The Upland Disciple Podcast

Welcome back to the final episode of the summer shorts/season longs series with us on the Upland Disciple Podcast. In the final episode we dive deep into dog conditioning and all that goes along with that. We cover roading, free running (how they are best done as complementary parts of one whole program), swimming, nutrition, supplements, heat, and how to work on mental endurance in fatigue throug...

Welcome back to episode 10 of season 3 at the Upland Disciple Podcast. We continue on with our summer shorts series this week, diving in to the topic of handling. An often under discussed and under appreciated part of bird dog development and hunting/trialing is the working together of dog and handler in the field. This doesn't just mean following your dog around the field but being able to cast y...

Welcome back to episode 9 of the Summer Shorts series. This week we take a deep dive with our four Pro Trainers into the topic of Honoring or Backing. Whether for safety, etiquette, or more birds in the bag, honoring is one of most important skills we can teach our dogs. Nobody wants to hunt with the guy whose dogs blow up everyone else's points! As we dive into the four different methods, you wil...

Welcome back to the 8th installment of the summer shorts series!! In this episode we dive deep into the trained retrieve. We discuss shaping a natural retrieve, when to train the retrieve in the dogs development, and a number of "fixes" for a poor or lacking retrieve. The 4 pros give us 4 different takes on the retrieve training process, all with their own unique twists, YET with many similar phil...

Welcome back to the 7th installment of the "Summer Shorts" series, which Jake correctly renamed the "Season Long" series in jest. In this episode we dive back in with our four pro trainers/methods to discuss Recall & Heel. This is an incredibly fun dive with some similarities (such as going back to foundational training to teach a new command) as well some uniqueness from each method. From method...

Welcome back to the 6th episode of the summer shorts series with us. This week we dive into the topic of steadiness or staunchness training for your dog. This is getting into more advanced training and often shows our limitations as amateur or "non-pro" trainers and handlers. While we are often in a hurry to reach benchmarks in limited time before the season arrives, as you will hear in this episo...

Welcome back to the summer shorts series. I apologize for the slight delay. Between a wedding I had to do in Tahoe, a bout with covid leading to a weeks long cough that made recording impossible, and then field trials and the opener in Montana, we have been full up on life for a hot second. But we are back!!! In this episode we dive into whoa training. Each method or style has its unique tools for...

Welcome back to the summer shorts series, brought to you by Redemption Bird Dogs and True Loyalty Dog Training, and sponsored by American Natural Premium dog food and Trinity Gun Dog Company. We hope you enjoy this episode on gun introduction from our four pros!! Resources: The Hickox Method website - www.georgehickox.com Intsagram - @georgehickoxbirddogs Facebook - @georgehickox   The Smith Metho...

In this episode of the summer shorts we turn to collar conditioning. Collar conditioning is one of those training skills that needs to go right or it could go horribly wrong. In this episode Jake and I take a deep dive into all four methods we have been following in the summer shorts series, and look at how they do and recommend collar introduction and conditioning. Everything from collar type, to...

In this episode, we again turn to George Hickox, Perfection Kennels, The Smith Method, and the The Method Dog Training pros for their insights and methods of doing bird introduction. Much like last week, there are many similarities, including developing drive and chase, to controlling outcomes whether it be guaranteeing a bird or helping a dog to work the scent well. For more on each of the pros y...

In this first episode of the "summer shorts" series, we look at puppy development from four professional trainers and their method. We kick it off with Ronnie and Suzanna Smith, of the Smith Method, looking at the importance of all things pup, with a special focus on keeping the end in mind and using "eustress" or good stress (stressors that have a positive solution) in the mental development of a...

This is an introductory episode letting you, the listener, know what we have coming this summer. We will be doing roughly 10 "shorts" on a variety of different skills or developmental areas for dogs, bringing you directly from the top professionals, their tools, drills, application, and resources. The goal isn't to tell you our opinion, but to give you four different ways of training each specific...

