Gun Dog It Yourself

Every hunt camp is different depending on the people. Some camps are more focused on hunting while others are more social and relaxed in nature. This camp was a bit of both but was ultimately a result of getting a group of true dog nerds together who share the same admiration and passion for thoughtful approaches to dog development. WATCH HERE | https://youtu.be/qWe9A4xKBjI Highlights: -Transition...

Whats more important in hunting camp than chasing birds, developing the best dogs, and trying to share what you love doing with others? This quick camp with buddies Ben Proctor and Scott Kinnane covered all those bases! Hunting Ruffed Grouse out West compared to up North Seeing birds on the ground prior to flushing Learning when to tap out and give up on a cover Are drumming counts dependable? Pro...

Scott Trulock joins us for an in-depth discussion on the factors that determine whether your shotgun choke performs as needed. Watch Here! Trulock Black Friday Sale ~ 30% off w/ a Free Gift! Highlights: What a choke is and why its important What are you out there to actually chase? The general decline of Bob White Quail in Southwest GA How long should a quality choke last? Every shotgun is differe...

Nick Larson of the Birdshot Podcast joins me for a fireside chat to reflect on how our hunting styles and approaches have evolved over the years. This episode truly has something for everyone! Watch Here Highlights: Waiting on colder conditions during the early season Recapping Hartley's hunt A puppy run complete with fall drummers, porcupines, and bears?!? Reflecting back on being brand new to Ru...

I stopped off while on my way up to the Northwoods for a few weeks with Jordan Horak of Cato Outdoors . We hung out and ran some dogs through a few drills then sat down to record this conversation in which we talk about some hurdles or challenges for a lot of folks wanting to train their own bird dogs. Watch Here! The impact of wild bird populations on how we train. You don't need land and birds e...

Terry Ann Fernando joins me to talk about why she favors trialing over testing and hunting. Having spent years in each activity with her Vizsla, Zara, Terry Ann offers valuable insights into what she enjoys about each one and what sets them apart. Watch Here Highlights: A positive experience at a JR Hunt Test results in the Accidental Bird Dog What appeals to Terry Ann more about trialing and test...

I spent a week bouncing around Montana hunting and camping on public land with Randall Lykens (Liberty Canine, LLC) and his brother Cory Lykens. We talk about everything in this one to include hunt stories, gear talk, and lessons learned. You don't want to miss this one! WATCH HERE! --> This episode has a number of clips and pictures sprinkled throughout. Please click the link to check it out and...

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 Overanalyzing and second guessing yourself What cover we...

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 United States Impact of diminishing bird numbers...

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 vintage shotguns Low pressure loads Analyzing the ammo f...

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 flusher Steadiness is more for safety than practic...

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 handlers IF using a command then actually use it! T...

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 Wisconsin The Gray Wolf pack structure and size Very ter...

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 also what motivated him to start his new company...

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? What makes the German system produce consistent resul...

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 game and not buying ANY meat? -Plucking vs skinnin...

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 MN Horseback trial in the ND grasslands?! Some bad...

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 truly just good at the basics Pressure that both hand...

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 "E-collar" Make the dogs addicted to the equipment...

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 approach? The language and theory behind the UFF process...

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 Chris Armanini of Full Send K9 for an insightful...

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 goal down into individual steps Set yourself up for...

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 retrievers to horses to grouse dogs Painting a picture of a...

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 snakes and how it pertains to all of us with dogs....

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 professional dog training A variety in training and hunt...