Bob St. Pierre joins the show this week to share about his journey with 5 German Shorthairs, including just recently adding a pup this summer. Bob is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and the host of the On The Wing Podcast. He and Mike take a dive into why opening day is so important and meaningf…

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 vintag…

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 …

Mindy Brown joins the show to share how she grew up with bird dogs following her dad afield to getting her first Weim through an ad in the paper. She discusses her commitment to breeding better Weimaraners with her co-breeder Camille of Timberdoodle Weims and how they make decisions to help the breed move forward. Mindy also shares honestly about t…

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 h…

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 Wiscon…

This week's episode features Mike answering questions submitted on our Facebook and Instagram pages. He covers his run with Mack in the NAVHDA Utility Test, things to come with Ugly Dog, goals and dreams ahead, gear folks must have in their hunting vest, and more. He also tells the origin story of Mr. July, how he feels about prepping for next year…

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…

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? Wha…

Mike Krantz lives and hunts in southern Minnesota. He is an avid member of the Southern Minnesota NAVHDA chapter, and spearheads a weekly training group in the summer. One thing is for certain, if Mike's around jokes will be told and this episode is no different. Mike shares about transitioning from Weimaraners to a Slovakian rough haired pointer, …

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 …

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 …

Tamara Champagne is a working dog trainer who has fallen in love with sporting dogs. She recently began the journey with a German Shorthair and now is qualified for next year's NAVHDA Invitational. Tamara and Mike sat down at this year's Invite to share how she got into bird dogs, crossover between working dogs and sporting dogs, maintaining attitu…

Check out this special bonus episode as a follow up from Episode 22 with Jake & Brooke about their road to the NAVHDA Invitational! This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com. Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.…

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 tru…

Nick Adair is the host of the Gun Dog It Yourself podcast where he discusses all aspects of gun dog training with his guests. Nick recently came through Minnesota on the way to Montana and we recorded an episode swap. This is the first installment, Mike's chance to interview Nick, and the second, Nick interviewing Mike, will come out in a few weeks…

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 "…

Brooke & Jake Bartells are bound for the NAVHDA Invitational with their Epagneul Bretons and this is their story. While Jake has been many times, this is Brooke's first trip handling her first bird dog, Rushie. One she's trained and hunted over from day one, including early wake ups, long-distances traveled, and learning from a long list of mentors…

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 approa…

Rhys Haugen is the founder of High Plains Gear, a upland hunting vest company committed to American made materials and manufacturing for all their products. Rhys shares his motivation and journey in starting an upland hunting vest company, how he got started in bird dogs, and his experiences hunting and finding a dog while stationed overseas. Addit…

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…

Amanda Ponti dove head first into bird dogs and now there is no looking back. She currently works for Sporting Lead Free and serves on the board of HerUpland. Amanda and Mike discuss her entry into bird dogs, why she chooses to give back so much, why you should consider switching ammo to lead-free options, and how bird hunting inspired a transforma…

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 go…

Jerry Havel runs Pineridge Grouse Camp and is a co-founder of Upland Gun Company. Jerry and Mike take a dive into how the ruffed grouse numbers are looking in Minnesota, how he develops a grouse dog, and why folks should consider a side by side from Upland Gun Company. This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHuntin…

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 retriever…

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 s…

Tyler Webster is the host of the Birds, Booze, and Buds Podcast and we sat down to discuss those exact things. Join Mike and Tyler for a post dinner & drinks conversation that covers the legitimacy of the 28 gauge, getting outside the comfort zone when hunting, choosing the right amount of drive in a dog based on lifestyle on hunting opportunities,…

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 profess…

Todd and Jocelyn Sackett from Sweet Briar Pet Transport joins us to discuss how their unique service can add efficiency and convenience to your travel plans. Whether you're working with a trainer across the country or trying to figure out how to fit in that dream trip without sacrificing days of travel time, a professional pet transport service mig…

Erin Kalpin from Rockcreek Kennels joins the show this week. Erin's father, Scott, started Rockcreek almost 30 years ago and Erin has been along for the ride since. She shares how her dad kept her interested all these years, what it was like transitioning from a career outside dogs back into training full time, and how she's raising her own girls t…

Kristofer Sandlund from Sweden joins us to share his perspectives on hunting, training, and living with dogs in Sweden and compare them to the practices in the US. Watch Here Getting started with hunting dogs in Sweden Duck Tollers to Kleiner Munsterlanders Calling in Hazel Grouse How to hunt the 'horror bird' Cappercallie Grouse Where to find the …

This week we close out Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the upland slam in Part 3 originally released on 9/6/22. Ruffed Grouse Chukar Blue Grouse Spruce Grouse Sage Grouse Upland Slam Taxidermy Woodock Willow Ptarmigan Rock Ptarmigan Whitetail Ptarmigan Are Snipe and Rail being left out? Closing out Bella the 3rd dog The best and worst "behaved" bir…

