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Ryckman Kennels — Dog Training in Boerne, TX

Ryckman Kennels is a dog training business in Boerne, Texas offering board and train and private lessons, working from a dedicated training facility. They describe their approach as balanced training (rewards and corrections) and publish pricing from $36–$38 per day to $3,000.

Boerne, TX • Training facility • 4.9 ★ (12 Google reviews)

Verified listing

Last reviewed: Nov 1, 2026

Transparency Score

71 / 100

Moderately transparent

How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.

Price transparency: 50%
Method transparency: 100%
Program clarity: 75%

About Ryckman Kennels

Based on what the business publishes about itself

A third-generation family kennel founded in 1987, Ryckman Kennels grew out of Don Ryckman Sr. and his son Buck's work helping fellow hunters train gundogs. What started in a Shavano Park backyard now operates from a rural property along I-10 between San Antonio and Boerne, where Buck Ryckman Jr. runs the business with his daughters Elizabeth and Kathryn.

The kennel's training work centers on gundogs, covering both retrievers and pointing breeds like Brittany Spaniels and German Shorthaired Pointers. According to their site, they avoid "force fetch" methods common in retriever training, describing the technique as often unnecessary and sometimes cruel. Instead, they say they build on dogs' natural retrieving instincts using praise-based commands. Their board-and-train obedience program incorporates distraction work with cats, chickens, and children on the property, and they note that after training the dog, they also conduct follow-up sessions with the owner's family.

Beyond training, Ryckman Kennels offers rattlesnake avoidance sessions using live, securely handled snakes, guided upland bird hunts across Texas, year-round boarding in climate-controlled runs, and grooming services through a branch called Silverlake Shears. They also breed AKC-registered yellow Labrador Retrievers and Standard Poodles, with breeding dogs health-tested through OFA or PennHIP protocols.

What dog training programs does Ryckman Kennels offer?

Ryckman Kennels lists 6 training programs across board and train and private lessons. Details below come from their published materials as reviewed by Barklen.

Retriever Training (Includes Basic Obedience Program)

Price not published.

This program builds on the obedience training and then teaches retrieving skills using encouragement rather than force fetch methods, starting with hand-thrown dummies and progressing to gunfire conditioning and live bird work. Commands include hold, fetch it up, and back, with multiple training sessions involving the owner along the way.

The dog boards at the kennel through obedience and retriever phases, with the owner involved in multiple sessions during training and after graduation.

Best for: Suited for retriever breeds whose owners want a finished, obedient hunting companion.

Requirements: Dogs over 1 year old or those previously worked in the field must be evaluated at drop off

Duration: 6 weeks

Focus: Basic obedience, Advanced obedience

Includes: Owner handoff sessions, Follow-up sessions

Obedience Training - Board to Train Program

From $3,000

Dogs board at the kennel for on and off leash obedience training with distractions like cats, other dogs, chickens, and children, learning come, heel, sit, stay, and down. The program also covers general manners like no jumping or nuisance barking, and includes family training sessions near the end to transfer skills to owners.

The dog stays at the kennel for several weeks of structured training before the family attends one or more hands-on training sessions to learn the commands alongside their dog.

Best for: Best suited for dogs dropped off around 6-7 months old, though older dogs can be accommodated with additional charges.

Requirements: Preferred Age at Drop Off is 6-7 months old; dogs over 1 year of age may incur an additional training charge

Duration: 7 weeks

Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization

Includes: Food included, Boarding included, Owner handoff sessions, Follow-up sessions

Canine Boarding

$36–$38 per day

Year-round boarding in climate-controlled indoor/outdoor runs with food, bedding, and bowls provided, plus morning and evening walks. A free bath is offered to new clients at pickup after their first stay.

Dogs stay in their own indoor/outdoor run and are walked twice daily.

Focus: Basic obedience

Includes: Food included

Advanced Retriever Training

Price not published.

An add-on to the basic retriever program offering more advanced skills such as whistle commands and hand signals.

Best for: Dogs that have completed the Basic Obedient Retriever Program.

Requirements: Available on a limited basis following the Basic Obedient Retriever Program

Focus: Advanced obedience, Recall & off-leash

Pointer Training

Price not published.

Builds natural pointing instincts and teaches heel, come, and whoa commands along with field direction and steadiness to wing and shot, plus honoring other pointing dogs. Typically added onto the Obedience or Retriever programs.

The dog is trained at the facility, typically in addition to an obedience or retriever program.

