Gun Dog It Yourself

A listener asked us a few weeks ago what the real cost of owning a bird dog was.  I obviously didnt have a number for him but it go me thinking.  Joe and I got together to TRY and put a number down for the average bird dog owner/trainer.  There will obviously be discrepancies between each individual owner but hopefully this helps some people try and gauge what some costs will be throughout the lif...

GDIYves is a monthly bonus episode hosted by Kyley Caldwell that brings relatable stories from the women that train and hunt dogs themselves.  These aren't women that just do it because their boyfriends or husbands do it.  They do it because they love it and are married to the lifestyle and their dogs.  In these episodes you'll hear what got them into the sport and relatable stories of what it was...

This week Steve Short and Arwen Dabb joins us to discuss field trialing!  There are a number of misconceptions in the trial world as it comes to hunting dogs while Steve and Arwen disprove them.  They are competitive in trials while also being successful with wild bird hunting.  They speak on how this is possible and why its probably not fair to suggest you cant be successful at both! www.gundogit...

Bridget Nielson of Wall Canyon Kennels joins us this week to talk about how we can all make the most out of NAVHDA training days.  The chapters can plan everything down to the last detail but if you don't do your homework and have a plan then its not going to be as productive.  Conversely, a handler can show up with the best plan in the world but if the chapter isn't organized then it wont go well...

How does a dog's nose work?  What impacts the dog's capability to use it's nose?  What does this mean in terms of how we hunt and train with the dog?  Tom Brownlee has been studying and teaching the subject of canine olfactory senses for decades as well as applying this knowledge in actual training and K9 scenarios.  This is an episode you really dont want to miss! www.gundogityourself.com and www...

This week we talk with experienced Maine Search and Rescue handler Spencer Fuller.  Spencer has been utilizing GSPs for years to accomplish Search and Rescue tasks including tracking people lost in the woods to recovering bodies out of the water.  Spencer and his dogs have been through it all and its fascinating to hear just how similar a lot of their tasks and training are when it compares to how...

GDIYves is a monthly bonus episode hosted by Kyley Caldwell that brings relatable stories from the women that train and hunt dogs themselves.  These aren't women that just do it because their boyfriends or husbands do it.  They do it because they love it and are married to the lifestyle and their dogs.  In these episodes you'll hear what got them into the sport and relatable stories of what it was...

This week we do something a little different.  Angie Barron threw out a challenge to Scott Caldwell to do a joint episode where they discuss a few different topics to see where they agree and possibly disagree.  Scott, not one to shy away from a fight, accepted Angie's challenge and they both covered topics such as Impulse Control, Actual vs Perceived Pressure, Driving w/ Force, Force Fetch, and t...

What's left to talk about when planning your next pup and getting ready?  This episode focuses on some of the other side topics/questions that haven't been covered the past number of weeks.  What's better?  Big or small dog?  Short hair or long hair? Hip certifications & other health concerns? What should we consider when socializing or even selecting the name?  Scott joins me to go over a ton of...

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! Our partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.pat...

There are a few staples in the dog world that you can 100% count on eliciting some sort of debate or argument.  Selecting a male or female dog will bring out a lot of opinions, facts, myths, and just outright lies while discussing.  David Kurlander joins us again to discuss some of the more common gender stereotypes and if they hold any truth or not.  If youre planning your next pup and cant decid...

Angie Barron of Elite Gun Dogs returns to discuss the importance of starting out correctly with your puppy.  This conversation covers a lot of ground from house prep, which toys to use and not use, the importance of crate training, NOT GOING TOO FAST, and even some different methods you may or may not be interested in trying! www.gundogityourself.com www.patreon.com/gundogityourself  Angie's websi...

GDIYves is a monthly bonus episode hosted by Kyley Caldwell that brings relatable stories from the women that train and hunt dogs themselves.  These aren't women that just do it because their boyfriends or husbands do it.  They do it because they love it and are married to the lifestyle and their dogs.  In these episodes you'll hear what got them into the sport and relatable stories of what it was...

Blaine, Jason, and Pattie come back this week to really dive deep in pairing the right pup with the right buyer.  What are the considerations and what are some of the "tricks" people try to pick their pup?  What age do they feel is best to take the pup home?  You've picked the breeder and then the line, now its time to pick the pup!  www.gundogityourself.com and www.patreon.com/gundogityourself  L...

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! Our partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.pat...

WHY do breeders breed the dogs they do?  How do they decide which qualities to pass on and which to avoid?  There's a lot of work and time that goes into breeding and do you think that you as a buyer have a RIGHT to one of the pups?  Think again!  Good breeders want to make sure their pups are going to the best home!  Blain and Jason Carter join us this week to explain why the relationship between...

When first starting your journey into getting a new dog, one of the first decisions you will need to make is which breed or type of dog is right for you?  There's a lot more to it than just if the breeder is close by or has the lowest prices.  Short cutting this decision can potentially do a disservice to your enjoyment of the dog but also an actual disservice to the dog itself! www.gundogityourse...

This week we have Kyley Caldwell join us to talk about her journey into the world of gun dogs and hunting.  Growing up in a hunting family, she never took up hunting herself.  It wasnt until she had hunting dogs that got her into the sport and now shes out hunting just as much as the guys and training/testing her dogs!  Give it a listen and be sure to hear at the end what Kyley will be involved in...

With a last minute hunting trip detour to NC for the weekend, Nick and Scott hop on to discuss the importance of having goals for your dogs, training plans, and hunting plans.  Just like everything in life, goals are important to keep us motivated and on track.  But can being too goal oriented also sometimes get in the way of what we really want to accomplish long term? Be sure to SUBSCRIBE, RATE,...

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! Our partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.pat...

You want to get involved in NAVHDA but there's not a chapter close enough?  What should you do?  Start a new chapter!  Jeff Tucker of the new Foothills chapter in NC comes on to talk about the steps they very recently went through to start their own chapter!  Get some training buddies, find some grounds, and get moving! Out partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon i...

Corrie Bigelow joins us to talk about working pointing dogs and flushing dogs at the same time.  Its something that a lot of people have at least been curious to try and, when done properly, is very fun and impressive.  We discuss reasons why to try and reasons why to maybe not try it! Our partners links are at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.patreon.com/gundogityourself  Learn...

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! Our partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.pat...

Scott Caldwell joins us for a fun discussion on whether or not training methods have advanced so much that we have possibly begun to overshadow some genetic "shortcomings" by being able to out train them.  We also cover all of the details on the upcoming spring training camp so be sure to listen for those! Our partner's links can be found at www.gundogityourself.com and our Patreon is at www.patre...

Roland Blanding has been wanting to do a big hunting trip for years and he was finally able to this year.  The opportunity presented itself from some less than ideal circumstances typical of the year 2020 but also because of the contacts and friendships he's made throughout his years being a very active member of NAVHDA.  Roland is a perfect example of getting involved and helping others and it ge...