California bird dog training
Bird Dog Training for California Hunters
A longer drive can still make sense — for hunting dogs and obedience.
We’ve had dogs come to us from San Diego, Southern California, the Central Valley, and Northern California.
Some come for retriever or pointing-dog training. Others have made the drive specifically for our two-month obedience program because the training and pricing still made sense compared with the options they were finding closer to home.
For a weekly appointment, traveling to Utah wouldn’t be practical. But when a dog stays for two months of obedience training — or several months for a hunting-dog program — you’re making one trip for drop-off and one trip home after a substantial block of training.
That changes the equation.
Why make the drive?
This isn’t weekly dog training.
Our facility is in Payson, Utah. We don’t have a California location, and we don’t want this page to suggest otherwise.
California owners who bring dogs to us generally aren’t coming for an hour-long lesson. They’re sending a dog for an extended board-and-train program.
For hunting dogs, that may mean two, three, four months or longer depending on the dog’s experience and the owner’s goals.
For obedience clients, our program is a two-month board-and-train stay. That gives us time to build consistency through daily repetition rather than relying on one short lesson each week.
We’ve had California families determine that even after accounting for the longer drive, our obedience program and pricing made sense compared with options they had found closer to home.
When the dog is staying for a substantial training program, the distance becomes much more reasonable.
Obedience training
Not every California dog comes here to hunt.
We’ve had California clients bring dogs to Utah specifically for obedience training.
Our obedience-only program is a two-month board-and-train stay designed to build a dog that is easier to live with at home and more reliable in the real world.
Depending on the dog, training may include:
- Heel
- Sit
- Down
- Place
- Recall
- Leash manners
- Off-leash reliability
- Impulse control
- Household manners
- Distraction work
- E-collar conditioning when appropriate
Because the dog stays with us for two months, we can work these behaviors repeatedly throughout the day rather than depending on one short lesson each week.
For some California owners, the combination of two months of professional training, boarding included, and our pricing has made the trip to Utah worthwhile even when the dog isn’t a hunting dog.
California hunting dogs
From duck clubs to upland country.
California hunting dogs can be asked to do very different jobs depending on where their owners hunt.
We work with retrievers headed for duck blinds and marshes, pointing dogs used for upland birds, and versatile hunting dogs that need to be comfortable in more than one environment.
The training happens here in Utah, but the goal is a dog that can go home and work where its owner actually hunts.
We train:
- Retrievers and duck dogs
- Pointing and upland dogs
- Obedience for hunting dogs
- Puppies building a hunting foundation
- Advanced retriever handling
- Bird and gun introduction
And while hunting dogs are a major part of what we do, California owners don’t need to own a bird dog to train with us. Our obedience-only program is also available for companion dogs.
The drive
California is a bigger trip. That’s why the length of the program matters.
California is a large state, so there isn’t one meaningful drive time.
We’ve had clients make the trip from as far south as San Diego and from Northern California. For many California owners, drop-off becomes a planned travel day rather than a quick drive.
That’s also why our longer training programs make sense for out-of-state clients. You’re not driving back and forth every week. You bring the dog to us, the dog stays and trains, and you return when the program is finished.
If you’re coming from Southern California, many clients travel north through Las Vegas and St. George before continuing to Payson. Northern California routes vary considerably depending on where you’re starting.
Standard drop-off and pickup are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
If a weekday is impossible, weekend drop-off is $100 and weekend pickup is $200.
Contact us before your trip and we’ll help coordinate a drop-off time that works with your travel day.
The stay
$1,250 a month, boarding included
Training is $1,250 per month and boarding is included.
Our obedience-only program is two months long. For California owners comparing board-and-train options, that combination of program length, professional daily training, boarding included, and monthly pricing can be an important part of the decision.
We’ve had California clients decide that the cost of training with us was competitive enough to justify the longer trip to Utah.
