Dog Driven Podcast

What starts with a dog often turns into something much bigger.

In this episode of Dog Driven, I sit down with Ed Lynn from Bracey, Virginia, to talk about his journey into the world of Boykin Spaniels, hunt tests, and the community that keeps us all coming back to the line.

Ed shares how his passion for dogs evolved from growing up around hunting dogs to training and running his own Boykin Spaniel, Boone, through the hunt test game. We discuss the unique challenges and rewards of training Boykins, lessons learned as a first-time hunt test competitor, and why consistency often matters more than perfection.

Beyond the dogs themselves, this conversation explores the friendships, mentorships, and sense of community that hunting dogs create. We also dive into conservation, getting young people involved in the outdoors, and the responsibility we have to preserve hunting traditions for the next generation.

Whether you're running hunt tests, chasing ducks with a Boykin, starting your first retriever, or simply love being around driven dogs and driven people, this episode is packed with practical insights and reminders about what makes this lifestyle so rewarding.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Ed chose Boykin Spaniels
• Challenges and advantages of training Boykins
• Stepping into hunt tests as an amateur handler
• Lessons learned from training Boone
• Building confidence through consistency
• The value of the hunt test community
• Conservation and outdoor stewardship
• Getting youth involved in hunting and dogs
• What being truly Dog Driven means

Follow Ed's journey with Boone and connect with him on social media as he continues pursuing new goals in the hunt test world and beyond.

Because sometimes the smallest dogs leave the biggest impact.

From competition coonhounds and racehorses to Master Hunters and professional retriever training, Blake Haddock's journey through the dog world spans more than 35 years.

In this episode of Dog Driven, I sit down with Blake, owner and head trainer of Feather Point Retrievers, to discuss his path into dog training, the dogs that shaped his career, and how he built one of the country's most respected pointing Labrador programs.

We dive into the realities of breeding hunting dogs, developing natural talent, training pointing Labradors, and why Blake believes great dogs are built—not rushed. He shares lessons learned from training hundreds of dogs, balancing genetics with training, and helping handlers understand that every dog develops at its own pace.

Whether you're a retriever owner, hunt test enthusiast, upland hunter, waterfowl hunter, or simply passionate about working dogs, this episode is packed with practical insight and valuable perspective.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Blake's journey from coonhounds to professional retriever trainer
• The dog that launched Feather Point Retrievers
• What makes Pointing Labradors unique
• Breeding philosophies and building strong bloodlines
• Why great dogs are built, not rushed
• Training the dog in front of you
• Common mistakes handlers make with young dogs
• Hunt tests, hunting, and developing versatile retrievers

Connect with Blake:

Website: FeatherPointRetrievers.com

Facebook & Instagram: Feather Point Retrievers

Follow Dog Driven:

Website: StayDogDriven.com

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow dog enthusiast.

Understanding Diagnostic Tests Part 2: Urinalysis, Radiology & Ultrasound

Spotify Episode Description:

Bloodwork is only one piece of the diagnostic puzzle.

In Part 2 of the Understanding Diagnostic Tests series, we're diving into three of the most valuable tools veterinarians use to uncover what's happening beneath the surface: urinalysis, radiology, and ultrasound.

In this episode, Whitney breaks down how urine testing can provide early clues about kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections, hydration status, and more. You'll also learn what veterinarians are actually looking for on radiographs (x-rays), when ultrasound is recommended, and how these imaging tools help identify issues that bloodwork alone may miss.

Whether you're a pet owner, sporting dog handler, hunter, breeder, trainer, or veterinary professional, understanding these diagnostics can help you make more informed decisions about your dog's health and advocate for them when it matters most.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why bloodwork doesn't tell the whole story
• Urine specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, crystals, and sediment evaluation
• How urinalysis can help detect disease earlier
• What radiographs can and cannot show
• Common reasons veterinarians recommend x-rays
• How ultrasound differs from radiology
• Evaluating the liver, spleen, kidneys, GI tract, and more with ultrasound
• Real-world clinical examples showing how multiple diagnostics work together

Because being Dog Driven isn't just about performance—it's about understanding what your dog can't tell you.

For nearly 24 years, Dr. Anna Ziedins has dedicated her life to veterinary medicine, hunting, and understanding the incredible bond between dogs and the people who love them. In this episode of Dog Driven, Whitney sits down with Dr. Z to discuss her journey from multiple veterinary school rejections to becoming a respected veterinarian, hunter, and advocate for relationship-based dog training.

Together, they explore how gun dog training has evolved over the years, why trust and communication often outperform force and intimidation, and the importance of allowing puppies the time and space to develop naturally. Dr. Z also shares her passion for Fear Free veterinary handling and provides practical advice for helping dogs feel more comfortable during veterinary visits.

The conversation also shines a spotlight on the Cesky Fousek, a versatile hunting breed that remains relatively unknown in the United States but has earned a devoted following among hunters who appreciate their drive, versatility, and partnership in the field.

Whether you're raising your first hunting dog, training for hunt tests, spending mornings in the duck blind, or simply looking to build a stronger connection with your dog, this episode offers valuable insights from a lifetime spent learning from dogs.

