Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Wesley Ryan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Wesley, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
How did Performance Dogs of Ohio actually start? (Idea → execution story)
Performance Dogs of Ohio didn’t start as some perfectly packaged business plan. It started the way a lot of real things start… with a dog, a disc, and a moment where I realized: this is special.
At first, it was just training. Just me and the dogs putting in reps, learning timing, building drive, and figuring out how to communicate at a higher level. But early on, the first “stage” we ever had wasn’t a stadium… it was the competition environment.
The competition phase (where it really began)
Competing was huge for us because it gave us structure, pressure, and a standard. It forced us to tighten everything up:
consistency
accuracy
control
timing
teamwork
And that’s where we started realizing something important:
this wasn’t just a hobby. The dogs were athletic. The routines were exciting. And people loved watching it.
Then we took a big step that ended up shaping everything.
Joining a local nonprofit disc dog organization
We ended up joining a local nonprofit disc dog organization, and that became a major turning point. Through them, we started doing demos and public performances.
Those demos were like our “testing ground.”
It wasn’t just dog sport people watching. It was families, kids, people who had never seen disc dogs before. And the reaction was immediate. People would stop, gather around, take videos, and ask questions like:
“How do you teach them that?”
“How long did that take?”
“Where can we see this again?”
That’s when it clicked.
The “idea moment”
The idea wasn’t “let’s start a company.”
The idea was:
there’s potential here to build something bigger than a demo.
We saw that we could take what dog sports already had, and elevate it into a true entertainment experience. Not just showing off tricks, but creating something that would pull people in.
And most importantly, we realized the bigger purpose:
We could grow the bond of dog sports through performance.
That line became a mission, not just a concept.
The next day: turning excitement into a plan
The very next day after that realization, I started thinking in practical terms:
What makes a performance actually entertaining?
What would make this different from someone just throwing a Frisbee in a park?
What would it take to be good enough for a halftime show?
How do you keep dogs safe and consistent in loud environments?
That’s when I realized: this isn’t just dog training. This is production.
So we started working on two things at the same time:
Elite training
A real show format
The first months: building the “product”
This is where the real work began.
We had to build routines that weren’t random. We needed structure. We needed moments. We needed flow.
So the dogs and I started creating:
repeatable tricks and sequences
clean disc throws and reliable catches
crowd moments (big air, speed, teamwork)
transitions so it looked like a performance, not practice
And we had to proof everything with distractions:
music
clapping
yelling
people walking around
unpredictable environments
Because a dog catching a disc in a quiet park is one thing.
A dog catching a disc while a crowd is screaming and a buzzer just went off is a totally different animal.
The first year: figuring out what it takes to be “bookable”
Once we had the performance skills coming together, we had to shift into business mode.
That meant figuring out:
1) Branding and identity
We needed a name and a message people would remember.
That’s where Performance Dogs of Ohio became the identity:
not just dogs doing tricks, but dogs delivering a performance.
2) What we were actually selling
We weren’t selling “disc dog tricks.”
We were selling:
family entertainment
halftime energy
crowd engagement
a professional show that can plug into an event
3) Logistics + safety
We had to get serious about:
travel setup
equipment
timing
show length
dog safety
spacing and field layout
Because event organizers need reliability.
They don’t want “we’ll figure it out.”
They want: we’ve done this before, we’re prepared, and your crowd will love it.
The first bookings: proving it works
At first, you’re not “known.”
So you do what every real business does:
you take opportunities, you prove yourself, and you build momentum.
Each performance taught us something:
what gets the biggest reaction
how to handle different venues
how to adjust for wind, space, flooring, turf
what dogs shine in which moments
And slowly the show sharpened into what it is today.
The breakthrough: from “cool” to “professional”
The big shift was when we realized:
We’re not just performing for dog people.
We’re performing for everyone.
Kids. Parents. College students. Sports fans. People who didn’t expect to care about dogs at all.
That’s why our show grew into something bigger: high-energy, fun, athletic, and built for crowds.
And now it’s taken us to major stages, including performing at halftime for big games and being featured on ESPN.
That’s the part people see.
What they don’t see is the thousands of reps it took to make it look effortless.
In one sentence: how did it go from idea to execution?
It went from idea to execution because we treated it like this:
We trained in competition, proved it in demos, and then built it into a professional show designed to grow the bond of dog sports through performance.
Wesley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
About Performance Dogs of Ohio (Who we are, what we do, and what sets us apart)
Performance Dogs of Ohio is a professional disc dog entertainment team based in Ohio, and at our core we’re built around one powerful idea:
Dog sports can be more than competition. They can be a performance that inspires people and strengthens the bond between dogs and humans.
That’s what we do.
