We recently enrolled our dog in the Ruff Edges Program and I want to share our experience for other dog owners who may be considering this program. For dogs dealing with fear and anxiety, they use extremely intense correction methods. We were initially open to these tools, but things went downhill very quickly. Day one involved towel rolls being thrown at our dog, loud air-canister interruptions, and immediate use of a prong collar. Rather than working at our dog's pace, trainer Mel dragged him along on the prong collar until he submitted. This is not an exaggeration, he was physically dragged while thrashing and panicking. It was shocking and honestly heartbreaking to witness. Right after this forced submission, she handed him to my fiancé, and shortly after our dog jumped up and bit him on the arm. For context: he is five years old and has never bitten anyone in his life. It was devastating. Dogs give plenty of warning signs before a bite (growling, lip raises, body posture) but all of those signals were suppressed as he was forced into submission. In his mind, the only option left was to bite to escape the fear. After the bite we were told, "Oh yeah, that can happen sometimes," and that if it happens again we should "hang him by the prong collar until he sees Jesus." Honestly, we should have walked out immediately, but we trusted the 'professional' and assumed this program was designed for dogs like ours, so it must work. The bite happened again at the next session, totaling three bites under Mel's supervision. We never "hung" our dog by the prong because that is abuse, plain and simple. Meanwhile, his anxiety skyrocketed. He began howling, shaking, and crying at any attempt to get in the car. He even bolted out the front door to avoid going, behaviors we had never seen before this program. By week three, our dog was losing trust in us. He stopped cuddling (which is completely unlike him), avoided closeness, and generally shut down. Heartbreaking, to say the least. After experiencing this firsthand, I truly believe these methods do nothing but force a dog into submission (when they "work") and when they don't, they create dangerous behavioral fallout. The techniques used here are unnecessarily harsh, rooted in impatience, and a blatant lack of respect for the animal. They claim the program is tailored to your dog, but when the methods failed, the only advice was to correct harder: hang him, use an e-collar, throw the towel harder. No alternatives, no adjustments, no real understanding of his behavior. That is not tailoring, that is pushing until the dog breaks. In researching modern training science, I've learned there is simply no justification for these outdated methods. They ignore what we now know about canine behavior and emotional wellbeing. These techniques appeal to owners who want fast control, not true behavior change. I love my dog. After this experience, I'm choosing the slow road, the one that builds trust, not fear. I don't want a dog who obeys because his spirit is broken. I want a companion. If you're considering the Ruff Edges Program, please understand the risks and research these methods thoroughly. I wish we had, and I regret staying as long as we did. "The dominance remedy is so out of proportion that entire schools of training are based on the premise that if you can just exert adequate dominance over the dog, everything else will fall into place. Not only does it mean that incredible amounts of abuse are going to be perpetrated against any given dog, probably exacerbating problems like unreliable recalls and biting, but the real issues, like well-executed conditioning and the provision of an adequate environment, are going to go unaddressed, resulting in a still-untrained dog, perpetuating the pointless dominance program." -- Excerpt from The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. read more

very disorganized.. Wrote me back and forth telling me that I had to pay more than a thousand dollars before letting me know fully about the board and training that I was interested in. Sent a response to me which started with "Hey David" when my name isn't David and then saying that she didn't want to train my Border Collie and cut off communication. read more

Rough Edges program with Brittany changed my pups life and mine. First off it is worth the wait to get training here at Ryker Dog Training. We got a rescue that was beaten and scared of literally every thing. He was even scared to walk down the hallway. Brittany was great and so patient with Bruce and myself (i ask a lot of questions). After session number three we walked into Whities pet store and EVERYONE commented on what a sweet and well behaved dog he was. Last session we went over what i need to do as a dog owner and continue to do so Bruce can be the best dog ever. I wish i would give a million stars out of 5 starts for this review. My husband was even hesitant because the price. He works out of town for weeks at a time and he was shocked at the progress Bruce has made after session 2! Everyone there is great, Brittany was our trainer and we got to know Mel as well. Great people and worth every penny. read more

