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.

When Cody Lloyd brought home his first retriever, he did what most of us do — pieced together training from YouTube, books, and whatever he could find online. He ended up with a “good enough” gun dog… but not the steady, reliable partner he knew was possible.

In this episode, Cody shares how he went from feeling stuck with a 2–3 year–old dog to building the once-in-a-lifetime hunting partner he’d always dreamed of — without sending Bo off to a pro trainer. You’ll hear about generational hunting roots, the chaos of a pit blind with a breaking dog, the duck no one could find, and the one-whistle cast that changed everything.

We also dive into why he restarted with Cornerstone’s 52+ from day one, how the community helped him solve specific problems (like picking up giant honkers), and why it’s not too late if you feel behind with your dog.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can my dog really get to that next level?” this conversation will fire you up and give you hope.

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.

From the very beginning of Cornerstone, Chad Duckworth has been part of the CGA family. In this episode, Chad shares one of the most powerful DIY retriever journeys we’ve ever featured—starting with his first dog, Moose, who was once labeled “not cut out” for gun-dog work after a rough pro-training experience. But instead of giving up, Chad rolled up his sleeves, trusted the process, and trained Moose himself through CGA—turning that dog into a steady, reliable hunting partner who accompanied him on countless incredible days in the field.

Chad opens up about the highs, the heartbreak, and the unforgettable final hunt Moose made by his side. He then walks us through the new chapter with his pup, Winnie—a young, driven retriever whose journey has been built slowly, intentionally, and the right way. From foundational obedience to first hunts, swan retrieves, road trips, chapter meetups, and the lessons learned between dogs one and two… this episode is packed with wisdom for any handler who wants to build something special with their dog.

Whether you’re just starting out, rebuilding a dog, or navigating the roller coaster of training your first retriever, Chad’s story will remind you why the journey matters, why patience pays off, and why doing it yourself creates a bond unlike anything else.

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.

Chad Batton’s story is one every handler can relate to: starting with doubt, feeling the pressure to “get it right,” and hoping to do justice to a well-bred dog. What began with a fear of failure quickly turned into a deep passion for training, community, and the entire retriever lifestyle. In this episode, Chad shares how Cornerstone Gundog Academy helped him build confidence, overcome defining moments like fetch-hold-release, and eventually discover the joy of training multiple dogs. His journey is honest, encouraging, and packed with insight for anyone on the path of building their first retriever.

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 check out Chad Batton's Kennel for training and puppies?

Find him at: @dogwoodretrievers on Instagram!