You never know who's paths may cross on these trips and when previous GDIY guest from episode 230, Tyson Bowden, messaged saying he was in the area we were able to link up. His buddy Lars Jacobson of Crispi Boots was his riding partner and we all got out in the middle of nowhere for a quick hunt and conversation. First impressions of Montana Overan…

Riding a horse to chase bird dogs across the prairies of North Dakota will be one of the experiences that sticks with me for quite a while. Kenton Bryant, Dave Stover, and Will Dunn join me to discuss everything about the tradition of horseback field trials. Watch Here! History of horseback hunting in the United States Horseback field trials in the…

Revisiting the conversation I had with Del Whitman of D.C. Whitman Custom Gunsmithing discussing the basics of selecting the proper ammunition to effectively and ethically hunt your targeted game. This episode was originally released on Local grouse hunting update Pointer & flusher combo on grouse Getting into ballistics Appropriate ammo for vintag…

This episode is all about the ever neglected flushing dog! John Huddleston of Over the Mountain Kennels is a tried and true Boykin Spaniel man and joins me to talk flushing dog training and much much more. Watch Here! The 2025 St. Huberts Trial on February 8th and 9th is ready for Sign Ups! What makes a quality flushing dog? The proper range for a …

Mike Neiduski of Ugly Dog Hunting joins me for a discussion that spans a number of relevant dog topics which most of them simply come back to the question of "Why are we testing?" WATCH HERE! Impressions of the upland community through so many unique lenses Becoming a judge to become a better handler? Learning by seeing so many different dogs and h…

One of the concerns for dog handlers in certain regions would be the presence of wolves. How concerned should you actually be though? Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialists for the Wisconsin DNR, joins me to discuss the species and how it impacts us as dog handlers. Cougars, Bears, & Wolves....oh, my! The historical timeline of wolves in Wiscon…

Not all professional gun dog trainers have the land and resources that are typically associated with training gun dogs. Josh Wiggins of Houston Dog Works joins me for a wide ranging conversation on his training perspectives that affords him the capability to train sporting dogs while living and operating in a major city such as Houston, TX. This is…

There is much more to breeding than just pairing up a male and female! Gretchen Zwerlein of V.D. Wildblumen Kleine Munsterlander joins me to discuss her process when it comes to making the decision to breed, whelping the litter, and her process when it comes to developing throughout the early puppyhood stages. Watch Here! Why the Munsterlander? Wha…

Danielle Prewett from Meateater joins us to discuss her new cookbook, Wild + Whole: Seasonal Recipes for the Conscious Cook. She also shares valuable tips and insights on preparing and savoring the meat you and your dogs have worked so hard for! WATCH HERE -What does "sustainable" actually mean? -The price and cost of buying meat -Eating only wild …

I'm just dropping in for a quick recap of my recent trip to Montana. Also, since I haven't checked in solo for quite a while I have a few housekeeping items to check off the list! Watch Here Some quick announcements and housekeeping A new puppy?!? From camper to mobile truck camping. A summary of my new system Getting to Montana with a stop off in …

Nate Czarnota of Iron Oak Dog Company sits down with me after his training seminar to discuss a number of topics that were addressed throughout the weekend. WATCH HERE What was the goal of putting on this style of a seminar? Active dog, reactive handler Leash and line management Be comfortable being uncomfortable Anyone thats really advanced is tru…

There is a ton of information, opinions, concerns, and concepts out there when it comes to training dogs with electronic collars. One of the most qualified people in the dog training space to speak on the subject is Justin Rigney of K9 Services Unlimited. WATCH HERE Justin landed in dog training and became a "professional student" What even is an "…

Chris Armanini of Full Send K9 comes on to discuss and demonstrate his entire program of the "Unforced Force Fetch." Watch the Podcast Watch the Training (part 1) Watch the Training (part 2) What aspects of the traditional approaches motivated a new outlook? How many dogs were washed out because their genetics couldn't overcome a traditional approa…

In this episode, we explore the value of continuous learning and the importance of embracing new perspectives in dog training. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's always room to grow by stepping outside your comfort zone. I'm joined by Randall Lykens of Liberty Canine, Justin Rigney of K9 Services Unlimited, Tim Andrews, and…

I'm joined by Mark Dinsmore who is here to remind people that you cant have effective training without appropriate planning and focusing on the execution of the plan. Watch Here! Trialing an EB in France European vs US trials "French" or "Epagneul Breton" and comparing them to the "American" Brittany Start with a specific goal in mind Break your go…