See all

My fiancé took my 3 month old puppy Theodore to 2 sessions. Theodore got some good socializing, but we did not agree with the training methods used. The facility was highly recommended by a veterinarian I work with. But I should have done more research. They are a balanced training facility, but I wanted all positive reinforcement for my puppy. They use some training tools I did not agree with. I messaged Brittany and she was great. I was able to get a refund fairly quickly. She wished me the best and was very understanding. Just because Ryker did not work for me, doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you. Based on what I wanted and the bond I wanted to create with my puppy, it was not a good fit. Overall the staff was very kind and the facility was very clean. They were the only training facility I could find in the area that would take puppies before they're done with all their vaccines (16 weeks). But it's critical to socialize your pet before then. Theodore is now 6 months old and has been thriving with his new trainer who only focuses on positive reinforcement. read more

Ryker Dog Training - Theodore being the best boy on the 4th of July. - Pet Training Near Me - Fresno, California

I've taken my doodle puppy here twice and have been very impressed with the attention and high quality of training. Brittany is extremely knowledgeable and helpful! My pup was VERY timid with new people and brining him to their preschool class for socialization at a young age, but in a clean environment so he could meet new people and learn how to appropriately interact with puppies was the best decision I could have made for him! We move to Kindergarten classes with older pups next weekend. I highly recommend taking your puppies here! I love that they can go at such a young age before they have all shots to get the needed socializing without fear of contracting parvo or learning bad behaviors. Definitely check them out! read more

I just finished the Ruff Edges training with my problem child, Finn. Prior to coming to Ryker he was very unpredictable on leash and would bark at any person or dog that walked by us, leading to him not being walked as he should be as a higher energy breed, among other behavior issues. After working with Brittany over the course of 4 weeks, he is so so much better. We can walk without him barking at people or dogs (he still tenses up but we're working on it), he listens to commands, and his anxiety has decreased an incredible amount including in the car. He's not perfect but we have a path now for how to get better and better over time! I can't thank Brittany enough! read more

Amazing!! The staff and owner are very knowledgeable and helpful in every way. Definitely recommend anyone taking their dog here for training! read more

For the past 6 months, I've been bringing my super energetic Dalmatian pup to Ryker dog training and day care. I am eternally grateful for all of the wonderful and patient staff that have helped shape him into the dog he is today. At 9 months old, he has learned how to play nicely with dogs of all sizes, greet children, occupy himself with his toys while I'm working from home, and perform multiple tricks/commands. It's such a great feeling to be able to relax and trust my pup when he's in a new environment or meeting other dogs. Special thanks to my dog's favorite trainer - Brenda! My dog is always so happy to see her in the morning even when he's barely awake. read more

First time here and I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was very friendly and very attentive. It looks like they put a lot of effort in keeping the place clean, this facility is spotless. Looking forward to next weeks lesson. Keep up the great work! read more

Ryker Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Fresno, California

Brittany and her crew were amazing with our GoldenDoodle! Rose did the board and train program. We are so impressed with her new-found manners . You can't go wrong! read more

Ryker Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Fresno, California

I signed my 4 year old stubborn, dog aggressive border collie staffy mix for some private training. Brittany and all of the staff there are very knowledgeable and friendly. We have done 3 out of the 4 lessons so far, and my pup is already showing improvement. Brittany gave us some great tips. I recommend. read more

We took our seven month old Portuguese Water Dog puppy to Ryker for the board and train program. She is intelligent and stubborn, and we really needed some help laying a foundation for obedience training and living comfortably at home. She frequently barked for attention, pulled on her leash and was far too excited to meet people and dogs every time she met one - it was hard to take her out in public. After spending three weeks with Brittany, our puppy is a totally different animal; she is very patient in our crate or when she is separated from us - she understands that she is sometimes an observer and not a participant. Using the head halter which Brittany trained her to, she does not pull and heels very nicely. Lastly, she is much better at meeting people. She still gets excited and jumpy, but will now settle and meet people politely; we can even take her out to shopping plazas and have lunch outside and people watch now. Thank you Brittany! :-) read more

