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Meet Our Staff

About Ryan Olson

Get to Know the Founder of Balanced Canine Academy

My journey into dog training began through my deep-rooted passion for rescue work. In my early 20s, I founded Rescue Gang, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dog shelter in Wisconsin, before moving to Florida. As President and Executive Director for seven years, I led a team of over 600 volunteers to rescue and rehabilitate 1,300 dogs from high-kill shelters worldwide. Many of these dogs arrived with severe behavioral challenges that made adoption difficult, so rather than deem them unadoptable, I committed myself to learning how to rehabilitate and transform their lives.

Through hands-on experience and mentorship from industry leaders like Alicia Bloomfield, Dallas Hamilton, Ted Efthymiadis, Ashley Netten, Jeremy Majors, and Cameron Thompson, I honed my expertise in reward-based e-collar training, advanced obedience, off-leash reliability, and behavior modification for issues such as fear, anxiety, reactivity, and aggression.

My training philosophy is rooted in balance and dog psychology, prioritizing a dog’s state of mind over outdated, harsh methods or treat-only approaches. I focus on clear communication, structured guidance, and trust-building, using a combination of positive reinforcement, relaxation techniques, counter-conditioning, and appropriate corrections when necessary. My goal is to reshape the relationship between you and your dog, creating a partnership built on clarity, confidence, and freedom.

Whether you’re looking to refine obedience, address behavioral challenges, or simply create a stronger bond with your dog, my training programs are designed to bring out the best in your canine companion—for a lifetime of success.

Shepherd Express: Hero of the Week

Milwaukee Magazine: Milwaukee's "Rescue Gang" is Not Like Other Animal Shelters

Media Milwaukee: The Rescue Gang Redefines Milwaukee Animal Rescue

Media Milwaukee: Rescue Gang Dog Shelter Opens Its Doors to the Public

"If you want a new outcome, you will have to break the habit of being yourself and reinvent a new self." —Dr. Joe Dispenza

Media Coverage & Press

In the News: Ryan Olson's Impact

Tegan & Aspen

Meet the Pack

I rescued Tegan, an Irish Setter, from a high kill shelter in Texas along with 45 other dogs in a single weekend. From the first photo I saw of her in a shelter, I knew she was the one and that she belonged to my family! Being a rescue, she came with some baggage—some pretty severe separation anxiety, didn’t know any obedience, and would try to sneak out the door to run away. Now, she’s able to be just about anywhere off leash and helps me rehabilitate dogs! You can typically find her on puppy duty, giving the younger pups rules and boundaries.

Aspen is a Belgian Malinois who has been with me since 8 weeks of age! Tegan is getting older, so we needed a younger dog to help us rehabilitate and train dogs. He is the cutest, goofiest, derpiest Malinois I’ve ever met. He does an amazing job at teaching dogs how to socialize, be it giving them boundaries when playing or helping scared/ aggressive dogs come out of their shell.. He’s always down to demonstrate his skills to clients and absolutely loves training. His favorite activity is learning protection work or skating behind me off leash along the St. Pete Pier.