Meet Lauren Lee
Owner and trainer, Take the Lee’d. San Diego dog training for aggressive and reactive dogs.
How it started
Take the Lee’d began with Lauren’s own dog. The first dog she adopted started showing reactivity, and no trainer she hired could change it. So she learned the work herself.
Before founding Take the Lee’d in 2024, Lauren trained dogs for about 300 clients at Mango Dogs San Diego, where she earned her canine behavior specialist certification through more than 200 hours of training. She started Take the Lee’d so that she could work with every client herself, from the first evaluation to graduation and beyond.
Education and experience
Master of Arts in Biology, Miami University, through Project Dragonfly’s Advanced Inquiry Program, with experiential learning at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Certified canine behavior specialist, through more than 200 hours of training
Cat and Dog First Aid certified by the American Red Cross
About ten years in veterinary clinics in Chicago and San Diego
Three years working with other species, including the San Diego Zoo, Global Conservation Force, Nurtured by Nature, and other international wildlife programs
Four years training dogs professionally, and over 400 dogs trained
Insured
What she works on
Aggression toward people or other dogs, including dogs with a bite history
Leash reactivity: lunging, barking and pulling
Conflict between dogs in the same household
Rescue dogs, and dogs other trainers have turned away
Fearful and anxious dogs
All large and small breeds, including German Shepherds, Pugs, Labs, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corsos and Great Danes
How she works
You always work with Lauren: not a rotating team and not a franchise. Every program starts with a free in-home evaluation, where she meets your dog, hears the full history and tells you honestly what she expects. She is a balanced trainer: rewards and clear communication come first, and fair corrections come once a dog understands what is being asked. If a dog may have a medical issue, she talks it through with the owner first and can take the dog to its regular vet. Read more about how Lauren trains.
Beyond dog training
Lauren works on wildlife conservation education as Education Programs Coordinator and Apprentice Instructor at Global Conservation Force. Take the Lee’d supports Bekah, a Global Conservation Force working dog protecting rhinos (Giving Back). Lauren has talked about this work on the Coffee and Conservation podcast, and about her path into dog training on The Total Podcast! with Phil Scott (FAQ). She also mentors new dog trainers from time to time.
At group class you may meet Moose, her shepherd.