My puppy and I look forward to puppy preschool every Sunday. After each class, my aussie pup crashes for hours and its worth every penny! Brittany's approach to training is different from other trainers. She gives parents helpful information behind unwanted behaviors and how to properly correct. You can rest assure this place is frequently cleaned so your puppies are in a safe, parvo-free environment. We will be returning for puppy kindergarten. Thank you Brittany and team! read more

This place is amazing! My 2 year old American Bulldog loves spending time here. He has been through both preschool and kindergarten puppy socialization classes as well as the basic manners class. We have just started low level E collar training and he is responding well. I have been very impressed with the trainers ability to find what works for our dog. Anytime I become frustrated with my dogs behavior, these ladies have been right there to give me fresh perspective and guidance. Always encouraging and supportive. The facility is clean and a comfortable environment to learn in. It is an indoor facility, so no matter the season, my dog is comfortable. Anyone who is serious about maintaining their dog's good behavior should come here for classes! read more

Came here because of the 5 star reviews, only to be disappointed at the same old thing. "Feed, feed, feed" they only teach your dogs with treats which is a horrible method because eventually your dog will only obey you for a treat. As soon as you enter class they'll 9 times out of 10 sell you on a "gentle leader" to help walk your dog which is also only a temporary solution. This place is very expensive and offers little to no long term results at all. We had one lesson with another trainer and seen immense improvement in our dog, no treats, no head halter, just an E-collar and proper training. After one session with another trainer other people in the class at Rykers were asking how our dog was doing so well, so we answered honestly and were surprisingly kicked out of puppy kindergarten! Britney said "goodbye can't wait to see you next Sunday" and later emailed us saying Sawyer could t attend anymore classes. SAVE YOUR MONEY this place is a joke. read more

This is a great company, great people and amazing results in your pets. My aussie has advanced so much and he's only 10 months old. Will be training with Instinct for a good while. Love love.love read more

I have a dog who suffers from fear aggression. After being told I can't bring her to a local boarding place, I decided to get some help. Brittany knew exactly how to work with Sadie. We signed up for one on one lessons and very quickly I saw dramatic changes in her behavior (and mine.) She is still a fearful dog, but now we both know what to do when she is afraid. In addition I have now been able to leave Sadie with Brittany through her pet boarding. I felt comfortable and didn't have to worry about Sadie one bit while I was gone. I will definitely come back here for any of my dog needs. read more

Just finished the Ruff Edges class with Sparkie our 21 month JRT. We saw major improvement in her behavior and obedience in a very short time. This class was exactly what she needed. Sparkie went to a different obedience school last year but was still reactive toward other dogs, strangers, kids, bikes, skateboards and just about everything. Yesterday we walked down the sidewalk and a kid on the bike rode past just inches away. Sparkie stayed in a perfect heel and didn't even seem to notice him!!! She's actually listening now and making better decisions on her own as well. read more

I love this place! My dog can't get enough of his trainers. He loves, loves, LOVES those ladies. I've been going to Instinct with my almost 2 year old Pit Bull for over a year and a half. WeI have done the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Class, B.A., M.A, Phd. and CGC classes. The trainers are amazing and have been helping me train my dog to become my service dog. They have not only provided us with tips on how to train him to do various service dog tasks but they event let us sit in during other classes so that my dog can work at sitting quietly for long amounts of time. I have gone through obedience training at Petsmart with another one of my dogs and my experience with Petsmart was way different compared to Instinct. Petsmart trainer worked with me and provided me with basic obedience that my dog needed and we got my dog trained but it ended there. On the other hand, the ladies at Instinct go above and beyond just training the dogs and try to make a person connection with not just the dogs but the owners. Numerous times they have messaged me referring me to supplements for my dog's skin issues (which have helped tremendously). Or when I'm having issues with training they provide encouragement as well as alternative ways for me to deal with those issues that may get him to understand me better. My dog also attends their daycare program when he's not working and absolutely loves it. He usually comes home exhausted and goes straight to sleep. I would highly recommend Instinct Professional Dog Training to anyone who needs obedience class or would like to train their dogs to become service dogs. These ladies know their stuff! read more