The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast

In this week's episode, I interviewed Amanda Gruhn about her incredible win at the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America's National Amateur Gun Dog Championship this year. Amanda shares the inspiring journey of how she and her dog Penny prepared for this prestigious field trial—from early training techniques to the challenges they overcame along the way. We dive into the strategies that helpe...

  In this episode, we dive deep into the path toward earning AKC Field Champion (FC) and Amateur Field Champion (AFC) titles for pointing breeds. I break down the point schedule in detail, explain retrieving credits, and clarify how juvenile points factor into the journey. Plus, we explore the amateur-to-open crossover points. If you're looking for a quick guide of how to earn AKC field trial titl...

In this episode, I interview Chris Ingram, Marketing Promotions Manager for the United Kennel Club, to talk about the rich legacy of The American Field —a cornerstone publication in the pointing dog world since 1874. We dive into its evolution and the exciting launch of its next chapter: the American Field Sportsman's Journal . This newly revamped 100-page printed magazine honors the 151-year trad...

  Jerry DeRose, AKC retriever hunt test judge, joins me again to talk about the Senior Hunter level. We discuss the differences between Junior and Senior and what kind of training your dog needs in order to pass the SHR level. These are challenging tests but could be a good option for a pointing dog who is experienced with blind retrieves or has run the NAVHDA Invitational.   You can get in touch...

Dan Wittman, NAVHDA's Director of Testing, joins me to talk about the new Gun Dog Test, which replaces the Utility Preparatory Test. We discuss how this test is designed to keep NAVHDA members engaged after the Natural Ability level and seems to be a positive change for the organization. Tune in to hear how the Gun Dog Test works and how it's different from the old UPT.   To get in touch with Dan,...

In the second installment of Tales of Accidental Bird Dogs, we sit down with Cristina Ralph, a passionate dog owner and trainer who's fully embraced the world of bird dogs. Cristina is the proud owner of three dogs: two German Shorthaired Pointers, Greta and Blaise, and a Deutsch Kurzhaar named Wednesday. Before diving into bird dog training, Cristina spent years working with Siberian Huskies in p...

Professional handler and trainer Tammy Chaffee of Pioneer Kennels joins me to talk about Cover Dog trials. These are unique walking field trials run on wild grouse and woodcock under UKC/American Field rules. In this episode, we explore how these trials differ from traditional horseback trials with pen-raised birds, what judges are looking for, and the unpredictable challenges of working in thick...

In this episode, we dive into the world of AKC hunting tests for retrievers, with a focus on the Junior level. Originally designed for retriever breeds like Labradors and Goldens, these tests are open to pointing breeds as well. If your dog has a solid retrieve and a strong obedience foundation, they could be a great fit for these tests. I sit down with Jerry DeRose, an experienced AKC hunting tes...

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my journey to become an AKC hunting test judge for pointing breeds. I walk through the requirements for becoming a judge, share my experience apprenticing at a recent hunting test, and reflect on the key takeaways from the experience. Tune in for insights into the judging process, what I learned along the way, and why I enjoyed watching the dogs and...

This episode kicks off a new series for the podcast! Every few episodes, I will be featuring interviews with other people who got bird dogs as pets and then got into hunting later because of their dogs. The first tale of a fellow accidental bird dog owner is Sara Kline. Sara lives in Alaska with her three dogs: a vizsla named Jack, and two Deutsch Drahthaars named Dicky and Rufus. Sara originally...

This is the last episode of 2024! Thanks to everyone who has listened this year. In this episode, I answer questions about Zara and Lanka, the priority I place on wild bird hunting, and what I'm looking forward to in 2025. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt  and  Boss Shotshells . We are part of the  HerUpland Podcast Network.

In this episode, I interviewed Carl Correra, who is an AKC field trial judge and competitor. Last year, I had the honor of watching Carl and his 12 year old GSP, Fancy, participate in the inaugural AKC Master Hunter Excellent test. Fancy tore up the course, was steady as a rock, and had all the participants cheering for her. As someone who has unintentionally been competing with an older dog due t...

