Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do.

Most of Fawn Township native Bruce Ringer’s life has gone to the dogs.

The Highlands High School grad has owned and operated a doggie daycare and training business in Tarentum since 1996.

Ringer’s Pet Dog Training also has a location in Natrona Heights.

He trains around 150 dogs per week with 10 per class with classes offered five days a week.

“(I get) the satisfaction of seeing the owner build a good relationship with the dog, both physically and mentally,” Ringer said.

He uses a tool called a clicker, which makes a unique sound to mark a behavior you’re going to reward.

“A lot more people are more educated and have gone away from traditional punishment-based training,” he said. “Using punishment, you never know what the dog’s going to associate punishment with.”

He said high quality food and treats also helps keep a happy and well-trained dog.

Ringer, 62, currently lives in Tarentum with his wife, Kim. They’ve been married since 1984. She helps run the businesses.

Ringer said they were the first nationally certified dog trainers in Western Pennsylvania, and Kim has him trained well.

“It’s nice to have a partner you can trust,” he said. “I get my medium-rare filet mignon. My good behavior gets rewarded.”

Ringer said the accreditation through the Association of Professional Dog Trainers sets his company apart from the pretenders.

“It helps people know that I do have some type of knowledge,” Ringer said. “Anybody can hang a sign out there (that says) ‘Dog Training’ after a couple videos.”

One of the tips he gives to puppy owners is to get their young dogs outside and exposed to multiple situations early.

The “stress of being in a new place, different things happening,” he said. “If you expose them to that in young age, it’s a lot better.”

Ringer graduated high school in 1975 and enlisted in the Army for two years. He made private first class and worked as a heavy equipment mechanic in Stuttgart, Germany. Finding work afterward as a civilian proved a bit challenging.

“In the 1980s, there was nothing but flipping burgers,” he said. “So, I went to visit my sister (in Tampa, Fla.) and got a job building signs.”

He also learned how to train canines in Florida. Ringer mostly worked with German Shepherds, and has since adapted his positive reinforcement training method to work on all breeds.

“Each breed has their own little qualities, and you just have to learn to work around each of those qualities,” he said.

Ringer’s love of dogs began as a young boy, hunting rabbits with beagles and his father, Andrew.

The group would patrol the woods of Fawn and Buffalo townships and other areas.

“Any time you spend time with family is a good time,” Ringer said. “He taught me a lot about how dogs were working with scent. Dogs see the world though their nose like we see through their eyes.”

Bruce and Kim Ringer have six dogs, five German shepherds and a Great Dane.

More information about their pet businesses is available at www.ringerspetdogtraining.com.

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