In This Episode:
• Dr. Z's journey to becoming a veterinarian
• The evolution of gun dog training philosophies
• The power of the human-animal bond
• Why puppies need patience, not pressure
• Fear Free veterinary handling explained
• Introduction to the Cesky Fousek breed
• Preserving hunting heritage for future generations

Resources Mentioned:
• Cesky Fousek North America
• NAVHDA International
• Fear Free Pets
• Puppy's First Steps (Tufts Veterinary School) and Puppy Culture
• Absolutely Positively Gundog Training by Robert Milner

Connect with Dog Driven:
Website: staydogdriven.com

Email: [email protected]

Follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Because great dogs aren't built through shortcuts—they're built through trust, partnership, and time.

Bloodwork is one of the most common diagnostic tools used in veterinary medicine, but most dog owners don't fully understand what those numbers mean or why veterinariansrecommend running labs even when a dog seems healthy.

In this episode of Dog Driven, Whitney breaks down the basics of canine bloodwork, including CBCs, chemistry panels, organ function testing, and what veterinarians are lookingfor when they recommend diagnostics. Whether you're managing a performance dog, a hunting companion, or a family pet, understanding bloodwork can help youbecome a better advocate for your dog's health.

This week on Dog Driven, I sit down with Seth Fontenot of Scout's Retrievers in Ville Platte, LA, a professional gun dog trainer who has spent countless hours developing retrievers, running hunt tests, and helping support the HRC community. We dive into what it really takes to build a capable huntingdog while balancing work, family, and life outside of dogs.

We discuss training philosophies, common mistakes handlers make, how Hunt Retriever Club events develop better hunting dogs, and why consistency beats perfection every time.

Whether you're training your first retriever, running seasoned-level hunt tests, or simply trying to get more out of your time in the field, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who lives it every day.

What’s actually an emergency with your dog… and what can safely wait until morning?

In this solo episode of Dog Driven, Whitney breaks down one of the most important skills every dog owner should have: knowing how to recognize true emergencies, assess your dog quickly, and stay calm under pressure.

From heat stroke and bloat to limping, vomiting, injuries, and “just not acting right,” this episode walks through:

• how to tell the difference between emergency vs monitor-at-home situations,
• when to head to the ER immediately,
• how to check your dog’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, hydration, and gum color,
• what normal vital signs actually look like,
• and what every sporting or working dog owner should keep in a field first aid kit.

Whether you’re in the duck blind, at a hunt test, on the road, or at home after hours, this episode is designed to help you make smarter decisions faster — and potentially save your dog’s life one day.

Because preparation matters long before the emergency happens.

This week on Dog Driven, we’re diving deep into one of the most misunderstood — and most important — topics in the sporting dog world: nutrition, metabolism, caloric demand, and how to properly fuel canine athletes at every stage of life and level of work.

From growing puppies to seasoned hunting dogs, explosive competition dogs to endurance athletes, this episode breaks down what handlers need to understand about:

- Canine metabolism- Glycogen and energy systems- Fat vs protein utilization- Recovery nutrition- Hydration- Body condition scoring

- Seasonal calorie adjustments- Environmental impacts on performance- Muscle maintenance- Why some dogs struggle to keep weight on- And how to calculate caloric needs for individual dogs

We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions in the working dog world — including the difference between a lean athlete and an underfed dog, why conditioning changes metabolic efficiency, and why recovery matters just as much as training itself.

Whether you run retrievers, pointers, spaniels, SAR dogs, agility dogs, protection dogs, or hard-driving hunting companions, this episode is packed with practical, science-backed education to help you better understand what’s happening inside your dog’s body before, during, and after work.

Because these dogs give us everything they have — and fueling them properly matters.

Honor the dog. Fuel the athlete. Protect the drive.

Parasite prevention is about a lot more than “worms.” In this Dog Driven solo episode, we break down the life cycles of common parasites in dogs, how infections happen, why year-round prevention matters, and the biggest mistakes owners make when it comes to keeping dogs protected. From fleas and ticks to intestinal parasites and heartworm, this episode is a practical look at why prevention is one of the most important parts of long-term canine care. Guidance in the episode aligns with current recommendations from CAPC and the American Heartworm Society, including year-round prevention and routine testing.

What actually goes into building a working dog?

In this episode of Dog Driven, we break down the complete life cycle of a working dog—from puppyhood to senior years—and what’s happening physically, mentally, and behaviorally at every stage.

This isn’t surface-level advice.
This is about understanding how dogs are truly developed—and where most handlers get it wrong.

We cover:

• How to build confidence and structure in the puppy stage
• Why adolescence feels like everything is falling apart (and how to handle it)
• What it takes to maintain peak performance in working dogs
• The most overlooked factor shortening working dog careers: recovery

• How to properly support and honor your dog through their senior years

If you want a dog that doesn’t just perform—but lasts—this episode will change how you approach training, care, and long-term development.

Because great working dogs aren’t just trained…

They’re built.