Terrance didn’t start with success.

In fact, his first dog ended up gun shy—and he thought he might make the same mistakes again.

But this time was different.

In this episode of the Build From Here podcast, Terrance shares how he went from uncertainty and self-doubt to training a dog that’s already exceeding his expectations. From struggling through early training “dips” to experiencing the moment everything clicked, this is a story about what happens when you stick with the process.

You’ll hear:

• What went wrong with his first dog (and what he’d do differently)
• The biggest challenges he faced early in training
• How the right system and community changed everything
• The moment he knew his dog was going to make it
• Why “don’t give up” is more than just a cliché

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it right—or felt like your dog just might not turn out—this episode is for you.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Jason didn’t grow up hunting. He didn’t grow up training dogs either.

Like a lot of people, he started with YouTube, piecing things together and hoping it would work. At first, it felt like progress… until one moment in the field changed everything.

After a bad experience with gunfire, Jason was convinced he had ruined his dog.

In this episode, he shares how he worked through that setback, what he did differently the second time around, and how stepping back and following a clear process helped rebuild both his dog’s confidence—and his own.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late, or if you’ve made mistakes with your dog… this story will hit home.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Matt didn’t set out to rebuild his life.

He just wanted a dog.

But somewhere between early morning training sessions, setbacks, and small wins… everything started to change.

In this episode, Matt shares how training his golden retriever, Chief, became more than just a hobby—it became a turning point. From battling addiction and rebuilding relationships to finding purpose and stepping into a new life, this is a story about what’s possible when you commit to the process.

It’s not just about building a retriever that works.

It’s about what happens when the process starts working on you.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can really train your own dog—or whether it’s too late to start—this episode will remind you what’s possible.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Training a retriever can feel overwhelming at times.

You start with big hopes for your dog… but along the way, frustration, doubt, and mistakes are almost guaranteed.

On this episode of the Build From Here Podcast, Josh sits down with CGA member Chris Copeland, whose journey with retrievers has been full of lessons, growth, and eventually — success.

Chris shares how early trial-and-error training left him frustrated, what changed when he discovered a step-by-step approach to building a retriever, and how patience and mindset ultimately helped him develop a dog he can trust anywhere.

More than anything, Chris’ story is a reminder that great dogs aren’t built overnight — they’re built through consistent effort, learning from mistakes, and staying committed to the process.

If you’re wondering whether your dog will turn out…

This episode is for you.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

After years of old-school, collar-heavy training, Heath found himself rebuilding a dog after two ACL surgeries and starting over with a new puppy. In this episode, he shares what changed when he slowed down, trusted the process, and focused on building a dog that gets to work — not one that has to.

From rehab setbacks to a 300-retrieve season with Oakley, this is a real conversation about patience, fundamentals, and what it looks like when the work finally pays off in the field.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Fresh out of college. Newly married. First house… and finally time to get the golden retriever he’d always wanted.

Zach didn’t start as a dog trainer — just a regular owner hoping he wouldn’t mess things up.

Fast forward a few years, and that same dog is a calm family companion, reliable hunting partner, and finished hunt test competitor.

In this episode, Zach shares the real journey — the early doubts, the learning curve, and the small daily habits that built a special dog.

If you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought, “I hope I’m doing this right”… you’ll relate to this one.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Mike didn't want just a good hunting dog, he wanted a great hunting dog he could count on.

Mike got a journey that would test his patience, challenge everything he thought he knew about training, and ultimately change the way he showed up as a father.

In this episode, Mike shares the story of Chili — the Boykin Spaniel he once worried might never retrieve, the dog who became the best hunting partner he’d ever had, and the dog who gave his family one unforgettable final hunt.

From early frustration… to breakthrough moments… to the powerful lessons learned training alongside his young daughter… this conversation is about far more than dog training.

It’s about why you shouldn’t wait.
Why the process matters.
And how sometimes the dogs we train end up training us.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Will my dog turn out?”
• “Am I doing this right?”
• “Is all this work really worth it?”

This episode is for you.

Link to Mike's Breeder: Double J Boykins

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Will my dog actually turn out?

It’s a question most retriever owners feel — even if they never say it out loud.

In this episode, CJ shares what it’s been like training his very first hunting dog and how trusting the process is already producing a calm, steady partner he’s proud to hunt over.

From resisting the urge to rush exposure… to watching obedience hold up in real hunting scenarios… this conversation is packed with encouragement for anyone walking the training path.

If you’ve ever needed reassurance that the work you’re putting in today will pay off tomorrow — don’t miss this one.

Josh welcomes back Steve Strongman to recap a full Saskatchewan waterfowl season from the outfitter’s perspective. From managing dogs in the blind to building a new lodge and running an all-inclusive operation, this episode offers a real look at what it takes to hunt — and operate — at a high level in Canada.

Want to book with Steve and get an all-inclusive hunting experience in Canada?

Message him @thewaterfowldispatchers

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

What does it take to build a duck dog that other hunters respect?

CGA member Shawn Dry joins Josh to share the real journey of training his own retriever—from first obedience reps to calm, steady work in the blind. They talk about “place,” early hunts done the right way, handling and casting, managing breaking around other dogs, and why consistency outside of training matters just as much as the sessions themselves.

It’s a story about earning trust, building a true partnership, and reaching the moment every handler hopes for—when someone in the blind says, “Bring that dog back.”

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.