Welcome back for another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. On this episode we welcome in Sonny & Jordan from "The Method" dog training based out of both Connecticut and Wisconsin. Sonny and Jordan have found a unique niche in bird dog training, combing strong elements of obedience through the use of an obstacle course to develop cooperation, understanding and the ability to problem solve for...

In this episode we switch it up a bit, still talking bird dogs and bird dog training/development but from a tools provider perspective. Mike Neiduski owns Ugly Dog Hunting, and as an avid uplander builds his business based on training tools, devices, and apparel that make sense and work for him and his customers. His product lines aim at longevity, usefulness, and not overselling the unneccessary...

We pick up where we left off in reverse pod episode 1, talking about training dogs to use their natural drive to extend or shape their range/pattern. We talk primarily about avoiding yo-yo-ing and getting your dog to stay to front from a young age using birds and the dogs natural drive to shape an up front dog. While we talk edges, this could be done in a patterning format as well if that is your...

We pick up where we left off with field trials, training, and all things bird dogs!

In this episode we jump into all things bird doggin' with Kelli Aitken of Quantonas Irish Setters. It's a 2 parter so come back for part 2 in a couple weeks! Kelli gets into her story, her love of the Irish Setter, training, learning, field trialing, and even a a bit of judging! Kelli is a very accomplish trainier/handler in the field trial world, with some of the nicest Irish Setters around!!

This week we welcome to the pod, legend in the making and national champion and dog of the year handler, Jamie Daniels. Jamie has trained and handled multiple champions, including recent AA dog of the year Miller's Blindsider. Jamie has been in the bird dog world since his youth, and we dive into his origin story in bird dogs as a helping hand, all the way up to his decorated career (so far) as a...

In this episode we turn things upside down just a bit. Rather than me, Josh, interview a guest, long time friend and bird dog guy Jake Faas w/ True Loyalty Dog Training out of MN, asked if he could interview me about the history and my experience and thoughts of the breed I work the most with, the Epagneul Breton. With over 35 years of life spent around and with the breed, we discussed everything...

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! In this episode we welcome back former guest of the pod and good friend Jake Faas of True Loyalty dog training.  In this episode I let Jake take the reigns and walk us through the process of a positive reinforced trained retrieve. Using his wealth of knowledge from shaping dogs in the bite dog sports, Jake has brought with him a knowl...

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! We continue the conversation from last time with Hannah Peterson of Mud Lake Kennels. In this episode we pick up right where we left off, continuing on with the value of the crate, finishing a dog, and the value of wild birds in the development of a bird dog!!! Sit back and enjoy the second half of the conversation with Hannah and go...

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! In this episode we sit down for part 1 of a 2 part conversation with Hannah Peterson of Mud Lake Kennels. Hannah has a wealth of experience from bite dogs to pet dogs and more, but she has found her love most recently in the bird dog world. Hannah and her husband Kyle run primarily Setters but she will train any bird dog out there! Ha...

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. In this episode we catch up with Dane Murphy and James Bouler. Dane and his father in law Henry just launched Covey Creek Farms near Five Points, TN as a new quail ranch just north of the Alabama line. Operating on nearly 500 acres, Covey Creek is set up to provide a hunter with a real southern Tennessee quail hunt, offering wild cove...

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. I apologize for the month away as there was a lot of life and dogs going on in September. With that being said this episode is one of my favorites as we welcome future Hall of Famer, and multiple time Handler of the Year, Mike Tracy of Summerhill Kennels to the podcast. I apologize in advance for a couple of overlaps in conversation a...

This an incredibly fun episode with a twist on our normal content. Nic is the founder of Land Trust, which at its essence is AirBnB for outdoors people. If you are looking for a hunt in a place you are not familiar with, Land Trust is a must!!! They offer the background work of places, ground, and opportunity, offer you hunts on private, massive, land spaces in the areas you are looking to go. Can...