--- title: Gun Dog Breeds for California Hunters | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - Breeds # Gun dog breeds California hunters mostly run retrievers for waterfowl and pointers or flushing dogs for upland birds. Each page below covers a breed's history, temperament and the usual training path for a hunting dog of that breed. ## All pages in this section [Retriever ### Labrador Retriever The Labrador Retriever is a water retriever from Newfoundland and the most common duck dog in North America. A Lab's training path with Richard runs from Puppy Camp...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/labrador-retriever/)[Retriever ### Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland in the 1800s to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland birds on land and water. Goldens are known for a soft mouth and a...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/golden-retriever/)[Retriever ### Chesapeake Bay Retriever The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a Maryland water retriever bred to work in rough, icy water and heavy chop. Chessies are strong-willed, protective dogs, so training...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/chesapeake-bay-retriever/)[Retriever ### Flat-Coated Retriever The Flat-Coated Retriever is an English retriever developed in the 1800s as a gamekeeper's dog for land and water. It matures slowly and stays playful for years, so...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/flat-coated-retriever/)[Retriever ### Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, nicknamed the Toller, is the smallest of the retrievers and was bred in Nova Scotia to lure ducks within gun range before...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever/)[Pointer ### German Shorthaired Pointer The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is an all-purpose German hunting dog that points upland birds and retrieves from land and water. Training a GSP usually...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/)[Pointer ### German Wirehaired Pointer The German Wirehaired Pointer is a rugged, versatile German hunting dog with a harsh wire coat made for brush, cover and cold water. It points, tracks and retrieves,...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/)[Pointer ### English Pointer The English Pointer is a fast, wide-ranging bird dog bred in England to find game and hold a rigid point until the hunter arrives. It is the classic quail dog, and...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-pointer/)[Pointer ### English Setter The English Setter is an elegant English bird dog that hunts upland birds with a soft touch and sets, or crouches, on scent. Setters are known for a gentle...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-setter/)[Pointer ### Brittany The Brittany is a compact bird dog from the Brittany region of France that points upland birds and retrieves. It is smaller than most pointers, close-working and...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/brittany/)[Pointer ### Vizsla The Vizsla is a Hungarian pointing breed with a golden-rust coat that hunts close to its handler and retrieves. It bonds closely with its owner, so training works...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/)[Flusher ### English Springer Spaniel The English Springer Spaniel is an English flushing dog bred to spring birds from cover and retrieve them. Training a Springer focuses on working within gun range, a...](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-springer-spaniel/) Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002. He learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti and, in 2013, under Steve Klassen, expanded to pointers and other upland breeds. These pages are reference guides to twelve breeds that fit the way Californians hunt: ducks and geese in the Delta and Central Valley rivers and rice fields, pheasant and chukar on preserves and public land, quail in the foothills. If your dog is not on the list, or is a mix, ask Richard about your dog on a free consult. Breeds and mixes are his call, not a page on a website. ## Which type of gun dog fits the birds you hunt? Retrievers, including the Labrador, Golden, Chesapeake Bay, Flat-Coated and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, were bred to find and carry shot birds back to the hunter, usually from water. They are the usual choice for ducks and geese, and many also hunt upland birds. Pointers and setters, such as the English Pointer, English Setter, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Brittany and Vizsla, find birds by scent and hold a stylish point until the hunter walks up. Spaniels like the English Springer flush birds into the air within gun range and then retrieve. The [retriever, pointer or spaniel guide](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/) compares the three styles side by side. For a broader look at how the pieces of training fit together, see the [training programs](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/). ## How a breed page can help you choose a puppy or a trainer Each breed page lists origin, AKC group and typical weight from the AKC breed standard, then walks through how a gun dog of that breed is usually started and what handlers tend to ask. Richard's programs are for pointers and retrievers: pups of both start with [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/), retrievers move on to the [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/), and pointing dogs come back for [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/). For spaniels and other breeds, ask Richard. Dogs come to Royal Gun Dogs from all over California for board-and-train, and training happens at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve in Rio Vista. Read [which breeds train](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/which-breeds-train/) for the short answer on breeds, then call to talk about your own dog. ## Retriever breeds - [Labrador Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/labrador-retriever/) - [Golden Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/golden-retriever/) - [Chesapeake Bay Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/chesapeake-bay-retriever/) - [Flat-Coated Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/flat-coated-retriever/) - [Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever/) ## Pointing breeds and spaniels - [German Shorthaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/) - [German Wirehaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/) - [English Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-pointer/) - [English Setter](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-setter/) - [Brittany](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/brittany/) - [Vizsla](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) - [English Springer Spaniel](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-springer-spaniel/) ### Sources (3) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/sporting/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sporting/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/](https://www.akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [Training programs](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/) - [Retriever, pointer or spaniel: choosing a hunting breed](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/) - [Which breeds does Richard train?](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/which-breeds-train/) - [Free training consult](https://royalgundogs.com/free-consult/) ### Where Richard trains Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, near Rio Vista in Solano County. Call before you drive out. [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Hastings+Island+Hunting+Preserve+Rio+Vista+CA&destination_place_id=ChIJA_E9R8AphYAR_4YnvcqbaAU) ## Questions owners ask [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Do I need a purebred dog to train for hunting? Not for the work itself. A hunting partner needs drive, a good nose or retrieving desire, and a sound temperament, and breed is a starting point. Ask Richard about your dog and he will tell you what he sees. ### Which breed is right for duck hunting in California? Retrievers are the traditional duck dogs because they are built for cold water and long retrieves. Labradors are the most common, with Chesapeake Bay and Golden Retrievers also widely used. ### Can a pointer or spaniel also retrieve ducks? Many do some retrieving, and the spaniel and the versatile pointing breeds were bred with retrieving in mind. Heavy waterfowl work in cold water is usually a retriever's job, so talk through your hunts with Richard. ### Where do I start if my dog is not listed? Call and describe your dog and what you hunt. The [free consult](https://royalgundogs.com/free-consult/) is the place to do that.