Gundog Nation

Send us a text #44 When disaster strikes in the field, are you prepared to save your dog's life?  Josh Parvin of Cornerstone Gundog Academy and Retriever Training Supply shares the harrowing story that led to creating their best-selling First Aid Kit after his retriever hit a barbed wire fence at full speed during a Kansas hunt. That close call transformed his approach to emergency preparedness an...

Send us a text #42 Have you ever wondered why some dog sports offer substantial cash prizes while others only provide ribbons and titles? In this fascinating conversation with Trevor Wade, Coonhound Program Manager at United Kennel Club (UKC), we uncover the remarkable economics of coonhound competitions that have created a thriving circuit where handlers compete for serious money. Trevor pulls ba...

Send us a text #42 Dave Bavero opens a window into the nuanced world of British Labs, sharing insights from his 25-year journey with these remarkable gundogs. As the founder of Waterstone Labradors in Bernie, Texas, Dave has created more than just a breeding program – he's established a vital cultural bridge between American hunters and the centuries-old traditions of British and Irish retriever w...

Send us a text #41 The journey to build a stronger connection with your hunting dog goes far beyond basic commands and whistle blows. Bob Owens, founder of Lone Duck Outfitters and Kennels, takes us deep into what he calls "the unspoken bond" – that magical connection between handler and retriever that transforms good dogs into exceptional hunting partners. Bob's path from college rugby player to...

Send us a text #40 Ever wondered how professional athletes pursue their outdoor passions between seasons? In this captivating conversation, Kenneth Witt welcomes Chicago Cubs Triple-A catcher Caleb Knight to Gundog Nation, revealing the fascinating intersection of professional baseball and duck hunting. Caleb shares his journey from small-town Oklahoma to professional baseball, while maintaining h...

Send us a text #39 From sporting clays champion to bird dog maven, Anna V's journey exemplifies the transformative power of saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities in the outdoor world. Her story begins with a short-haired pointer in 2014 and quickly accelerates into a whirlwind adventure through competitive hunting tournaments, championship sporting clays, and eventually mastery of both pointing...

Send us a text #38 Master gundog trainer Mick Walsh takes us on a journey through his remarkable 35-year career developing champion spaniels across Ireland and the United Kingdom. From his humble beginnings hunting with terriers as a seven-year-old boy to becoming one of the most accomplished competitive handlers in Europe, Walsh shares the wisdom that has helped him train an astounding 20 champio...

Send us a text #37 The journey from novice to expert in the world of upland hunting is paved with lessons often learned the hard way. In this captivating conversation, Kenneth Witt welcomes Greg Blair, a senior specialist with Purina's Sporting Dog Group, who brings three decades of pointing dog wisdom to Gundog Nation. Greg's passion for bird dogs began in the 1990s, evolving from casual hunting...

Send us a text #36 Wade Skeen takes us deep into the changing landscape of American waterfowl hunting, revealing how agricultural practices have dramatically shifted migration patterns away from traditional southern flyways. The owner of Skeen Gundogs and Outfitters in south central Kansas explains why the Midwest has become a duck hunting paradise: drought-resistant seed varieties pushing corn pr...

Send us a text #35 What does a 300-year-old family business have to teach us about passion, quality, and preserving our gundog heritage? Ben Skinner, the seventh-generation leader of Skinner's Dog Food, takes us on a fascinating journey from his family's 1688 windmill to their current position as a beloved dog food manufacturer in the UK. The remarkable story unfolds as Ben shares how his grandfat...

Send us a text #34 The journey to developing an extraordinary hunting retriever demands more than just basic obedience—it requires a training philosophy built on understanding, patience, and fair expectations. In this captivating conversation with Barton Ramsey of Southern Oak Kennels, we explore the nuanced approach that has established him as one of America's premier British Labrador breeders an...

Send us a text #33 What does it take to become one of retriever training's rising stars at just 30 years old? Luke Cour reveals the mindset and methods behind his remarkable success as we explore his journey from rodeo competitor to SRS Crown Champion. Growing up as the son of a successful pointer trainer, Luke developed an appreciation for working dogs from an early age. His natural intensity and...

Send us a text #32 When your beloved gun dog is miles from civilization with a medical emergency, knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Joe Wurster, known throughout the bird dog community as "the bird dog vet," we dive into the specialized world of hunting dog medicine that many urban veterinarians rarely encounter. Dr. Wurst...