Misty Klug is the owner and operator of Muddy Paws Kennel. She has bred German wirehairs for over a decade focusing on temperament and wild bird hunting. We also discuss her training philosophy around pressure and development. Additionally, she shares the importance of trusting your training and how to reduce nerves on test day. This episode is bro…

Jared Warren of Southern State K9 returns in part 2 of the discussion on building and utilizing markers in your training. You also cant discuss markers without at least a working level of understanding when it comes to reward structures so we explore that topic as well. Watch Here! Think of it as training with Dopamine rather than training with rew…

This week we continue Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the upland slam in Part 2 originally released on 8/30/22. Where did the journey begin? Does a hunting journal help with being a better hunter? Hungarian Partridge (Huns) and Sharptail Grouse (Sharps) Prairie Chickens Pheasant Bobwhite Quail Mountain Quail Valley Quail Mearns Quail Gambel Quail S…

Rich Wong is a photographer, vizsla lover, and wild bird hunting fanatic. Rich and I talk his best tips for tailgate photos, how he came into vizslas, and the differences between his 2 dogs thus far. We also talk about puppy development, the downsides to overhandling, and the importance of a bird dogs first season. Lastly, we cover Rich's tips to f…

"I wish the dog could understand what I'm saying!" A very relatable request or wish that any dog trainer has probably uttered at some point or another. The truth is though, with the proper approach and consistency, you can get the dog to at least understand "yes" or "no" which does allows you to communicate more effectively with your dog. Jared War…

This week we start Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the Upland Slam that originally released on August 23, 2022. This upland slam series is unique in that Jim doesn't chase the slam for himself. Jim counts the upland slam for each individual dog. From Vizslas to German Shorthair Pointers Pheasant hunting with pointing dogs or flushing dogs? What is …

Tony Jones has a new book out - The God of Wild Places, and you should order a copy (The God of Wild Places). Tony is a former pastor, author, conservationist, speaker, and hunter. In this conversation we talk about writing, changing careers, failure, and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Tony also brags on his lab, Crosby, and shares why he'd need…

In this episode, we're joined by Ben Fretz from North Country Sporting Dogs to discuss the most common concerns in the dog training world. Whether you're a DIY trainer, a professional, or a dog owner who hires a trainer, one truth remains: every dog is unique and won't follow the same path. However, the pressure often mounts once a date is set on t…

You never know when an idea or passion may find you. This was the case for Kevin and his son while out on an early season Sharptail hunt. While stopping for a break and consuming products designed to help fuel their own hunt, they couldn't help but wonder why they didn't have anything to help fuel their dogs. Fast forward and they have now produced…

William Bailey is a Texan, a hunter, and a proud owner of a Labrador from Wild Rose Kennel. This conversation is a perfect example of how conversations between friends happen when hunting together. This conversation ranges from losing dogs, choosing joy, William's experience with adopting the Wild Rose Way, leaning into faith and friendship, and mu…

AKC conformation judge, Lonnie Carrol of Bear Hug Griffons, joins us to cover everything in the show dog world. Very often we hear the phrase "function over form" and Lonnie explains why it shouldn't be an either/or situation and we should be striving for both form AND function. Watch Here! What are conformation shows? The different classes and wha…

Rob Seilheimer works in fundraising with the Monarch Joint Venture, a non-profit coalition rooted in getting more pollinators and more quality bird habitat on the landscape. Rob and Mike discuss Rob's new brittany pup, Tag, and how adding a bird dog to the mix changes things, finding friends to share hunting camp with and making attendance a priori…

Accidents happen. Prices at the veterinary offices seem to be skyrocketing. How do we prepare for the scenario where we are weighing the well being of our beloved dog against whats right for our bank account and family? In this episode, we delve into the world of pet insurance—what it is, how it works, and why it might be right or wrong for you. Ti…

Nick Larson is the host of the longstanding Birdshot Podcast and also works with Upland Gun Company. In this episode we cover an incredible range of topics including his advice for hosting a podcast, learning the differences between his two setters, the importance of mentorship in dog training and hunting, and much much more. This episode is brough…

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! NAME: Nate Lecy BREED: Pudelpointer, Lab/A…

We heard about the patients journey through TPLO surgery last week. This week we talk with Veterinarian, Jay Brekke, as he goes through all of the advice and tips from the actual surgeons perspective. WATCH HERE Just how common is the CCL injury today? The odds of dealing with the injury and the underlying causes The knee certifications should be s…

One of my favorite things in the bird dog world is backing and honoring. Darryl Pernat came on the show in May of 2021 to break down his process on getting your dog to back reliably and consistently in the field! Why is backing important? "Backing" vs. "honoring" "Natural" vs. "developed" backers Better to start earlier or wait until after steadine…

Emy Marier is an outdoorswoman who brings her both her nature for analytics and her sense of adventure to everything she does. We discussed her experience in NAHRA, including finding her tribe, the importance of treating a dog fairly in training, and the experience of adding a second dog with a lot more drive. We also discuss her love of 'Prairie R…