DOG TRAINING
RYAN LEESE
Ryan Leese - About Me
My Journey
In July 1980 a Lab/Springer called Beaumont was born and so was I. Obviously, I don’t remember much about his early training but I can definitely suggest he was under socialized. I remember sitting in his bed with him practising my reading. Later on, as we got older I would confide in Beaumont and talk to him about my worries at school, he was a true best friend. In the last few years of his life, I was old enough to walk him on my own. I tried to help him overcome his fear and massive aggression towards other dogs. Eventually, I got him to the stage where he could walk shoulder to shoulder with a yellow lab named Heidi, he absolutely loved her. He died when we were 13 and that’s when I realised how much a dog companion matters to me.
My Journey
In July 1980, a Lab/Springer mix called Beaumont was born — and so was I. I don’t remember much about his early training, but I now realise he was likely under-socialised. As a child, I would sit in his bed and read to him, and later, confide in him about my worries at school. He was a true best friend. In the last few years of his life, I was finally old enough to walk him on my own, and I made it my mission to help him overcome his fear and intense dog aggression. Eventually, he was able to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with a yellow Lab named Heidi, whom he adored. When he died, we were both 13 — and I knew then how deeply important the bond with a dog was to me.
My First Puppy
A year later, after moving to a new town, I told my parents I couldn’t start a new life without a new dog. That’s when The Colonel came along — a 5-month-old Border Collie x Springer who had been dumped on the M5 and needed a home. He was a proper pal. We went everywhere together. When I eventually left home for work, The Colonel stayed with my parents, but he’d come to stay with me for every bit of annual leave. As for training — well, he trained me perfectly.
A Return to Dogs
For years after The Colonel passed, my lifestyle didn’t allow for responsible dog ownership. I always believed that not having a dog during that time was the right thing to do. But as soon as life changed, my partner Kelly and I adopted Kira, a 3-month-old Collie. She absolutely loved training, and through her, so did I. Later we welcomed Raffi, a 10-month-old Collie who needed help overcoming fears of various stimuli and situations. Helping Raffi sparked my deeper interest in behaviour, and I started attending courses to build his confidence — and mine.
From Passion to Profession
When the world came to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, I made the decision to turn a lifelong passion into my profession. I began by volunteering at a local rescue centre to broaden my experience beyond my own dogs, working hands-on with dogs of all breeds, backgrounds, and behaviour issues. Around the same time, I committed to formal study — completing numerous accreditations with respected, science-based organisations in training and behaviour.
As my experience grew, I went on to join the Dogs Trust as Senior Coach for Dog School Devon, where I spent 21 months leading group classes and one-to-one sessions, helping hundreds of dogs and their families build better relationships.
Throughout this time, I’ve continued to study, explore, and learn. I don’t believe we ever truly “arrive” at mastery — if anything, real expertise begins when you accept that there’s always more to learn. That’s why I’ve put myself on a continual development path, learning from some of the best trainers and behaviour specialists in the world.
But my greatest teachers have always been the dogs.
Beaumont, The Colonel, Kira, Raffi, and now Merlin have each shaped how I see the world. And every dog I meet — whether it’s in a one-to-one program, a puppy class, or during behaviour consults for rescue centres — continues to teach me something new. That’s what keeps me inspired. The learning never stops, and neither does the love for what I do.
