Club Profile
The Green Valley Hunting and Retriever Club (GVHRC) is made up of individuals and families who enjoy working with and training their canine hunting partners. Whether you are brand new to training or have years of experience, we offer a friendly, supportive, and safe training environment where handlers can strengthen the working ability of their dogs. We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Training Days
The club hosts monthly hands-on training that gives handlers and their dogs the opportunity to prepare for hunt tests as well as real hunting situations. Participants may choose the training group that best matches the ability level and needs of their pointer, flusher, or retriever. These sessions allow novice handlers to learn from more experienced members, exchange ideas, and build confidence in their training approach. More advanced dogs can work through challenging hunt test scenarios. Newer dog owners receive guidance beginning with obedience training, followed by step-by-step support in lining and handling drills, controlled quartering, marking and retrieving, and trailing for upland work with steadiness to flush and shot—skills that help develop a well-rounded working dog. Training group fees are $20 per dog (or $25 when live birds are used) for retrievers, pointers, and flushers, and $25 for upland braces.
Membership
Annual dues are $50 per family, and all family members are encouraged to participate in club activities. Membership fees help cover essential expenses such as insurance, training equipment, birds, shotgun shells, and other costs associated with providing quality training opportunities.
Club Events
We kick off the year with a January banquet celebrating member achievements and recognizing the volunteers who keep the club running. The event includes our fundraising silent and live auctions, as well as the election of officers for the coming year. In February, GVHRC hosts a booth at the Lane County Sportsman’s Show at the Fairgrounds, featuring handlers and dogs, videos, and live demonstrations. A new member orientation featuring demos from each of the training groups is held later in the month. From March through June, we conduct monthly weekend training sessions (either Saturday or Sunday). In July, we host a clay target Fun Shoot and BBQ, and in August we wrap up the year with two favorite events: the “Ten Singles” retrieving competition and our final upland Braces event.
Wildlife Conservation
We believe that well-trained retrievers and upland dogs play an important role in wildlife conservation. A skilled bird dog can find and recover more game than a hunter alone, reducing loss and supporting ethical harvest. Working as a team, the handler and dog can recover birds the dog did not see fall and retrieve game from difficult or inaccessible areas—even game taken by other hunting parties. Through training and teamwork, we promote responsible hunting practices and stewardship of wildlife resources.