Puppy Camp (gun dog introduction)

Puppy Camp is the first step for a young hunting dog at Royal Gun Dogs. Richard calls it Puppycamp, or gun dog introduction, and it is the same introduction for pointers and for retrievers. The pup stays with Richard at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve near Rio Vista, meets birds, hears the shotgun and trains six days a week, then goes home to start hunting.

The program at a glance

These are Richard's own figures, as of October 2026.

Birds and the shotgun, upland first

The point of Puppy Camp is a good first meeting with the two things every gun dog lives with: birds and the gun. Richard keeps it upland oriented, so pups work in the fields and cover of Hastings Island Hunting Preserve. His philosophy is balance, "encouraging the hunting drive and desire in the dog, coupled with the necessary 'team player' attitude", and a young dog's first birds are where that drive starts.

Richard has trained dogs professionally since 2002. He learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti and expanded into pointers and other upland breeds in 2013 under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels, so the same introduction serves both kinds of dog.

Get on the books at 16 weeks

Richard likes to start pups at 5 to 7 months old. To get on his books for a Puppy Camp at that age, send him a copy of your pup's rabies certificate when the pup is 16 weeks old. In general he likes dogs booked a month out and recommends six weeks.

Wednesday through Saturday are his preferred drop-off days. The board-and-train page covers how stays work for dogs coming from all over California.

1. At 16 weeks: send Richard a copy of the pup's rabies certificate
2. Pick dates a month or more ahead (six weeks is better)
3. Drop off Wednesday to Saturday
4. Puppy Camp runs 2 to 3 weeks; most pups finish in 2

After Puppy Camp

For a retriever, the next step is the Basic Waterfowl Program. For a pointing dog, Richard likes owners to take the dog hunting until it is over a year old, then bring it back for Formal Gun Dog Training once its bird-finding is more solid. If you want to learn to handle your young dog yourself, ask about private and group lessons.