On-Call Hunting Dog Trainer

Wing & Barrel Ranch is a privately-owned sporting lifestyle club located on 1,000 acres in the heart of wine country in beautiful Sonoma, California about an hour from San Francisco. With the vision of its founders to create “the most incomparable, hospitality driven private sporting club in America,” Wing & Barrel Ranch offers its members the best of the ultimate wine country lifestyle: a world-class clay course and upland bird hunting, fly-fishing, bocce, unparalleled culinary and wine offerings, summer concert series, member activities & programming, as well as unique travel opportunities exclusively for our members. We gather members who enjoy the finer things in life and whose interests draw us together in the ultimate outdoor sporting club, all in a family-friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit https://www.wingandbarrelranch.com/

Position Summary:
Wing & Barrel Ranch is seeking an experienced and passionate Hunting Dog Trainer to oversee the care, training, and performance of our working dogs, as well as support our member hunting experiences. The ideal candidate will have a proven background managing and training hunting dogs, with a minimum of 2 years in kennel operations or a related management role. This position requires leadership, program management, and a strong commitment to providing exceptional member experience.

Essential Duties:
• Manage daily operations of the hunting dog program, including care, training, feeding, and health oversight of dogs.
• Develop and implement customized training programs for hunting dogs (upland game and/or waterfowl retrieval) based on breed, temperament, and member needs.
• Train dogs in obedience, retrieval, pointing, tracking, and other specialized hunting skills using humane, effective techniques.
• Supervise, coach, and develop kennel staff and seasonal assistants.
• Create and maintain financial reports, training progress reports, and program summaries for the Hunting Program Supervisor.
• Coordinate with the Department Managers to ensure seamless integration of hunting dog experiences into member events and hunts.
• Maintain accurate records, contracts, and invoicing in coordination with the accounting team.
• Provide regular communication and consultation with members regarding their dogs’ training progress.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized kennel and training environment.
• Support hunting program demonstrations, events, and field trials as required.

Education & Experience
• Minimum 2 years’ management experience in kennel operations, hunting dog training, or related field (management experience preferred).
• Proven success in training hunting or working dogs for upland game or waterfowl retrieval.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Club Essentials software a plus but not required.
• Hospitality experience or prior work in a private club environment a plus.
• Passion for the outdoors, hunting traditions, and working with sporting breeds.
• High-level interpersonal and customer service skills with a focus on member satisfaction.
• Physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in varying conditions.
• This is a contracted or on-call position; hours vary based on the hunting season, with increased hours during peak season.
• Opportunity to earn commissions based on member program participation and training services. (pending review and approval)
• Experience managing a hunting program is a strong plus.
• Depending on operational needs, there may be times when this role will be required to assist other departments with events.
Physical Requirements:
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs, stand or walk for extended periods, and navigate indoor/outdoor club facilities.
• Work schedule includes weekends, holidays, and extended hours as required by events or business needs.

Working Environment:
• The role operates in a fast-paced, member-facing environment with moderate to high noise levels during events. Flexibility in hours and responsibilities is essential to meeting member expectations and supporting club operations.