Devenney Ranch Gun Dog
Field Performance & Conditioning
Gun Dog Development • Field Training • Conditioning & Performance
Turn Your Dog Into a Reliable Hunting Partner
Natural ability is only the beginning. A dependable hunting dog also needs clear communication, consistent training, confidence, and experience in the field.
At Devenney Ranch Gun Dog, our Colorado gun dog training programs are built around the individual dog — its temperament, maturity, experience, and natural hunting ability.
We develop more than field skills. Our dogs learn to work cooperatively with their handler, perform confidently in real hunting situations, and transition successfully from the field back to everyday life at home.
The result is a capable, responsive hunting partner you can trust when it matters.
Individualized Gun Dog Training in Colorado
Small by design. Personal by nature. Built for the field.
At Devenney Ranch Gun Dog, we intentionally accept only a limited number of dogs at one time. This allows us to know each dog individually, adjust training as the dog develops, and provide the consistency meaningful progress requires.
Dogs are incorporated into a structured home environment throughout their stay, allowing field development, obedience, and everyday manners to be built together — not treated as separate skills.
Our gun dog training progresses according to the dog in front of us, not simply the calendar. Natural ability, temperament, maturity, confidence, and experience all help determine how each dog develops.
The result: a capable hunting partner you can trust in the field and enjoy living with at home.
The Gun Dog Development Path
Great hunting dogs are developed in stages - not in a single training stay.
Puppy Gun Dog Development
Foundation, confidence & introduction to the hunting world
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Home Development
Owner reinforcement, continued exposure & time to mature
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Field Development
Bird work, field handling & development of natural hunting ability
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Advanced Gun Dog Development
Steadiness, reliability & advanced field skills
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Finished Gun Dog Development
Advanced reliability, polished field performance & dependable handling
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Ongoing Development
Pre-season tune-ups • Test preparation • Conditioning & performance
Our programs meet each dog at its current stage of development and build from there. Training may begin with puppy foundations and progress through field development, advanced skills and finished gun dog work. When appropriate, time at home between training blocks allows owners to reinforce new skills while the dog continues to mature.
Gun Dog Training Programs
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Stage One: Puppy Gun Dog Development
4 Weeks | $2,800At roughly 5–6 months old:
Designed for puppies approximately five to six months old, this immersive Stay & Train program develops the foundation of a dependable hunting companion, without asking the puppy to progress faster than it is mentally or physically ready for.
engagement with handler
recall, heel, place, beginning whoa
crate/house manners
confidence and independence
environmental exposure
bird introduction
retrieving/play drive
controlled gunfire only as appropriate
learning how to settle and live appropriately indoors
Then we send the puppy home for approximately 2–4 weeks.
That time at home is an important part of the development process. It gives owners the opportunity to reinforce newly learned skills in everyday life, helps ensure the training transfers beyond the trainer, and allows the puppy time to mature before progressing to the next stage.
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Stage Two: Field Development
4 Weeks | Starting at $3,200Available to dogs that have completed our Puppy Gun Dog Development program or demonstrate equivalent foundational skills during an evaluation.
For dogs with established foundational skills that are ready for more purposeful bird work, greater field independence and dependable handling under realistic hunting conditions. Program objectives are individualized according to the dog’s maturity, experience and natural ability.
Focus may include:
Recall and handling under greater distraction
Hunting pattern and range
Bird finding and pointing development
Retrieving progression
Steadiness progression
Honoring/backing when appropriate
Controlled gunfire progression
Exposure to realistic hunting scenarios
Prerequisite: Established obedience foundation and appropriate bird/gun exposure. Dogs are evaluated before acceptance.
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Starting at $3,600 per four-week training block | Evaluation
Advanced development is individualized according to the dog’s previous training, maturity, temperament, natural ability and the owner’s goals. Following evaluation, we will recommend the appropriate training length and provide a written program estimate.
This program can cover:
Steadiness to wing/shot
Advanced field handling
Greater range and directional control
Retrieving refinement
Water work
Honoring
High-distraction reliability
More complex hunting situations
Because advanced development depends heavily on the dog's previous training, maturity, temperament and experience, program length is determined after evaluation.
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10–14 Days | Starting at $1,650
For hunting dogs already working in the field that need focused correction, reinforcement, or a reset during the season.
