Angela van den Ham Dog Trainer

I cannot recommend Angela highly enough. If you have a reactive or challenging dog, or even just wanting to improve your relationship with your dog and are looking for someone you can truly trust, she is the person to call! I’ve trusted Angela with my dogs + cats for over 10 years, first as a groomer for a dog no one else would groom ( he got sent home from 3 other groomers) and there is no one else I would have felt more confident turning to when I needed help with my reactive pit mix! Throughout the years, she has consistently demonstrated incredible patience, professionalism, and a genuine understanding of canine behavior 💙 She has taught me so much about interpreting my dog’s behavior! I learn something new every time I’m with Angela! Working with a reactive dog can be overwhelming, emotional and embarrassing but she never made me feel judged or discouraged. Instead, she took the time to understand my dog’s unique challenges, explain the “why” behind behaviors, and give me practical tools that actually worked. Her calm, confident approach helped both my dog and me build trust, confidence, and a much stronger relationship! I now feel like I have the tools to take my girl everywhere! We go out in public because of the skills we learned with Angela! I have never been so proud or connected to my dog 🫶🏼 and I credit Angela 100% for this! What sets Angela apart is how much she cares about you and your dog, and your relationship with your dog! She doesn’t just train dogs she helps us, as owners understand them and builds trust between human and pup! The progress we’ve made has been life-changing, and I am so grateful for her guidance, support, and expertise! After trusting her with my dogs for more than a decade, I can honestly say she is one of the most knowledgeable, compassionate, and trustworthy professionals I’ve ever worked with. If you’re on the fence, don’t hesitate! Your dog and you will be in the best possible hands!

I took my 7 year old Golden to Angela’s class and literally saw a change in first class. Angela takes time to watch you and your dog and how you react and handle your dog. She pointed out what I needed to do to help my boy. He wasn’t immediately fixed first class but by end of our 6 week journey, I was able to take him on walks confidently. I use to have to turn around or find a way to hide him behind a car or tree because he was going to lose his mind as soon as he saw another dog. I highly recommend Angela to help you and your dog.

I learned so much from Angela about how to lead my dog and train him. Now we can walk around the neighborhood and downtown Dunedin with confidence. I know now how to better handle him when he’s excited to meet people. 🩷The pack walks as a group are so enjoyable and great learning experience 🩷

I’ve owned large-breed dogs for nearly 30 years, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks have always been my breed of choice. Even with that experience, I wanted to improve my dog-training skills. It became clear that I wasn’t going to accomplish that on my own, so I decided to seek professional help. I connected with Angela and her assistant, Katie, and attended my first group class. I’ll be honest: my first impression wasn’t very positive. I was being asked to use a type of collar that society often teaches us to avoid, and I was hearing ideas that were very different from what we’ve come to accept as “normal” online. I went home that evening feeling disappointed and skeptical. That night, I did some serious soul-searching. I realized that maybe I was the one who needed the training. So I committed to completing the entire group training course, following the instructions exactly as taught, and reserving judgment until the end. By the time we finished, I can honestly say the experience was worth far more than I paid, and the results were nothing short of impressive. One of the biggest differences with Angela’s program is that you’re not confined to a controlled training environment. The classes take place in the real world, with real distractions, in places you would naturally take your dog. We trained in parks filled with people walking and living their lives, on bike trails with cyclists and children, at beaches with wind, water, and unfamiliar smells, and on busy sidewalks with traffic, crosswalks, cafés, and outdoor dining. Although treats aren’t discouraged, I learned they aren’t always necessary. Angela teaches that your attention, timing, and communication can become the highest-value reward for your dog — and, more importantly, she explains why. I was also taught how to properly use a specific collar, not as a tool for punishment, but as a form of communication and protection for my dog. Over time, verbal commands became far less necessary because I learned how to communicate effectively through the leash and collar. The amazing part was that my dog seemed to understand it immediately — almost as if he had been waiting for me to learn. My single biggest takeaway was learning to control myself. Some people call it “energy,” but in reality, our moods, patience, confidence, and mindset subtly change our body language and even our chemistry. Dogs pick up on that instantly. This was one of the most powerful and effective lessons Angela taught me, and it changed everything. From there, it became a matter of refining my communication skills with my dog — learning simple, effective ways to manage everything from leash anxiety and passing other dogs calmly, to addressing food aggression between two dogs. Angela has become someone I continue to consult with, and that relationship has been one of the more valuable investments I’ve made in recent years. Angela's training class was remarkable, and worth every moment. You'll love the supportive group atmosphere.

Angela is amazing! Training with her has truly changed the lives of my two little dogs — and mine too. Watching them both grow from overstimulated and overwhelmed to calm, trusting, and confident has been a blessing. It has given us (them and me) the freedom to enjoy peaceful walks and experiences together I once thought might never be possible. I’m so very grateful I found her. Highly recommended Angela and Katie!!!