Auburn to Rio Vista: bird dogs from the foothills

Auburn, the Placer County seat, has 13,768 residents and a median age of 47.5 (Census ACS 5-year 2024). It sits in the Sierra foothills, where quail and dove country meets the edge of the Sacramento Valley.

Foothills in, valley out

The drive down to Rio Vista leaves the Sierra foothills and crosses the Sacramento Valley, about 105 minutes for 81 miles. That is long enough to treat the trip as a half-day. Check the hours with Richard first: Google lists 8 AM to 2 PM Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, with Tuesday closed.

Spenceville, a hunter's training ground

Spenceville Wildlife Area, roughly 11,900 acres in Nevada and Yuba counties, lists valley quail and dove hunting and designated dog training and field trial areas (CDFW). Quail country in rolling oak woodland is a natural classroom for a pointing breed or a spaniel.

Quail are a good test of a dog's range, and they reward a handler who can read the dog. If your pointer needs that foundation, Puppy Camp is the introduction and the Formal Gun Dog Training adds formal whoa work.

Training for older and younger dogs

If you already have a trained dog that needs a refresher, ask Richard about the Advanced Waterfowl Program. If you are choosing a pup, the started dog or puppy guide can help you decide which fits your season.

How a stay works

In board-and-train, your dog stays with Richard, who has trained dogs professionally since 2002. The training happens at Hastings Island, not at your door, so you avoid the daily drive. Ask Richard about handler lessons so you can use the commands once the dog is home.

Dove, quail and a second dog

Foothill hunters often keep more than one dog over the years, and a second dog raises its own questions. A young pointer may need steadiness before it ever sees a covey, while a retriever mostly needs patience on the line. Richard's own background spans both: he began with field trial retrievers under Billy Sargenti and moved into pointers and upland breeds with Steve Klassen.

Tell him what you hunt and how, then let him recommend a starting point. The breeds FAQ explains how to ask about a particular dog.

A note on clubs

The 2026 California calendar lists pointing-breed clubs at Spenceville, and the California Retriever Training Association is based in Cameron Park, El Dorado County. The California hunt test calendar page explains how to find current events.