Brett Edstrom comes on to discuss how the 'best' Ruffed Grouse dogs are proven on wild birds in cover dog trials. Its the catch and release approach to Ruffed Grouse Hunting that George Bird Evans used to long for in his writings! WATCH HERE Learning under a "legendary" trainer Did we lose anything through the decades of "wash outs"? From retriever…

With the much anticipated early bird hunting season finally upon us in a few weeks, I've received quite a number of emails and messages concerned about snakes and questions about the Rattlesnake Vaccine so I thought it would be worth republishing the episode I recorded last year with Chris Jenkins of the Orianne Society where we talked everything s…

Ryan McIntosh of Southern Wires Kennels joins us to share his journey and insights from establishing himself as a professional dog trainer in the demanding Texas heat. Tune in to hear about the challenges he faced, from finding his preferred training approach to building confidence in the process. WATCH HERE Deciding to take the plunge into profess…

Todd and Jocelyn Sackett from Sweet Briar Pet Transport joins us to discuss how their unique service can add efficiency and convenience to your travel plans. Whether you're working with a trainer across the country or trying to figure out how to fit in that dream trip without sacrificing days of travel time, a professional pet transport service mig…

Kristofer Sandlund from Sweden joins us to share his perspectives on hunting, training, and living with dogs in Sweden and compare them to the practices in the US. Watch Here Getting started with hunting dogs in Sweden Duck Tollers to Kleiner Munsterlanders Calling in Hazel Grouse How to hunt the 'horror bird' Cappercallie Grouse Where to find the …

This week we close out Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the upland slam in Part 3 originally released on 9/6/22. Ruffed Grouse Chukar Blue Grouse Spruce Grouse Sage Grouse Upland Slam Taxidermy Woodock Willow Ptarmigan Rock Ptarmigan Whitetail Ptarmigan Are Snipe and Rail being left out? Closing out Bella the 3rd dog The best and worst "behaved" bir…

Jared Warren of Southern State K9 returns in part 2 of the discussion on building and utilizing markers in your training. You also cant discuss markers without at least a working level of understanding when it comes to reward structures so we explore that topic as well. Watch Here! Think of it as training with Dopamine rather than training with rew…

This week we continue Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the upland slam in Part 2 originally released on 8/30/22. Where did the journey begin? Does a hunting journal help with being a better hunter? Hungarian Partridge (Huns) and Sharptail Grouse (Sharps) Prairie Chickens Pheasant Bobwhite Quail Mountain Quail Valley Quail Mearns Quail Gambel Quail S…

"I wish the dog could understand what I'm saying!" A very relatable request or wish that any dog trainer has probably uttered at some point or another. The truth is though, with the proper approach and consistency, you can get the dog to at least understand "yes" or "no" which does allows you to communicate more effectively with your dog. Jared War…

This week we start Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the Upland Slam that originally released on August 23, 2022. This upland slam series is unique in that Jim doesn't chase the slam for himself. Jim counts the upland slam for each individual dog. From Vizslas to German Shorthair Pointers Pheasant hunting with pointing dogs or flushing dogs? What is …

In this episode, we're joined by Ben Fretz from North Country Sporting Dogs to discuss the most common concerns in the dog training world. Whether you're a DIY trainer, a professional, or a dog owner who hires a trainer, one truth remains: every dog is unique and won't follow the same path. However, the pressure often mounts once a date is set on t…

You never know when an idea or passion may find you. This was the case for Kevin and his son while out on an early season Sharptail hunt. While stopping for a break and consuming products designed to help fuel their own hunt, they couldn't help but wonder why they didn't have anything to help fuel their dogs. Fast forward and they have now produced…

AKC conformation judge, Lonnie Carrol of Bear Hug Griffons, joins us to cover everything in the show dog world. Very often we hear the phrase "function over form" and Lonnie explains why it shouldn't be an either/or situation and we should be striving for both form AND function. Watch Here! What are conformation shows? The different classes and wha…

Accidents happen. Prices at the veterinary offices seem to be skyrocketing. How do we prepare for the scenario where we are weighing the well being of our beloved dog against whats right for our bank account and family? In this episode, we delve into the world of pet insurance—what it is, how it works, and why it might be right or wrong for you. Ti…

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Nate Lecy BREED: Pudelpointer, Lab/A…

