--- title: Gun Dog Training From Lancaster | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/from/lancaster/ 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/) - [Southern California](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/southern-california/) - Lancaster # From Lancaster, 6.6 hours to a trainer for pointing dogs and retrievers Rio Vista is about 6.6 hours and 349 miles from Lancaster by road. Richard Gebhart trains gun dogs at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve there, and dogs come to him from all over California for board-and-train. ## From Lancaster to Hastings Island - **Drive to Rio Vista:** about 6.6 hours 349 miles, OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic - **County:** Los Angeles US Census Bureau - **Population:** 169,169 ACS 5-year 2024 - **Median age:** 34.5 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. Lancaster, in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles County, has about 169,000 residents and a median age of 34.5 (Census Bureau). The Southern California pointing-dog clubs list their trials and tests at a desert venue in California City, and that is where a Lancaster owner can see the work. ## Where 6.6 hours puts you The road distance is about 349 miles, which OpenStreetMap routing converts to about 6.6 hours with no traffic. That is the overnight tier, so write off any thought of a same-day return. Travel one day, drop the dog and think about a motel. The practical way to handle that distance is board-and-train: the dog stays at Hastings Island and trains, and you come back to collect it. Call Richard about drop-off and pick-up from Southern California. ## Camp H, the pointing-dog venue Several clubs list 2026 pointing-breed trials and hunt tests at Camp H in California City, including the Vizsla Club of Southern California and the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Southern California (California 2026 trial and hunt test calendar, read October 27, 2026). Owners of pointers and versatile breeds can watch the work there and ask handlers what they value. For more on the breeds, see [Vizsla](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) and [German Shorthaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/). ## What the trainer's background means for a pointing dog Richard began with retrievers in 2002, and in 2013, under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels, he expanded to pointers and other upland breeds (hihp.com). His philosophy is balance: encouraging the dog's hunting drive while building the team-player attitude a hunting partner needs. The [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) outlines the work. Richard confirms the details for each dog. ## Pack a plan before you pack the truck - Call first and settle the program and the timing. - Ask about drop-off and pick-up; do not assume a date. - Add a handler lesson to pick-up day if Richard says it fits. - Keep the [how to book training](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/how-to-book-training/) answer open as a checklist. ## A word on hours and visits Google lists Richard's hours as 8 AM to 2 PM Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, closed Tuesday. With 349 miles ahead of you, phone first and set a time, since Richard sets drop-off times by phone. Ask at the same time whether a [handler lesson](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) can be added on pick-up day. Visits during a stay are a question for Richard as well. ### 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) - U.S. Census Bureau : [data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B01003?g=160XX00US0640130](https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B01003?g=160XX00US0640130) (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 - [Southern California](https://royalgundogs.com/regions/southern-california/) - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) - [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) - [From Palmdale to Rio Vista](https://royalgundogs.com/from/palmdale/) ## Other drive times [Tulelake](https://royalgundogs.com/from/tulelake/)[Alturas](https://royalgundogs.com/from/alturas/)[Palmdale](https://royalgundogs.com/from/palmdale/)[Los Angeles](https://royalgundogs.com/from/los-angeles/)[Ventura](https://royalgundogs.com/from/ventura/)[Santa Barbara](https://royalgundogs.com/from/santa-barbara/)[Santa Maria](https://royalgundogs.com/from/santa-maria/)[Eureka](https://royalgundogs.com/from/eureka/) ## Questions from Lancaster owners [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How far is Rio Vista from Lancaster? About 6.6 hours and 349 miles by road, with no traffic (OpenStreetMap routing). ### Can I go and return the same day? No. Plan on a full travel day each way. Call Richard about drop-off and pick-up from Southern California. ### Where do pointing breeds trial near the Antelope Valley? The 2026 calendar lists several clubs at Camp H in California City. Check each club for current schedules. ### Does Richard train versatile breeds? He trains pointers and other upland breeds as well as retrievers. Ask him about your dog.