Bryan and Tatum, Kona, and Sebo
Bryan Meyer has his hands full—and not just with his three dogs. In fact, it was just a week after deciding to take in their third pup, Tatum, that Meyer and his wife found out they were also expecting their third child.
“We thought, we have two kids and two dogs already, but we’re done having kids so this is a good opportunity,” Meyer, 37, recalls of deciding to adopt German shepherd Tatum to help out a friend.
Meyer has had an extensive career in adult athletics. He was president of Villages Athletic Association and operations manager of Beaches Adult Soccer League, both in northeast Florida, but had to transition out of the roles after back-to-back soccer injuries kept him off the pitch for an extended time.
Now he is building a business that focuses on martial arts (he teaches Krav Maga at Harmony Martial Arts in Jupiter), children’s rec soccer (he runs a youth soccer skills program for Jupiter United), and general wellness (he’s a certified health coach and life coach). At Harmony, he aims to empower people with his self-defense classes, which can be organized for specific groups or schools by request. He also offers a free kids self-demonstration each year, in memory of Ryan Rogers, the 14-year-old Palm Beach Gardens resident who lost his life in November 2021 when he was attacked while riding his bike. “We want to help strengthen our community in any way we can,” Meyer says.
One of Meyer’s dogs, 1-year-old Tatum, comes from a sort of self-defense family himself—he’s the offspring of canine parents who were bred to be personal protection dogs. But Tatum didn’t inherit their alpha genes. “I call him Scooby because he’s in no way a personal protection dog—he’s just not aggressive at all,” says Meyer. “He hides behind my other dogs.”
The other two dogs in the Meyer household are 8-year-old Rottweiler mix Kona and 12-year-old pit bull mix Sebo. While it can be rowdy at home with so many animals and kids running around, Meyer says having three dogs is a great tool for shaping his children into responsible adults. “I think it’s important that my kids see the responsibility of owning animals and what goes into taking care of something else,” says Meyer, who credits Sebo with bringing himself into adulthood. “He was my first responsibility. That was my maturity time—like, okay, I’m going to make sure I do the right thing.”
Meyer also credits his trio of rescues with helping him and his wife foster a safe and nurturing home. “They wear their emotions on their sleeves, and they’re always happy to see us when we come home,” he says of his pets. “Breeding that type of loving environment… The dogs are just perfect for that.”
For sports and fitness training or health and wellness coaching inquiries, email Bryan at bryancmeyer@gmail.com.
Dog’s Life: Tatum, Kona, and Sebo
Favorite activity: Hit the trails (Kona); bike rides (Tatum); car rides to anywhere (Sebo)
Comfort spot at home: In the dirt (Kona); in the kiddie pool (Tatum); at Bryan’s feet (Sebo)
Top treat: Tuna (Kona); chicken (Sebo); hot dogs (Tatum)
Neat trick: “They’re all very good with tricks. Sebo knows like 20—he can army-crawl and sing. Kona likes to join in as backup singer. They’re all people pleasers.”
Most lovable trait: “Sebo is a ride-or-die dog, truly man’s best friend. He’s always down to come along and do whatever.”
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