--- title: Private and Group Gun Dog Lessons | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/ 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/) - Private and group lessons # Private and group lessons Richard Gebhart offers private and group lessons for handlers, at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve and at Denverton. Lessons suit owners whose dogs are training with him and owners working with their own dogs; call Richard for times and the rate. A trained dog keeps its training when the person handling it gives the same commands the same way. Richard trains handlers alongside their dogs, one-on-one or in group lessons, and lessons are how owners learn to run the dog they have. ## Private or group Richard offers both. A private lesson is you, your dog and Richard. A group lesson puts you with other handlers and dogs, which is closer to the setting of a hunt test or a busy day in the field. Ask Richard which fits what you want to work on. ## Hastings Island and Denverton Richard's primary location is Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Road, Rio Vista. He still uses Denverton, near Suisun City, for advanced retriever work and lessons. The preserve is a separate hunting club; book lessons with Richard, not the preserve. ## For dogs in training and dogs at home Owners whose dogs are in the [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/), the [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) or [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) can come out for lessons during the stay, so the commands the dog learns are the commands the owner uses. Owners finishing their own dogs can book lessons on their own. ## Hunt tests 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 AKC retriever hunt tests. Hunt test preparation happens in the waterfowl programs and in lessons rather than as a separate program; the [hunt tests section](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/) explains the levels. ## Booking a lesson Call or text Richard at (530) 341-4496 for lesson times, the location and the rate. Have your dog's breed, age and what you want to work on ready. ### 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) ### Private and group lessons at a glance - **Length:** Private or group - **Rate:** Ask Richard - **Starts:** Any dog in training, or your own dog - **Breeds:** Pointers and retrievers; other breeds, ask Richard - **Where:** Hastings Island and Denverton 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 - [Board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) - [Will I learn to handle my own dog?](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/owner-handler-training/) - [Retriever hunt tests](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/) - [Training at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve](https://royalgundogs.com/hastings-island-hunting-preserve/) - [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) - Owners of dogs in one of Richard's programs - Owners finishing or keeping up their own dog's training - Hunters getting ready for a season or a hunt test - Owners of pointers and retrievers - Private, one-on-one lessons - Group lessons - Lessons at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve - Lessons at Denverton ## 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 ### 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/)[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/) ## Private and group lessons: questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Does Richard offer private lessons? Yes. He offers private and group lessons. ### Where are lessons held? At Hastings Island Hunting Preserve near Rio Vista, and at Denverton, which Richard still uses for advanced retriever work and lessons. ### Can I take lessons while my dog is in a program? Yes. Owners of dogs in training come out for lessons during the stay. ### How much is a lesson? Call Richard for the lesson rate. The four board-and-train programs have weekly rates on the board-and-train page. ### What breeds? Richard's work is pointers and retrievers. For any other breed, ask Richard.