We recently connected with Wesley Ryan and have shared our conversation below.
Wesley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
It all started with a passion. We’ve always loved working with dogs, but it wasn’t just about training them to compete—it was about the joy of performing with them, showing off their talents, and spreading the love for dog sports. We all came from backgrounds where we competed at a high level, but honestly, the real fun was starting to fade as the pressure of competition grew. The organization we were part of wanted to focus more on competition, but we realized we wanted something different. We didn’t just want to compete; we wanted to showcase our dogs and promote the sport of dog training in a way that would make people fall in love with it too.
And that’s how Performance Dogs of Ohio™ was born. We wanted to create something where the fun of dog performance and the spirit of the sport could be the focus—a place where we could entertain, educate, and inspire people, all while sharing the incredible bond we have with our dogs.
We decided the best way to start was with a show—so we set up in my backyard. It was going to be a casual, fun event, inviting friends and family to see what we’d been working on. But let’s just say, it was a learning experience. We had the full setup—props, music, the works—but there were all kinds of mistakes. From dogs running off the field to forgotten routines and technical difficulties, we pretty much faced every challenge imaginable. But we pushed through it, laughed it off, and kept going. We knew this was just the beginning.
Then came our first public performance. We booked a small local festival and decided to perform for free just to get our name out there. We were nervous, but the feedback we received afterward was overwhelming. People loved the dogs, loved the show, and most importantly, loved the energy we brought to the stage. It was the encouragement we needed. From there, we started getting more and more gigs—small festivals, fairs, halftimes and events. With each show, we learned more, refined our performances, and the business started to take off.
Fast forward to today, and Performance Dogs of Ohio™ is exploding. We’ve gone from that first backyard show with a handful of friends to booking more performances than we can handle. Our talented dogs are the stars of the show, and we’re able to share our mission of promoting dog sports and entertaining audiences across Ohio and beyond. We offer tailored performances for any event, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, large or small. It’s been a wild ride, and we’re still just getting started.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At Performance Dogs of Ohio™, we specialize in high-energy, entertaining stunt dog shows that showcase the incredible abilities of our canine companions (our pets). Our team has over 30 years of combined experience, and we are passionate about promoting dog sports and sharing the bond between dogs and their handlers with audiences across Ohio and beyond.
We provide captivating performances for events such as festivals, fairs, halftime shows, and private parties. Our dogs perform a variety of tricks, from agility displays to synchronized moves, all designed to entertain and engage audiences of all ages. Our performances are customizable, meaning we can tailor each show to the unique needs of your event, whether it’s indoors or outdoors.
What sets us apart is our focus on not just performing but promoting the sport of dog training. We believe in making dog sports more accessible and fun for everyone. We take pride in showing what dogs can do when they’re trained with care and love, and we aim to inspire people to get involved in the world of dog sports.
What we’re most proud of is the growth of our business. From humble beginnings performing in backyard shows to now being booked at festivals and major events, we’ve built a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and entertainment. Our dogs are the stars of the show, and the feedback we receive from audiences keeps us motivated to keep performing and promoting dog sports.
Ultimately, we want our clients and fans to know that Performance Dogs of Ohio™ is all about creating unforgettable, high-energy experiences that leave audiences smiling. Whether you’re hosting a large event or a small gathering, we’re here to provide a performance that showcases the amazing skills of our dogs and brings joy to everyone.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I met my cofounder, Ariel Faeth, at a local frisbee disc dog seminar. We had briefly spoken at a few competitions before, but it wasn’t until the seminar that we really hit it off. We spent hours laughing, sharing stories about our dogs, and discussing different types of throws and tricks. Ariel was fairly new to the club I was president of at the time, and my goal was to make him feel welcome and at home. We quickly became good friends, bonding over our shared passion for working with dogs.
As for how I got involved in the sport, it’s actually thanks to my brother, Bob Ryan. Bob is one of the owners of the company, and he was the one who introduced me to the world of dog competitions. He started by taking my son to competitions, where people were generous enough to let him borrow their dogs to compete. To everyone’s surprise, my son did extremely well and even won two world championships! It wasn’t long before we decided to buy a dog for him, and then over the years, we’ve continued to add more dogs to the family. And now, through our work with Ariel, we’re able to share this incredible passion with others through Performance Dogs of Ohio™.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A big lesson we had to unlearn was about the importance of communication, especially when it comes to pivoting in business. For a long time, we were deeply involved in a disc dog organization that was primarily focused on competition. But as we shifted our focus to creating performance shows, we realized that our decision wasn’t received well by everyone. Some people felt hurt, as if we weren’t being transparent about our intentions, and in hindsight, we can see that we could’ve communicated our vision more clearly from the start.
We were so excited about our new direction that we didn’t fully consider how it might affect others in the organization. Looking back, I wish we had been more upfront about our goals and the reasons behind the shift. By not having those early conversations, we ended up unintentionally straining a few relationships that could have been avoided. That experience taught us the importance of clear and open communication, especially when making big changes, and how vital it is to bring people along with you rather than just jumping into something new.
Even today, we still struggle at times with making our communication crystal clear. But we’ve worked hard to improve by ensuring that our expectations are clearly documented and that we have defined process flows in place. We’ve learned that when everyone knows what’s expected and how things should work, it makes all the difference in avoiding confusion and misunderstandings. This lesson has become a cornerstone of how we operate now, and we’re constantly striving to keep improving our communication as we grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.performancedogsofohio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance_dogs_of_ohio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/performancedogsofohio
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/perfdogohio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6OXxxJA1H6leaK92xA_WXg
Image Credits
Photos by Ariel Faeth