We heard about the patients journey through TPLO surgery last week. This week we talk with Veterinarian, Jay Brekke, as he goes through all of the advice and tips from the actual surgeons perspective. WATCH HERE Just how common is the CCL injury today? The odds of dealing with the injury and the underlying causes The knee certifications should be s…

One of my favorite things in the bird dog world is backing and honoring. Darryl Pernat came on the show in May of 2021 to break down his process on getting your dog to back reliably and consistently in the field! Why is backing important? "Backing" vs. "honoring" "Natural" vs. "developed" backers Better to start earlier or wait until after steadine…

It's something we all hope never happens to our dogs but, unfortunately, a CCL injury (equivalent to a human ACL) is more common than what you may think. When Cliff Hawkins' 3 year old Pudelpointer, Ruby, went down with the injury, he found the available information on how to navigate the situation very lacking. So he documented his experience and …

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Lucas Felling BREED: Llewellin Sette…

Sometimes a bit help and extra hands go a long ways in helping you meet your goals with your dog. Chris Girard of the Green Valley Hunting & Retriever Club joins me to talk about the benefits as well as some of the challenges training groups can offer DIY trainers. Watch Here The history of GVHRC Accessing new potential hunters Group dynamics withi…

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Ron Hunt BREED: Brittany LOCATION: B…

You should always jump at the opportunity when you get the chance to talk to someone in the upland space who has been chasing these birds for as long as Walt Lesser has! After all, he literally wrote the book on the Real Ryman Setter. It was a privilege to sit down with Walt in his home and hear his stores and what it was exactly that spoke to him …

Robb and Jim make their return to the podcast to recap and share their thoughts on our recent experience at Old Hemlock and the "Trouble with Bird Dogs" event put on by the Bird Dog Society. The purpose of the Troubles with Bird Dogs event The downward trend of bird numbers over decades Learning from history The experience of the historical propert…

You've at least heard George Bird Evans referenced at some point even if you've just barely dipped a toe in the upland hunting space. His words continue to inspire and motivate upland hunters even decades removed from his passing. Come and take a step back in time to catch a glimpse of what it was like for George, and his wife Kaye, living at the o…

A listener recently reached out asking for an episode talking about general advice when it comes to planning a hunting trip. It would be fun to revisit and provide an updated version of this subject but for now I thought it was worth revisiting episode 108 with Josh Flowers originally released on 9/21/21. Why test and train in the off season The be…

"Pick a method and stick with it!" Sure, thats sound advice. Especially for beginners. But for those of us that want to know why a particular method works or how to overcome and even prevent certain roadblocks or snags from appearing, simply focusing on the "HOW" may not be enough. Nate Czarnota of Iron Oak Dog Co. joins me to talk about the princi…

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Ira Sherman BREED: German Wirehair P…

There are things that you may have thought were the primary reasons or benefits of getting into the gun dog world but, come to find out, there are other aspects that start to present themselves that make you realize theres a lot more to it. Perhaps its not all about the birds. Perhaps its not even just about the dog. Perhaps its about certain relat…

There have been countless guests and topics covered in episodes throughout the years that are truly invaluable and worth revisiting. Going through some of the back catalog and re-listening to some of the older episodes, I was honestly surprised at some of the information and details I have forgotten myself over the years. I wanted to try and highli…

One of the NAVHDA institutions, The Carters, joins me at the Eukanuba booth on the floor of Pheasant Fest. Blaine, Pattie, and Jason of Merrymeeting Kennels have been instrumental in bringing people into the bird dog space through their extremely active Yankee Chapter. We have a fun a conversation that covers a lot of insight and tips into not only…

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Joe Davis BREED: German Shorthair Po…

Lee Howard of Mossy Pond Retrievers joins me on the floor of Pheasant Fest to go through the Super Retriever Series and what it actually takes to be competitive in that world! WATCH ON YOUTUBE What is the Super Retriever Series? There is a lot of handler involvement at that level The level of training required Is it realistic to compete for new peo…

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE! NAME: Tyler Bachman BREED: German Shorthai…

There have been countless guests and topics covered in episodes throughout the years that are truly invaluable and worth revisiting. Going through some of the back catalog and re-listening to some of the older episodes, I was honestly surprised at some of the information and details I have forgotten myself over the years. I wanted to try and highli…

I'm back on the floor at Pheasant Fest where Jeremy Moore of Dogbone Hunter make his return to the show to have a wide ranging conversation. We hit on everything from place training to lack of trust causing impatience in handlers. Watch Here Is place training easy? Reward the impulse control Everything has to be incremental "Breaking" a dog. "Break…