Who is “Pavlov?”  To the psychology community (or anyone who took a basic psych course in college), Pavlov is the father of classic conditioning, whose experiments with salivating dogs earned him the Nobel Prize at the turn of the century.  But to the Dallas-Fort Worth comedy scene, the name refers to four hilarious men who make up one of the area’s oldest and best-loved improv comedy troupes.

Pavlov’s Dogs began their comedic careers as members of Texas A & M’s Freudian Slip, an improv troupe for students, where they developed their own unique brand of improv before going on to form their own group with a psychology-inspired name.  The Dogs’ high-energy, character-driven “comedy with a bite” quickly earned them a earned them a loyal following, along with serious respect from fellow comedians.  Their signature format blends scene-based and short form improv, resulting in performances that are fast-paced, polished and fun.

Anyone in Dallas knows to buy tickets early for the group’s consistently packed Friday night shows at the Pocket Sandwich Theatre.  Free-flowing and occasionally R-rated, the skit material draws from current events and audience suggestions alike.  One of audiences’ favorite segments by PD is the now-classic improv game in which audiences shout words or phrases for the group to incorporate into a skit.  The Dogs’ unique personalities and techniques make for an interesting dynamic, while the intimate, microphone-free environment adds to the excitement.

Entertained by the hundreds each week, it’s no surprise that Dallasites have been conditioned to laugh when someone mentions Pavlov’s Dogs.