--- title: Gun Dog Training Programs | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/programs/ 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 # Gun dog training programs Richard Gebhart's programs are Puppy Camp (2 to 3 weeks, $450 a week), the Basic Waterfowl Program (10 to 16 weeks, $325 a week), the Advanced Waterfowl Program (4 to 12 weeks, $325 a week) and Formal Gun Dog Training for pointing dogs (8 to 12 weeks, $325 a week plus birds), all board-and-train, plus private and group lessons. Rates as of October 2026. ## Four programs, lessons and how board-and-train works Lengths and weekly rates as of October 2026, set by Richard. [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 ### Basic Waterfowl Program Obedience, force fetch, e-collar conditioning and an introduction to basic hunting scenarios. Read more](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/)[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/) Program lengths and weekly rates Program Length Weekly rate [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/) 2 to 3 weeks (90% of dogs finish in 2) $450 a week, includes birds, boarding, food and training six days a week [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) 10 to 16 weeks, depending on the dog $325 a week [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) 4 to 12 weeks, on top of the lower programs $325 a week [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) 8 to 12 weeks $325 a week plus birds Pups start with Puppy Camp at 5 to 7 months, an upland-oriented introduction to birds and the shotgun for pointers and retrievers. Retrievers then move to the Basic Waterfowl Program and, if the owner wants more, the Advanced Waterfowl Program. Pointers go home to hunt until they are over a year old, then come back for Formal Gun Dog Training. Richard decides where your dog starts after he hears about it. ## Board-and-train for dogs from all over California All four programs are board-and-train: the dog stays and trains with Richard near Rio Vista, and dogs come from across the state. He prefers drop-off Wednesday to Saturday and likes dogs booked a month out, six weeks if you can; the [board-and-train page](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) has the details. ## Retrievers Richard's retriever work is built on the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics, which he learned under Billy Sargenti working with field trial retrievers. The [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) covers obedience, force fetch, e-collar conditioning and basic hunting scenarios; the [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) adds steadiness in the blind, hand signals and cold blinds. ## Pointers and upland breeds Since 2013, when he trained under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels, Richard has trained pointers and other upland breeds as well as retrievers. [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) is his formal whoa work for pointing dogs, founded on obedience. ## Hunt tests and handlers 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. Hunt test preparation is part of the waterfowl programs and lessons rather than a program of its own. He also trains handlers in [private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/). ### Sources (1) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### 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/) ### 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) ## Program questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### How much does training cost? Puppy Camp is $450 a week including birds, boarding, food and training six days a week. The Basic and Advanced Waterfowl programs are $325 a week, and Formal Gun Dog Training is $325 a week plus birds (as of October 2026). Call Richard about lessons. ### How long does a program take? Puppy Camp runs 2 to 3 weeks (90% finish in 2), the Basic Waterfowl Program 10 to 16 weeks, the Advanced Waterfowl Program 4 to 12 weeks on top of that, and Formal Gun Dog Training 8 to 12 weeks.