--- title: Basic Waterfowl Program for Retrievers | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/ 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/) - [Programs](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/) - Basic Waterfowl Program # Basic Waterfowl Program The Basic Waterfowl Program is Richard Gebhart's foundation for a duck dog: obedience, force fetch, e-collar conditioning and an introduction to basic hunting scenarios. It runs 10 to 16 weeks depending on the dog and costs $325 a week. Retrievers that come to Richard for waterfowl work start here. The program builds the pieces a duck dog needs before it is asked to hunt: a dog that obeys, a retrieve that is reliable, an e-collar the dog understands, and a first look at the kinds of setups it will meet in a blind or on a levee. ## The program at a glance Richard's own figures, as of October 2026. The program at a glance Item Basic Waterfowl Program Length 10 to 16 weeks, depending on the dog Rate $325 a week Covers Obedience, force fetch, e-collar conditioning, basic hunting-scenario introduction Breeds Retrievers Where Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, Rio Vista ## The four parts Obedience comes first because everything else stands on it. Force fetch is a structured way of teaching a dog to pick up, hold and deliver on command; the [force fetch guide](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/force-fetch-explained/) explains the general idea. E-collar conditioning teaches the dog what the collar means before it is used in the field; see [e-collar conditioning](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/e-collar-conditioning/). The basic hunting-scenario introduction puts those pieces together in setups that look like a real hunt. Richard's retriever work grows out of the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics, which he learned under Billy Sargenti while working with field trial retrievers. ## Why 10 to 16 weeks The length depends on the dog. Richard gives a range rather than a fixed number because dogs arrive at different ages and with different starting points. He will tell you where in that range he expects your dog to land when you talk. ## Hunt tests Hunt tests are not a separate program. The obedience and retrieving built here are the skills [AKC Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/) tests ask for, and Richard is active in the AKC retriever hunt test community, has run and qualified at an AKC Master National, and runs dogs and assists clients at local weekend tests. Ask him how the work fits a test goal. ## What comes next Dogs that finish the Basic Waterfowl Program can move on to the [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/): steadiness in the blind, hand signals and cold blinds. [Lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) help you handle the dog the way it was trained. Drop-off days and booking are on the [board-and-train page](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/). ### Sources (2) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/dog-training/](https://hihp.com/dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Basic Waterfowl Program at a glance - **Length:** 10 to 16 weeks, depending on the dog - **Rate:** $325 a week, as of October 2026 - **Starts:** After Puppy Camp, or ask Richard about your dog - **Breeds:** Retrievers - **Where:** Hastings Island Hunting Preserve Book a month out, six weeks if you can; drop-off Wednesday to Saturday. Richard books by phone; call or text (530) 341-4496 . ### 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 - [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) - [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/) - [Force fetch explained](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/force-fetch-explained/) - [E-collar conditioning for hunting dogs](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/e-collar-conditioning/) - [AKC Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/) - Retrievers headed for duck and goose hunting - Young dogs after Puppy Camp - Dogs whose owners want a foundation before the Advanced Waterfowl Program - Owners who plan to run AKC hunt tests later - Obedience - Force fetch - E-collar conditioning - An introduction to basic hunting scenarios ## Other training programs [Young dogs ### Puppy Camp Gun dog introduction: birds and the shotgun for pointer and retriever pups, started at 5 to 7 months. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/)[Retrievers ### Advanced Waterfowl Program Steadiness in the blind, hand signals, lining and diversion drills and cold blinds. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/)[Pointing dogs ### Formal Gun Dog Training Formal whoa work for pointing dogs, founded on obedience, once the dog is over a year old. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/)[You ### Private and group lessons Handler lessons at Hastings Island and Denverton, for owners of dogs in training and owners training their own. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/)[How it works ### Board-and-train How the four programs work: drop-off days, booking ahead, what to send and the weekly rates. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) ## Basic Waterfowl Program: questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How long is the Basic Waterfowl Program? 10 to 16 weeks, depending on the dog. ### What does it cost? $325 a week (rates as of October 2026, set by Richard). ### What does it include? Obedience, force fetch, e-collar conditioning and an introduction to basic hunting scenarios. ### Does my dog need Puppy Camp first? Puppy Camp is Richard's introduction for pups at 5 to 7 months. If your retriever is older, call Richard about where it should start. ### Does it prepare a dog for hunt tests? It builds the skills tests ask for. Hunt test work is part of the waterfowl programs and lessons, not a separate program.