Training is customized around specific needs such as recall, handling, steadiness, retrieving, responsiveness, field control, or maintaining previously established skills.
This is not a foundational training program. Dogs are evaluated for suitability before enrollment.
Limited midseason availability.
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Starting at $3,800 per four-week training block
Evaluation and Written Proposal RequiredOur highest level of development is designed for mature dogs with an established obedience and field foundation. Training focuses on developing the consistency, control and reliability expected from a well-finished hunting partner.
Each program is individualized according to the dog’s experience, maturity, temperament, natural ability and the owner’s goals. Work may include:
Advanced steadiness through wing, shot and fall
Reliable handling and responsiveness at distance
Refined hunting pattern, range and field control
Reliable honoring and backing
Advanced retrieving and delivery
Water work and challenging retrieves
Reliability around birds and heavy distractions
Exposure to realistic hunting conditions and field scenarios
Continued refinement of obedience and manners away from the field
Following evaluation, we provide a written proposal outlining the recommended goals, projected training length and custom investment. Progress and final results will reflect each dog’s individual development and natural ability.
Our objective is not simply a dog that performs during training, but a dependable hunting partner capable of working confidently in the field while remaining responsive, controlled and enjoyable to live with at home.
Train While You Travel
Planning a vacation, honeymoon, cruise, or extended trip? Schedule a Devenney Ranch Gun Dog Stay & Train around your travel plans. Your dog receives individualized training, indoor lodging, structured daily care, and purposeful development throughout the stay.
10-day, 2-week, 4-week & extended stays available
Programs starting at $1,650
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Individualized daily training and structured indoor care
Live-bird work appropriate to the dog’s age and development
Weekly photo or video progress updates
Written progress and go-home recommendations
Private graduation and handler-transfer session
Fourteen-day follow-up support description
Owners provide the dog’s regular food to maintain dietary consistency. Veterinary care, transportation, specialized equipment and training beyond the contracted program length are not included unless specifically stated in the written agreement.
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Training must transfer from Rich to you. Every Stay & Train concludes with a private owner-transition session covering your dog’s commands, proper timing and handling, and a practical plan for maintaining progress at home.
Specialized training for specific needs, field preparation, and continued development.
Not every hunting dog needs a full Stay & Train program. Devenney Ranch Gun Dog offers focused training options for dogs and handlers who need help with a particular skill, preparation for hunting season, or continued development.
Additional Gun Dog Training Services
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For returning dogs needing reinforcement before hunting season.
$800–$1,500
*Birds / Ammo costs are additional
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For young dogs needing positive exposure to birds and controlled gunfire.
$450 session
*Birds / Ammo costs are additional
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Hands-on instruction teaching owners how to handle their dog during hunts.
$250 session
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One-on-one coaching for you and your dog. Perfect for improving obedience, field skills, or solving specific issues.
Common focus:
Obedience & control
Field work & retrieving
Problem behaviors
Owner handling
Best for: Tune-ups, non-boarded dogs, or hands-on owners
$125/hour, On-Site
Package: $450 for 4 sessions -
Structured bird exposure and controlled gunfire conditioning based on the dog's experience and confidence.
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For dogs that have developed fear, anxiety, or behavioral issues from improper exposure or past experiences.
We focus on rebuilding confidence, restoring trust, and guiding dogs back to a place where they can perform with clarity and reliability.
Request an Evaluation to discuss your dog.
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Purposeful conditioning designed to support stamina, strength, mobility, and field performance for the demands of hunting season.
Through progressive endurance work, functional strength exercises, body-awareness training, controlled terrain work, and aquatic treadmill conditioning, each program will focus on building:
Strength and stamina
Balance and coordination
Core and hindquarter conditioning
Field-ready endurance
Confidence across varied terrain
Healthy warm-up and recovery habits
From preseason preparation to in-season maintenance, our goal is to help sporting dogs arrive in the field physically prepared to perform the work they were bred to do.
Program details and availability coming soon.
Designed for healthy sporting dogs. This program is not veterinary rehabilitation or physical therapy. Veterinary clearance may be required.Item description
Ready to Develop Your Hunting Partner?
Not sure which training program is right for your dog?
Tell us about your dog, your hunting goals, and where you are in your training journey.
We’ll help you determine the right next step.