. He’s gentle, stoic, and full of heart—and while he’s no longer on the training frontlines, his legacy lives on in every calm, confident dog we send home.
Kaia
[TT, Keke, Bean]
Born in 2016, Kaia is the reason K9 Evolution exists. She was our crash course in real-life dog training: anxious, reactive, dramatic (in the best way), and determined to teach us more than any certification ever could. If you train with us, you’ll definitely hear a Kaia story or two—they're basically part of the curriculum. Together, we navigated separation anxiety, reactivity, and fear. And in doing so, Kaia taught us the power of patience and consistency.
These days, she channels her energy into rally, scent work, bossing around her brothers (Merci, Ozzie, and Sketch), and burrowing under blankets like it’s her full-time job.
Merci
[Ces, merci beaucoup, Bad Boy]
Born in 2020, Merci got his start in the hustle and bustle of NYC, but his real adventure began at six months old when we adopted him from a rescue—and he instantly became Dylan’s shadow. It was bromance at first sight. Where you find Dylan, you’ll almost always find Merci close behind (usually carrying a toy).
Don’t let his goofy grin fool you—Merci wears many hats. He’s a Certified Therapy Dog who adores kids, cracking smiles, and being the class clown. But he’s also got a serious side, thriving in bite work, scent detection, and anything involving water. Basically, if it’s a challenge, Merci’s game.
Maze
[MaeMae, Mama, Mazy]
Born in 2022, Maze is our resident spitfire—equal parts sass, speed, and sheer determination. Confident to a fault and endlessly driven, she’s the kind of dog who makes athleticism look effortless and chaos look cute. She came to us at 10 months old with zero chill and a whole lot of opinions, unsure where to channel all that fire. Since then, she’s become a total powerhouse—crushing dock diving, club sports, hiking, and frisbee like it’s all just a warm-up.
Maze is always down for action and absolutely keeps us on our toes. She’s the kind of dog who reminds you that big energy, when properly directed, becomes something truly spectacular.
Sketch
[Scootie, Sketchie, Choochie]
Born in 2024, Sketch is the youngest of the crew—though you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. Originally a foster, he stole our hearts, made himself at home and never left. Our first puppy since Kaia, he quickly reminded us how much work (and joy) a baby land shark can be. Despite his size, he’s a total softie who demands to be cradled like a lap dog. He’s got the snuggly sweetness of a teddy bear and the spicy stubbornness of his Dutch Shepherd roots—especially when playing keep away or chasing birds with Olympic-level commitment.
Sketch fits in effortlessly with his older siblings and is already showing signs of becoming a stellar Demo Dog.
