--- title: Gun Dog Training From Elk Grove | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/from/elk-grove/ 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/) - [All of California](https://royalgundogs.com/from/) - [Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/sacramento-valley/) - Elk Grove # Elk Grove owners and Richard Gebhart's training Rio Vista is about 62 minutes and 38 miles from Elk Grove by road. Richard Gebhart trains retrievers and pointing breeds at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve in Rio Vista, and dogs come to him from all over California. ## From Elk Grove to Hastings Island - **Drive to Rio Vista:** about 62 minutes 38 miles, OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic - **County:** Sacramento US Census Bureau - **Population:** 179,155 ACS 5-year 2024 - **Median age:** 39.4 ACS 5-year 2024 Drive estimate from road routing between town centers (no traffic), pulled October 2026. Census figures: American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Elk Grove, in Sacramento County, has 179,155 residents and a median age of 39.4 (Census ACS 5-year 2024). It is a fast-growing suburb with farm country just past the city limits. ## Hunters living next to a refuge Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1994 on the Pacific Flyway, is sandwiched between Elk Grove and agricultural lands (USFWS). It is a place to watch birds, but the refuge restricts dogs, so check its rules before you bring one. For a working dog, the open ground is farther away: the Delta and Sacramento Valley refuges listed on our [habitat and refuges page](https://royalgundogs.com/data/waterfowl-habitat-and-refuges/). ## One hour, one direction About an hour is a comfortable single leg, with a return the same day. If you plan a visit mid-program, call Richard first; Google lists him open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM. The one-on-one and group [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) are the natural reason to make the drive. They teach the person at the other end of the leash. ## Puppy or finished dog? Elk Grove has many first-time gun dog owners. If your dog is young, the [guide to starting a hunting puppy](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/when-to-start-a-hunting-puppy/) sets expectations. If you bought a dog that is already partly trained, read about the [started dog versus puppy choice](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/started-dog-or-puppy/). Richard's stated philosophy is "Balance, encouraging the hunting drive and desire in the dog, coupled with the necessary 'team player' attitude to develop an exceptional hunting partner or competitive team." ## Preparing for your first call The [vaccinations and health FAQ](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/vaccinations-and-health/) lists what owners usually bring up. Richard answers specifics himself. - Know your dog's age, breed and vaccination status. - Decide whether you hunt waterfowl, upland birds or both. - Be ready to talk about timing: opening day, a hunt test, or no deadline. - Ask about progress updates while the dog is away. ## A word on scale Both can call. Richard's programs are one dog at a time. ## Where the Sacramento County hunter goes Elk Grove sits near the middle of the Central Valley's duck country, with the Delta to the southwest and the refuge complexes to the north. A hunter in town can drive north to Colusa, Butte or Glenn counties, or south and west to Rio Vista in about an hour. That is useful when you think about a dog's schooling. Train near the Delta, hunt wherever you like. The [hunting in the Delta page](https://royalgundogs.com/hunting-in-the-delta/) explains the kind of water and cover a dog learns there. ### Sources (3) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service : [fws.gov/refuge/stone-lakes](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/stone-lakes) (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) - U.S. Census Bureau : [census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-5year.html](https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-5year.html) (checked October 27, 2026) ### 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) ### Start here - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) - [Free training consult](https://royalgundogs.com/free-consult/) ### 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 - [Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/sacramento-valley/) - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [From Sacramento to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/sacramento/) - [Started dog or puppy: which fits you?](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/started-dog-or-puppy/) ## Other drive times [Woodland](https://royalgundogs.com/from/woodland/)[Livermore](https://royalgundogs.com/from/livermore/)[Davis](https://royalgundogs.com/from/davis/)[Napa](https://royalgundogs.com/from/napa/)[Walnut Creek](https://royalgundogs.com/from/walnut-creek/)[Sacramento](https://royalgundogs.com/from/sacramento/)[Vallejo](https://royalgundogs.com/from/vallejo/)[Oakland](https://royalgundogs.com/from/oakland/) ## Questions from Elk Grove owners [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How far is Rio Vista from Elk Grove? About 62 minutes and 38 miles by road, with no traffic. ### Are dogs allowed at Stone Lakes? The refuge restricts dogs. Read the USFWS Stone Lakes page before planning a visit with yours. ### Should I buy a puppy or a started dog? Our guide compares the two. Richard can look at your situation when you call. ### Where can I walk my dog near Elk Grove? Check each public property's own dog rules. Several wildlife areas restrict dogs.