Meet Ronny LeJeune | CPDT-KA, CCFT, CertCN

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ronny LeJeune and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ronny, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Unless you are a dog owner searching for a dog trainer to help teach your dog new behaviors; you’re probably blissfully unaware of the massive online culture war between different types of dog trainers in the industry.

Who has the best methods?
Balanced versus Positive Reinforcement?
Can training tools be used ethically?
…and so on…

Those questions are rhetorical. Obviously only qualified dog trainers can speak to those. Those are the concepts that fuel these arguments among dog trainers. This often leaves dog owners very confused on what information to trust and who to hire when they need to hire a dog trainer.

My goal is to lead by example rather than engage in these online arguments. I allow my work to speak for itself when it comes to the online culture war. However, I do believe it is important for me to be transparent to current and potential clients when they ask me these questions when it comes to training their dog.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been professionally training dogs since 2015 and I have a wide skillset when it comes to working with dogs. I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Canine Fitness Trainer, and Certified Canine Nutritionist which means I have skills to work with the total dog – behavior, fitness, and nutrition.

I have experience with dogs of all sizes, breeds, and personalities. However, my specialty is training high energy and performance dogs. I actively compete in dog sports with my German Shorthaired Pointer, Quest. I am training my American Staffordshire Terrier puppy, Kessel, for dog sports as well.

Dog training, especially at a competition level, requires years of practice – especially if you’re competitive and want to win (like me)! However, I get a tremendous amount of joy seeing my clients succeed in the skills I have taught them to do. That is the most gratifying part about being a dog trainer.

I take a progressive approach to teaching dogs:

Positive Reinforcement: Pet parents and their dogs improve their behavior through positive reinforcement. All programs are designed to teach pet parents how to positively train their dog while the pet parent’s actions are rewarded through the progression of their dog’s behavior.

Choice Based Learning: Harnessing the power of choice is a major component of Optimal Canine’s programs. All learners, dog and human, have the option of choice – the human can choose the program suitable for their needs and the programs are designed to provide the dog with choice as it learns.

Learning Through Play: Play helps develop a strong relationship between the dog and the human. Developing a strong relationship through play accelerates learning and keeps it fun!

Latest Research on Training: All programs are created to ensure the information is accurate and based on the latest research on psychology and training application.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in rural Louisiana so there is not much for anyone to do out here. However, New Orleans and Lafayette are two major cities that are the ideal spots if you’re thinking about visiting the boot.

New Orleans is commonly known as a destination spot in Louisiana where you can experience Mardi Gras, the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the overwhelming selection of the best Creole food you will ever eat!

Lafayette is in the heart of Cajun country that offers a much smaller experience than what New Orleans offers. Like New Orleans, Lafayette does not have a shortage of excellent food but the difference lies in the style of food found in this area (Cajun food). Tourist attractions in this area lies on the outskirts of the city where various types of tours of the Louisiana Swamp (Atchafalaya) is available.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A good dog trainer is constantly learning and I would not have the skills I have today without learning from some of the most skilled dog trainers in the industry. Every person I have learned from has expanded my knowledge and I am forever grateful for their guidance:

Stacy Barnett, Crystal Wing, Robin Greubel, Lucy Newton, Robert J. Porter, Shade Whitesel, Bobbie Lyons, Denise Fenzi, and Hannah Branigan.

Website: https://optimalcanine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimalcanine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optimalcanineco/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@optimalcanine

Image Credits
The Personal Photo was by Crystal Wing. All other photos are my own.