Ryker’s Story
From May 2015- March 2017, Brittany (the previous owner of Ryker) unexpectedly lost 3 very important figures in her life; her grandparents, Tom & Janet Sawyer, who always supported her 200% in whatever she did and Rykah, her German Shepherd who got her started as a dog trainer. While brainstorming a way to memorialize them, she remembered a story that made her realize that she had found what she was looking for. From the day she brought Rykah home, Brittany’s grandpa had always called him Ryker. No matter how many times she corrected him about the name, for the rest of Rykah’s life, her grandpa called him by the wrong name. Brittany’s grandma tried to help her correct her grandpa, but it was no use and she ended up calling Rykah by the wrong name as well! As far as Brittany’s dog’s name was concerned, his name was Ryker when her grandparents were around and Rykah happily responded to them when they called. Brittany knew immediately that the name Ryker was the perfect tribute to them all. Since then, Brittany has been able to honor their memory through Ryker.
My grandparents, Tom & Janet Sawyer, and Rykah
Our Specialities
We opened the doors at our current location, 58 E. Herndon Ave, Fresno, CA, in March 2019. We were previously operating as Instinct Professional Dog Training until our name change in August 2017. Our training staff continues to expand their knowledge by attending educational seminars taught by various experts in our field. We strongly feel that we should never stop learning because there is no “one size fits all” approach to dog training. We use balanced training methods in order to tailor our training specifically to your dog’s needs. We provide a supportive environment for you to learn and ask questions throughout the training process.
Meet Melanie (Owner/Trainer)
Hi! I’m Melanie (aka Mel) and I’m the owner and trainer at Ryker Dog Training. I like to take a realistic approach to training because every dog and their living situation is different which is why I gravitate to the Balanced Training method. I am also an Evaluator and Instructor for the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy. When you come for training at Ryker, you might meet my dog Rufus who is my personal service dog. He is also the resident Ryker greeter and adult doggy helper in puppy classes.
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Meet Brittany (Trainer)
Hello, I am the lead trainer and previous owner of Ryker Dog Training. When helping my clients and their dogs, I take a common-sense approach to training that takes their every day lives into account when coming up with a solution to a training problem. I want your dog to be a part of your family like my dog Rykah was a part of mine. Over the course of your training, you may meet several different dogs who assist me in lessons. They provide a calm, confident distraction for your dog to work around. You may even meet our resident Dog Trainers in Training, my daughter Kira or my son Sawyer.
I am an Evaluator and Instructor for the Canine Good Citizen and the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy programs.
Dogs, like people, have their own personalities and quirks. I tailor the training tools and program to the dog and owner in front of me instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Training should help your dog become an active member of your family.