We bring high-energy, crowd-friendly Frisbee disc dog shows to events like:
college and professional sporting events (halftime shows)
festivals and fairs
corporate events
community celebrations
private and special events
Our show is a mix of athleticism, speed, precision, and personality. It’s designed to make people stop what they’re doing, smile, and think:
“I’ve never seen anything like that.”
How I got into this discipline / craft
This didn’t start as a business idea. It started with a love for working with dogs and building something real through training.
Like a lot of people, I began with the basics: teaching skills, building trust, and figuring out what my dogs were capable of. That grew into disc dog training, and eventually we entered the competition environment. Competing was important because it raised the bar for us. It taught us consistency, control, timing, and how to perform under pressure.
From there we joined a local nonprofit disc dog organization and started doing demos. Those demos were a turning point because we saw how people reacted. Families, kids, sports fans, people who had never even heard of disc dog… they were locked in.
That’s when it clicked:
we could take the excitement of dog sports and elevate it into a full professional entertainment experience.
And that’s how Performance Dogs of Ohio was born.
What we provide (services / creative work)
We provide professional canine entertainment performances, built specifically for live crowds and big energy environments.
Our work includes:
Halftime shows for basketball games and other sports events
Festival and fair performances
Community demos
Event partnerships where we help promote and increase attendance
Meet-and-greet experiences (when applicable)
This isn’t a casual “dog trick demo.” It’s a true show:
structured routines
choreography and pacing
planned crowd moments
reliable performance execution
and a team that understands how live events work
The problems we solve for clients
Event organizers have a few consistent needs, and we’re built to solve them.
1) They need something that grabs attention
In today’s world, attention is the currency. If your event has downtime, halftime, or a lull, you need something that wakes the crowd up.
Our shows do exactly that.
2) They need family-friendly entertainment that works for all ages
A lot of entertainment options only hit one demographic.
Disc dogs hit everybody:
kids go crazy
parents love it
sports fans respect the athleticism
dog lovers connect emotionally
and even people who “aren’t dog people” end up cheering
3) They need reliable professionals
We show up prepared, organized, and ready to perform.
We understand:
timing
space constraints
safety
sound systems
crowd flow
working with staff and coordinators
That professionalism matters.
What sets us apart
There are a lot of talented dog trainers out there, and there are a lot of talented disc dog competitors out there.
But what sets Performance Dogs of Ohio apart is that we combine multiple worlds:
We’re not only trainers.
We’re performers.
We’re not only performers.
We’re athletes.
And we’re not only athletes.
We’re storytellers.
We build routines that showcase the dogs’ ability, but we also build moments that the audience feels. The goal isn’t just “look what my dog can do.”
The goal is:
look what’s possible when a human and a dog truly work together.
We also bring variety in our team. For example, we have dogs like Ella, a Border Collie who’s incredibly fast and explosive and has grown into a standout performer, including major halftime performances and national-level exposure.
That kind of athletic talent, paired with show structure, is what makes our performances memorable.
What I’m most proud of
Honestly, what I’m most proud of is the mission behind it all.
Yes, the big crowds are amazing.
Yes, being featured on ESPN was huge.
Yes, performing at major games is a dream.
But the part that means the most is this:
We’ve created something that inspires people to see dogs differently.
People walk away saying:
“I want to do something like that with my dog.”
“I didn’t realize dog sports were even a thing.”
“That made me want to train, bond, and build something with my dog.”
That’s the win.
We’re not just entertaining crowds.
We’re growing the dog sports community through performance.
What I want potential clients / followers / fans to know
If there are a few things I want people to know about Performance Dogs of Ohio, it’s this:
This is a professional show, built for live events and big crowds
Safety and dog welfare come first, always
Our performances are designed to elevate your event
Our brand is built on bond, teamwork, and inspiration
We want to make people believe:
your dog is capable of more than you think
At the end of the day, we’re proud to represent Ohio, proud to represent dog sports, and proud to bring something truly unique to every event we’re part of.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding the business: how we put together the initial capital
Performance Dogs of Ohio wasn’t launched with investors, big startup money, or a giant loan. In the beginning, it was funded the same way a lot of real grassroots businesses are built:
through personal investment, reinvesting every dollar back into the work, and growing one opportunity at a time.
The truth is: the dogs came first, the business came second
Before there was a “Performance Dogs of Ohio,” there were training sessions, competition entries, discs, equipment, travel, and all the little costs that add up when you’re serious about dog sports.
So in the earliest stage, the “capital” wasn’t some big check. It was:
time
training
consistency
and the willingness to spend money on improvement before there was a guaranteed return
Step 1: Self-funding and sweat equity
In the beginning, we self-funded everything.
That meant:
buying gear (discs, leashes, safety equipment, props)
paying for competition fees
travel expenses
investing in training resources
building routines and practicing constantly
And honestly, the biggest investment wasn’t even money. It was the hours.
