Hi, I’m Wayne, founder of Military K9 Training & Behaviour and a professional dog trainer based in Oakham, Rutland.

After spending 18 years as a British Army dog handler and trainer, working operational deployments worldwide alongside U.S. Special Forces, American law enforcement and the UK's Special Boat Service, I learned something very early on. Dogs perform best when training is clear, structured and done in real environments, not controlled bubbles.

Today I bring that same approach to pet dog owners.

I work with dogs of all breeds and ages, helping owners overcome problems such as reactivity, barking and lunging, poor recall, pulling on the lead, lack of obedience and puppy foundations. I also specialise in scent work, tracking and fulfilment-based activities that give dogs a productive outlet and purpose.

My training is balanced, practical and designed for real life. Rather than spending weeks working in artificial environments, I focus on helping dogs and owners succeed where it actually matters: around people, dogs, distractions and everyday situations.

The goal is not simply to teach your dog commands. It is to help you understand your dog, improve communication and give you the confidence and skills to create lasting change.

Whether you have a reactive dog that is becoming stressful to walk, a puppy that needs structure and guidance, or a dog that simply needs direction, my aim is straightforward: provide honest advice, clear training plans and results that work long-term.

If you are looking for an experienced dog trainer in Oakham, Rutland and the surrounding areas and are ready to put in the work, I will help you build the dog you actually want to live with.

Pack Walk in Oakham, Rutland

Me and my Protection dog, Tzar in Afghanistan, 2007

Remembrance Day with Military Working Dog, Spinner

“Wayne at Military K9 is hands down the best dog trainer in Oakham. We came to him with a reactive dog that was lunging and barking on walks, and we honestly felt stuck. From the first 1-to-1 session, Wayne explained why the behaviour was happening and gave us a clear, structured plan to follow.

The reactive dog training was practical, calm and easy to apply in real life. Within weeks, our dog was walking past other dogs with far more control and confidence. If you’re looking for a professional, no-nonsense dog behaviour specialist in Rutland, Wayne is the person to see.”

— Sarah, Uppingham, Rutland

“We came to Wayne at Military K9 after trying a couple of other local dog trainers in Oakham, but nothing seemed to stick long term. The training we’d done before worked in a class setting but completely fell apart in real life.

From the first session, Wayne’s approach was different. He focused on structure, consistency and teaching us how to handle our dog properly, not just managing behaviour. The dog obedience and behaviour training was clear, practical and tailored to our dog, not a one-size-fits-all method.

We now have a calm, well mannered dog that we can trust on walks and in public. If you’re looking for a professional dog trainer in Oakham or Rutland who actually gets results where other training has failed, we can’t recommend Wayne highly enough.”

— Mark, Market Harborough, Leics

“We started working with Wayne when our puppy was 12 weeks old and it was the best decision we made. His puppy training in Rutland focuses on foundations, calm behaviour and clear boundaries, not just tricks.

Wayne’s experience really shows. He taught us how to handle our puppy properly, build good habits early, and avoid common mistakes. Our dog now has better manners, a solid recall, and walks nicely on the lead. I would absolutely recommend Military K9 to anyone looking for puppy training classes or obedience training near Oakham.”

— James & Laura, Oakham, Rutland