A man wearing a white long sleeve shirt with blue text on the sleeve, gray shorts, sunglasses, and a baseball cap is practicing training with a black Labrador retriever dog outdoors under the shade of trees, on a grassy area.

Meet Ryan & Apollo

The Heart of Flying High Retrievers

From Long Island basics to national field trial dreams – our journey is just getting started.

Three dogs sitting on a trail in a wooded area. Two black dogs are in the front, one with a red collar and its tongue out, the other smiling. A yellow dog is behind them, partially obscured, looking into the distance. There are fallen leaves on the ground and signs in the background.

My name is Ryan Fisher, and in 2021 I took my first steps into the world of retriever training with a black Lab named Apollo.

We started simple: basic obedience, fun retrieves, weekend hunt tests, and plenty of real-world hunting trips together. Those early days were all about building trust, having fun, and learning as a team.

After just a couple of hunt tests, though, something clicked. I might not have all the answers (and I still don’t claim to!), but Apollo? He clearly had the talent, drive, and heart for something bigger.

That realization pulled us into the competitive world of field trials.

Over the past five years, we’ve been incredibly fortunate. We’ve made lifelong friends with some of the top amateur competitors in the country—people who’ve welcomed us, shared their knowledge, and become part of our “flight crew.”

We travel regularly from our home base on Long Island to world-class training grounds in the Adirondack region of New York (and beyond), putting in the work, chasing birds, and soaking up every lesson the field has to offer.

Apollo and I are excited for what’s next—an upcoming season full of challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments. We’re inviting our growing community—the entire flight crew—to come along for the ride.

Whether you’re just starting out, running hunt tests, chasing field trial ribbons, or simply want to unlock more from your retriever, this is the place for training tips, real-field vlogs, exclusive member content, and hands-on seminar opportunities.

Thanks for being here. Let’s keep flying high together. 🐾✈️

Ryan Fisher

Founder, Flying High Retrievers

Long Island, NY