--- title: Gun Dog Training From Fremont, CA | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/from/fremont/ 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/) - [Bay Area](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/bay-area/) - Fremont # Fremont to Rio Vista: how South Bay-side owners plan the trip Rio Vista is about 95 minutes and 66 miles from Fremont by road. Richard Gebhart trains bird dogs at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, and dogs come to him from all over California for board-and-train. ## From Fremont to Hastings Island - **Drive to Rio Vista:** about 95 minutes 66 miles, OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic - **County:** Alameda US Census Bureau - **Population:** 228,295 ACS 5-year 2024 - **Median age:** 39.1 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. Fremont, in Alameda County, has 228,295 residents and a median age of 39.1 (Census ACS 5-year 2024). It is the largest city in this batch, and its pointing-breed clubs hold events on public land to the south and east. ## Counting the hours The route is about 95 minutes and 66 miles, so a round trip runs a little over three hours. For a first visit, aim for a day that is otherwise open. OpenStreetMap routing assumes no traffic, and Bay Area commutes can add a lot. Google lists Richard's hours as 8 AM to 2 PM Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, closed Tuesday. Call to set the time. ## Pointing-breed clubs south and east The San Francisco Bay Weimaraner Club lists a pointing-breed field trial at Little Panoche Wildlife Area in Firebaugh, and the Vizsla Club of Northern California lists one at O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area in Santa Nella, both on the 2026 California calendar (bdarn.com, fetched October 27, 2026). If you own a Weimaraner or Vizsla, those clubs are a good place to start. The [Vizsla page](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) explains the breed, and the [California hunt test calendar page](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/california-calendar/) lists more venues. Look up current dates on AKC Event Search. ## What Richard offers pointing owners In 2013, under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels, Richard expanded from retrievers to pointers and other upland breeds. The [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) describes the work, though the details come from a conversation with him. ## Questions worth asking Ask about the dog's age and how it has done so far with birds, then ask what Richard would do first. Some pointing owners are looking for a dog that locates birds, while others also want steadiness to flush and shot. The [steady to shot guide](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/steady-to-shot/) explains that second skill, and Richard sets the plan himself after hearing about your dog. ## Training around a Bay Area schedule In [board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/), your dog stays with Richard, so you do not have to carve out the same slot week after week. Ask about [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) when you call, because they let you learn the commands with the dog beside you. For a retriever, the [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) is a good second step after [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/). ### Sources (3) - Bird Dog & Retriever News : [bdarn.com/ca/trialtests/](https://www.bdarn.com/ca/trialtests/) (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) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/](https://www.akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/) (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 - [Bay Area](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/bay-area/) - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [From Livermore to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/livermore/) - [From San Jose to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/san-jose/) ## Other drive times [Folsom](https://royalgundogs.com/from/folsom/)[Turlock](https://royalgundogs.com/from/turlock/)[Roseville](https://royalgundogs.com/from/roseville/)[Jackson](https://royalgundogs.com/from/jackson/)[Santa Rosa](https://royalgundogs.com/from/santa-rosa/)[Williams](https://royalgundogs.com/from/williams/)[Auburn](https://royalgundogs.com/from/auburn/)[San Francisco](https://royalgundogs.com/from/san-francisco/) ## Questions from Fremont owners [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How far is Fremont from Rio Vista? About 95 minutes and 66 miles by road without traffic. ### Where do pointing breeds hold events near Fremont? The 2026 California calendar lists a Weimaraner club field trial at Little Panoche and a Vizsla club field trial at O'Neill Forebay. Confirm dates on AKC Event Search. ### Does Richard train Vizslas and Weimaraners? Ask him about your dog. He trains pointers and other upland breeds. ### Do I have to be present all the time? In board-and-train the dog stays with Richard. Call him about visits and pick-up.