There were a lot of nights and weekends where we were training when it would’ve been easier to do anything else. But we believed in it, and we wanted to build something real.
Step 2: Proving the concept through demos
Once we joined a local nonprofit disc dog organization and started doing demos, that became our proving ground.
Those demos were important because they helped us answer a huge question:
Will people actually stop, watch, and get excited about this?
The answer was yes. And not just yes, but strong yes.
That was the moment where we started thinking bigger and realized:
this can become a professional company.
Step 3: Turning early opportunities into real revenue
When we started getting booked for performances, the funding model was simple:
book shows → deliver a great experience → reinvest the money → upgrade the show → book bigger shows
Every performance helped fund the next step.
The first dollars went into things like:
better equipment
professional branding and materials
travel and logistics improvements
music/sound setup needs
anything that made us more reliable and more “event-ready”
We weren’t trying to look big.
We were trying to be good.
Step 4: Reinvesting instead of cashing out
One of the biggest reasons we grew fast is because we didn’t treat early revenue like profit.
We treated it like fuel.
Instead of pulling money out early, we reinvested into:
building a stronger team
improving the dogs’ training and performance consistency
upgrading the quality and professionalism of the show
marketing so we could reach bigger venues
That reinvestment mindset is what helped us go from small demos to major stages.
The bigger picture: we built it like a performance, not a startup
A lot of businesses are built by raising money first and figuring it out later.
Ours was the opposite.
We built Performance Dogs of Ohio like we built our routines:
start with the fundamentals
repeat until consistent
improve one detail at a time
level up the difficulty
then perform it at full speed
That same approach is what funded and grew the business.
In one sentence
We funded Performance Dogs of Ohio through self-investment, sweat equity, early demo opportunities, and reinvesting every performance dollar back into building a professional show.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
A time we had to pivot (from nonprofit demos to a professional show)
One of the biggest pivots in the story of Performance Dogs of Ohio actually came from something really positive.
Early on, we were involved with a local nonprofit disc dog organization. Their mission was awesome and it was built around inclusion. They wanted people to feel welcome in dog sports, no matter their experience level, and they would bring lots of teams out to do demos. You’d have beginners, intermediate handlers, advanced teams, all in one event.
And for the dog sport community, that was fun. It was encouraging. It helped people get involved. It created a welcoming environment and gave a lot of people confidence.
But as we started doing more of these demos, we had a realization that forced a pivot:
The honest truth: inclusion didn’t automatically equal entertainment
From an event organizer’s point of view, a demo like that can be unpredictable.
You might have a couple teams that are amazing… and then you might have teams that are very new, still learning, missing catches, losing focus, or just not polished yet.
That’s totally normal in dog sports, and it’s part of the journey.
But for a crowd, especially a sports crowd or a festival crowd, it doesn’t always translate into a great entertainment product.
And we started to notice:
energy would drop
the crowd wouldn’t know what to watch
there wasn’t a consistent “wow” factor
the pacing didn’t feel like a show
So we had to ask ourselves a tough question:
Do we want to keep doing demos… or do we want to build something that works as professional entertainment?
That question changed everything.
The pivot: from “demo” to “show”
That was the turning point where Performance Dogs of Ohio started to take shape.
We decided to pivot away from the idea of:
“let’s bring a bunch of teams out and showcase dog sports”
…and toward:
“let’s create a polished, repeatable, high-energy show.”
What we changed
We started treating every performance like a production, not a meetup.
That meant:
selecting performers based on consistency and crowd impact
tightening routines so they hit every time
building pacing and flow (so there’s never a dead spot)
creating moments that people can understand instantly
keeping the energy high from start to finish
It wasn’t about being exclusive just to be exclusive.
It was about understanding that professional entertainment requires a different standard than community participation.
Why it mattered
That pivot was huge because it helped us move from:
“people doing disc dog stuff”
to:
“this is a performance that belongs on a big stage.”
It also helped us become far more valuable to clients, because event organizers don’t just want something dog-related.
They want:
reliable entertainment
predictable quality
a crowd reaction
a professional experience they can trust
Once we made that pivot, we weren’t just participating in dog sports anymore.
We were representing dog sports through performance.
What that pivot taught me
The lesson from that pivot was simple but powerful:
Inclusion builds community.
But a show builds a brand.
We’re proud of where we came from and grateful for that nonprofit experience because it gave us reps, exposure, and a mission-driven foundation.
But Performance Dogs of Ohio exists because we took the next step:
we turned demos into a true entertainment product, and we elevated dog sports into something that can inspire and excite massive crowds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.performancedogsofohio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance_dogs_of_ohio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/performancedogsofohio
Image Credits
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