Send us a text #31 Unlock a fascinating world of canine adventure with Ben Leger, founder of Georgian Bay Shed Dogs and Canadian Antler Dogs, as he reveals the thriving sport of shed hunting. This growing pastime taps into dogs' natural instincts to find and retrieve shed antlers – a behavior even observed in wild wolves and coyotes. Ben walks us through how this accessible sport has evolved from...

Send us a text #030 Ray Voigt brings nearly three decades of retriever training expertise to this enlightening conversation about the evolution of gundog training, handling sensitive dogs, and his journey from Minnesota teenager to professional dog trainer and Purina executive. With 53 field champions, three National Amateur Champions, and one National Open Champion to his credit, Ray offers rare...

Send us a text #029 Two Kentucky women are redefining what it means to be hunters in today's world, proving that you don't need to grow up in a hunting family to become passionate about the sport and working with gundogs. Hannah Hall and Abbie Binzer share their remarkable journeys into hunting, which both began later in life. Hannah, who started in 2021 with a turkey hunt that left her "100% addi...

Send us a text #028 What separates truly elite dog trainers from the rest? Clark Kennington pulls back the curtain on 20 years of success in the competitive retriever world, revealing that psychological understanding might matter more than traditional pressure-based methods. As a two-time SRS Crown Champion with over 100 Grand passes to his credit, Kennington explains how the retriever game has ev...

Send us a text What happens when a Geek Squad technician with an obsessive personality meets a college-educated bird hunter? For Ethan and Kat of Standing Stone Kennels, this unlikely combination sparked a remarkable journey from amateur dog owners to renowned German Shorthair Pointer breeders and trainers. Their story begins with pure passion. After acquiring their first GSP in 2009, Ethan's meti...

Send us a text In this fascinating conversation with Brent Cowley, Gunner's Event Marketing Specialist, we explore the science and passion behind what many consider the world's safest dog kennels. Brent takes us inside the company's patented double-walled rotomolded design – the only one of its kind – and describes testing that included throwing kennels off cliffs, shooting them with shotguns, and...

Send us a text Ever wondered what separates championship gun dogs from the rest? Kenneth Witt sits down with Pieter Vivijs and Laura Lazzaretto, Belgian retriever experts with decades of experience breeding, training, and judging at the highest levels of European competition, including the prestigious International Gundog League (IGL). This fascinating conversation reveals striking differences bet...

Send us a text Wayne Lain, known professionally as "Snake Breaker," brings over two decades of specialized expertise to this compelling episode of Gundog Nation. Having trained thousands of dogs to avoid dangerous encounters with venomous reptiles, Wayne shares the methodology that has potentially saved countless canine lives throughout Texas and beyond. The conversation dives deep into the scienc...

Send us a text Ben Randall, double British National Field Trial Champion and creator of the revolutionary BG method, challenges traditional training approaches in this eye-opening conversation. Drawing from decades of experience training hundreds of dogs and teaching thousands of handlers worldwide, Randall reveals how psychology-driven training produces exceptional results without harsh correctio...

Send us a text A deadly parasite spread by kissing bugs is silently attacking hunting dogs across America, and most owners have no idea their dogs are at risk until it's too late. In this eye-opening conversation, Kenneth Witt welcomes Rachel Busselman, a fourth-year veterinary student who earned her PhD researching Chagas disease at Texas A&M University. Rachel reveals alarming statistics fro...

Send us a text Step into the fascinating world of champion coon hunting dogs with J.R. Gray, owner of what many consider the most successful stud dog in America today. Gray's Rack Em Willie boasts an unprecedented collection of titles – UKC World Night Hunt Champion, PKC Hunt Champion, AKC Supreme Grand Night Champion – all earned before his fourth birthday when Gray made the strategic decision to...

Send us a text From carving wooden decoys in Ontario to guiding hunts beneath dancing Northern Lights in Saskatchewan, Steve Strongman's waterfowling journey embodies the rich heritage of Canadian hunting traditions. As co-owner of The Waterfowl Dispatchers outfitting company, Steve offers a rare window into what makes Saskatchewan arguably the world's premier waterfowl destination. What makes thi...