Food is additional at $75 per month for Purina Pro Plan Sport, or owners may provide their own food. Live-bird costs vary depending on the training program and are billed separately when needed. A $100 deposit is applied toward the first month of training.
You do not need to travel back and forth during your dog’s stay. We send a photo and short training update about every other week.
At pickup, plan to spend an hour or two with us. We’ll work the dog with you, explain the commands and handling system, and make sure you understand how to maintain the training once you get home.
Winter training
Send the dog when you’re hunting less.
For many hunters, the end of bird and waterfowl season is when they finally have time to address the things that showed up in the field.
Maybe the dog breaks, ignores the whistle, won’t handle on a blind retrieve, bumps birds, needs more obedience, or simply needs more consistent bird exposure.
Winter can be a very practical time for a California hunter to send a dog away for professional training.
Instead of giving up part of the hunting season, the dog can spend December, January, or February getting consistent work, then return home with spring and summer still ahead to maintain what was learned before the next season.
For California owners, this also makes the longer trip feel more worthwhile: one planned drop-off after hunting season, a substantial block of training, then one trip home.
Why Utah Bird Dog Training
Worth the drive when the program fits.
Utah Bird Dog Training has been training dogs for nearly two decades.
We’re known for hunting-dog work, but our training isn’t limited to the field. We also offer a two-month obedience-only program, and we’ve had California owners make the trip specifically for that service.
Our clients aren’t traveling because we’re the closest trainer. They’re doing it because the training program, length of stay, experience, and cost make sense for what they need.
Whether the dog is headed for a duck blind, an upland field, or simply needs to become a more reliable family dog, the goal is the same: meaningful training that carries over when the dog goes home.
From California
Dogs have made the trip from across the state.
We’ve had owners send dogs from Southern California, including the San Diego area, as well as Central and Northern California.
Questions
California Bird Dog Training FAQs
Do you train hunting dogs from California?
Yes. Our training facility is in Payson, Utah, and we’ve had dogs come to us from Southern California, the San Diego area, Central California, and Northern California.
Why would I send my dog all the way to Utah?
Our programs are built around board-and-train stays rather than weekly lessons. Hunting-dog programs may last two, three, four months or longer. Our obedience-only program is two months. Owners make one trip for drop-off and one trip for pickup instead of driving back and forth for appointments.
How long will my dog stay?
Our obedience-only program is two months. Hunting-dog programs vary depending on the dog’s age, experience, temperament, and training goals and may last two, three, four months or longer. We’ll help determine a realistic training plan before your dog arrives.
Is boarding included?
Yes. Boarding is included in the $1,250 monthly training tuition. Food and live birds, when needed, are additional.
Do I need to visit during training?
No. We send a photo and short update approximately every other week. At pickup, we’ll work with you and your dog so you understand the commands, handling system, and expectations before heading home.
Can I arrange a weekend drop-off or pickup?
Weekday appointments are preferred. If a weekday is impossible, weekend appointments may be available for an additional fee. Current weekend drop-off is $100 and weekend pickup is $200.
Do you offer obedience training for dogs that aren’t hunting dogs?
Yes. Our obedience-only program is available for companion dogs as well as hunting dogs. It is a two-month board-and-train program, and we’ve had California clients bring dogs specifically for obedience training.
How long is your obedience program?
Our obedience-only program is two months. Hunting-dog programs vary depending on the dog’s age, experience, temperament, and training goals and may last two, three, four months or longer.
Why would someone travel from California for obedience training?
For some owners, the combination of two months of professional training, boarding included, and our monthly pricing makes the longer trip worthwhile compared with the programs they’ve found closer to home. Owners make one trip for drop-off and one trip for pickup rather than traveling back and forth for weekly lessons.
What does the obedience program work on?
Training may include heel, sit, down, place, recall, leash manners, off-leash reliability, impulse control, household manners, distraction work, and e-collar conditioning when appropriate for the dog. More detail is on Obedience Training.