Advanced Waterfowl Program

This is the work that teaches a retriever to take direction to a bird it never saw fall. How far a dog goes depends on what the owner wants from it, and Richard sets the length with you from there.

The program at a glance

Richard's own figures, as of October 2026.

Steadiness and the small T

The first part is steadiness in the blind: a dog that sits quietly through the shooting until it is sent. The steady to shot guide and calm dog in the blind explain why it matters. Basic hand signals start with the small T drill.

Big T, wagon wheel, lining and diversions

Advanced hand signals come next: the Big T drill, the wagon-wheel casting drill, lining drills and the diversion drill, and then an introduction to running cold blinds, retrieves to a bird the dog did not see fall. The glossary entries for cast and blind retrieve define the terms.

Richard still uses Denverton, near Suisun City, for advanced retriever work. He learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, working with field trial retrievers, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National.

How long it takes

4 to 12 weeks on top of the lower-level programs. Richard says it all depends on the expectations of the owner, so the conversation about what you want from the dog sets where in that range it lands. Hunt test preparation is part of this work and of lessons, not a separate program; see AKC Master Hunter for what the top level asks.

Booking

Drop-off Wednesday to Saturday is preferred, and Richard likes dogs booked a month out, six weeks if you can. The board-and-train page has the details, and lessons teach you the signals your dog has learned.