About Us

Riverside Dog Training LLC (Riverside for short) was started in June of 2019 by the mother-daughter team of Emma Wikstrom and Gail Roderick to provide affordable, effective, and experienced dog training for the West Michigan community. Riverside hosts group classes for all ages and experience levels in the King Memorial building located in Lowell Michigan and can travel up to 30 miles from Lowell to offer private lessons. We also offer virtual private lessons if you live outside of our travel radius. 

Thanks to the influence of her mother, Emma started her dog training journey very young. At five, she started working with her first dog and learning the ropes. Emma trained and competed at the local, regional, and state levels in the Michigan Dog 4-H program between the ages of five and nineteen years old. She also competed in AKC performance sports, earning many titles and ending her AKC Junior career as the Top Junior Performance Handler. Emma is also heavily involved in the community serving as the Kent County Youth Fair Assistant Dog Project Superintendent and a Club Leader for Working Paws Youth Dog Training Club. When not teaching classes, Emma works as an Office Manager in Kentwood and loves to camp and enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer with her husband, David. 

Gail started her dog career at 16 when she began working at a German Shepherd Kennel in Alto. She went to the Florida School for Grooming and has owned her own dog grooming business since the mid-80s. Gail also taught public Obedience classes for over 30 years before taking a break from teaching in the early 2000s. She has trained service dogs through Canine Companions for Independence and competed in AKC Obedience, Rally, and Agility with her dogs. Gail is also active in the community, serving as the Kent County Youth Fair Dog Project Superintendent and the Key Leader for Working Paws Youth Dog Training Club. Outside of assisting with classes, Gail is an avid hiker, usually clocking at least 30 miles a week, all in the company of her husband Rick, many wonderful friends, and her three dogs!