In this episode, I discuss how I went about preparing for the NAVHDA Natural Ability test with my puppy, Lanka. I also give a recap of the highs and lows on test day—including when 4-month-old Lanka went a little rogue! Listen for a behind-the-scenes look at how Lanka's first bird dog event went. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt  and  Boss Shotshells . We are part of the  H...

In this episode, I discuss my training journey with Zara, sharing the real, sometimes unfortunate mistakes I made along the way—and the valuable lessons I learned from them. From challenges with steadiness and retrieving to issues with honoring, duck searches, and the blind retrieve, I dive into the struggles that come with training your first dog. The good news is, I learned a lot and managed to...

For this episode, I am joined by Dr. Carol Gillis, a rehab veterinarian and ultrasound specialist based in Aiken, South Carolina. Dr. Gillis has many years of experience helping horses and dogs recover from injuries, including my vizsla, Zara! She shares invaluable insights and unique strategies to keep canine athletes in peak condition. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just starting out, t...

Zara was diagnosed with a major injury early this year – bilateral iliopsoas strains/tears. In this episode, I talk about how she went from being an extremely active 10 year old dog to a rehab patient having to endure months of restricted exercise and rehab. It was a tough process for both of us but thankfully she is doing much better now. I discuss how I think the injury originated and everything...

Experienced horse trainer and field trialer Meredith Mays joins me to discuss the art of scouting in American Field/UKC and AKC field trials. Meredith provides insight on a scout's responsibilities, the characteristics that make a good scout, and what makes a dog challenging to scout for. Meredith is passionate about encouraging people new to field trials and making the sport enjoyable for everyon...

This is the companion to the previous episode, Dealing with Failure. It might seem weird to talk about "dealing" with success, because, after all, isn't success a good thing in the context of dog sports? But success is not always as straightforward as you might think.    The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt  and  Boss Shotshells . We are part of the  HerUpland Podcast Network.

If you're participate in hunting events long enough with your bird dog, "failure" is inevitable – meaning, not passing a test, earning a placement, or failing to meet your expectations. In this episode, I talk about some failures I've experienced and how I dealt with them. Realizing how to learn from failure and using it to make you and your dog better is important. Hopefully this episode will pro...

This episode is part 2 going into detail about the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation (VHDF). Kyle Hough chats with me about the three levels of testing and what is required at each level. While the tests have similarities to the NAVHDA and JGHV systems, there are distinct differences.   You can contact Kyle through the Northeast chapter of the VHDF. Visit https://northeastvhdf.wildapricot.org/ The...

Jeff Funke joins me to discuss the VHDF, an organization that was founded in 2007 with the intention to take the best parts of existing testing systems and make a series of tests that really reflected the versatile hunting dog in North America. The VHDF's scoring system allows for a lot of nuance and is able to highlight exceptional dogs, which is a plus for breeders who are trying to breed better...

  Gretchen Stephenson  joins me again to talk about the Shooting Ratings tests for Weimaraners. These field events were developed in the 1950s as a way to objectively evaluate the hunting skills of Weimaraners and are put on by the Weimaraner Club of America. AKC's hunting tests for all pointing breeds were actually based on these tests! There are distinct differences, however, which we discuss.  ...

Gretchen Stephenson, Weimaraner owner, breeder, and trainer, joins me to talk about Retrieving Ratings tests for Weimaraners. These events were developed in the 1950s as a way to objectively evaluate the hunting skills of Weimaraners and are put on by the Weimaraner Club of America.    You can get in touch with Gretchen on Facebook , via email at  gretchen.stephenson@gmail.com or view her website...

Some consider wild bird hunting to be superior to tests and trials involving pen-raised birds. But for many people, hunting events have their place as well. In this episode, I discuss the value of tests and trials as well as transitioning between these events and hunting. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt,   Boss Shotshells , and  Toyota.  We are part of the  HerUpland  Podc...

Summer is often a lull period between testing and trialing seasons. When it's hot and humid and there isn't always access to birds, you may be wondering what to work on with your bird dog. This episode covers some ideas of things to do during the summer months. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by  OnX Hunt,   Boss Shotshells , and  Toyota.  We are part of the  HerUpland  Podcast Networ...