Best for: Pointing and versatile hunting breeds such as Brittany Spaniels, Irish Setters, and German Shorthaired Pointers.

Requirements: For pointing and versatile hunting breeds including Brittany Spaniels, Irish Setters, German Shorthaired Pointers

Focus: Advanced obedience, Basic obedience

Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

$200 per session

A controlled, appointment-based session using live, humanely handled rattlesnakes to teach dogs to avoid them by scent and presence. Weather conditions like breeze and temperature affect scheduling, and owners are present and involved during the session.

The owner attends with the dog for a 45-minute to 1-hour outdoor session with a live snake present.

Duration: 1 session

Focus: Fear & anxiety

How much does Ryckman Kennels cost?

Ryckman Kennels publishes pricing for 3 of 6 training programs, starting at $36–$38 per day. Programs without a listed price are marked below.

Board and Train pricing

Board and Train pricing at Ryckman Kennels in Boerne, TX
Program	Price	Length
Retriever Training (Includes Basic Obedience Program)	Not published	6 weeks
Obedience Training - Board to Train Program	From $3,000	7 weeks
Canine Boarding	$36–$38 per day	Not stated
Advanced Retriever Training	Not published	Not stated
Pointer Training	Not published	Not stated

Private Lessons pricing

Private Lessons pricing at Ryckman Kennels in Boerne, TX
Program	Price	Length
Rattlesnake Avoidance Training	$200 per session	1 session

What training methods does Ryckman Kennels use?

Ryckman Kennels describes its approach as balanced training, combining rewards with corrections.

Public materials reviewed by Barklen do not specify which training tools are used.

Who runs Ryckman Kennels?

As described in the business's own materials

Buck Ryckman (Donald Ryckman Jr.), Owner and manager

According to their site, son of the founder, continues the family kennel and personally runs the guided upland hunting services across Texas.

Elizabeth (Liz), Daughter, grooming operator

According to their site, one of Buck's daughters working in the family business, runs the grooming service (Silverlake Shears) and helps continue the family kennel legacy.

Kathryn, Daughter, breeding program contact

According to their site, one of Buck's daughters involved in the family business, manages inquiries for the Labrador Retriever breeding program.

Where does Ryckman Kennels offer dog training?

Ryckman Kennels operates from a dedicated training facility in Boerne, TX, offering board and train stays at their facility and private lessons.

Their site says they hunters seeking trained gundogs, families wanting obedience-trained companion dogs, and local community members needing grooming or boarding services.

Located on a rural property along the I-10 frontage between San Antonio and Boerne, Texas.

The facility sits at 28934 Frontage Rd in Boerne. Parking and accessibility information isn't published.

How does Ryckman Kennels compare with other Boerne dog trainers?

Barklen analysis

Barklen analysis based on 3 published Boerne listings (15 with published pricing). These comparisons are computed by Barklen, not claims made by Ryckman Kennels.

Price: 99% below the Boerne midpoint at entry price for board and train ($36–$3,000 vs. $3,000–$5,100).

Reviews: 4.9★ from 12 Google reviews, among 3 published Boerne programs.

Transparency: 71 out of 100 (moderately transparent), with 50% price transparency and 75% program clarity. 1 of 3 Boerne listings show certifications; this business does not list any.

Published prices at Ryckman Kennels compared with Boerne ranges
Program type	Ryckman Kennels	Boerne range	Barklen read
Board and Train	$36–$3,000	$3,000–$5,100 across 4 Boerne programs	99% below the Boerne midpoint at entry price

What should you ask Ryckman Kennels before booking?

Generated from what their public materials leave open

Ask for current pricing on Retriever Training (Includes Basic Obedience Program), Advanced Retriever Training, and Pointer Training, which are not published online.
Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
Ask for proof of liability insurance.
Ask which training tools, if any, they use and when.
Ask if anyone is on-site overnight.
Ask how often you will get photo or video updates.
Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.

Location and hours

28934 Frontage Rd, Boerne, TX

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

How Barklen reviewed this listing

Barklen reviewed Ryckman Kennels against the business's public materials and published this listing. That is not a check of licenses, insurance, or certifications. See our methodology for what a verified listing does and does not mean.

Details the public materials do not address (aggression and reactivity cases, progress updates, overnight staffing, insurance, guarantee, certifications, and others) are turned into the questions above rather than filled in.

Last reviewed by Barklen: Nov 1, 2026