In this week’s episode, Allen is reporting from Kentucky at the 2025 Dog of the Year National Runoff, and annual event that showcases the dogs with the most cast wins from the previous year, for both curs and feists. Allen walks us through the Top 7 cur and feists heading into the runoff and he walks us through the final results.

With interviews, first we hear from Doug Marlow and the dogs he keeps now and what he started with. He also shares his insights on his breeding program and talks about his participation in competition hunting with dogs, which started at age 13. We also learn why he moved from beagles and coonhounds to focusing on squirrel dogs.

Next up is Kevin Cable, fresh from winning the final cast of the cur running with Burley. Kevin shares how he spent a few years looking for a good squirrel dog before he picked up Burley, who won the DOY last year, too. We also hear from Kevin’s son who is a passionate young squirrel hunter.

For feist fanciers, Allen visits with brothers Mike and Marty Kelley. They talk about getting ready for the event and their experience at the running. They also mention their approach to their breeding program and reflect on some of their best dogs they’ve ever owned. Mike offers two very important tips for raising a squirrel dog pup. He then leaves us with the difference between a dog that will tree squirrels and a squirrel dog.

Last on the mic is Vance Plante who sits down with Allen right after his win with Robber to take home the DOY for the feist division. Vance talks about going to many hunts and steep competition along the way and coming up on top this time, after the second year coming into the event in the bye seat. He also mentions how he keeps his dogs in the woods and conditioned throughout the year.

See more about our squirrel dog program: https://www.ukcdogs.com/cur-feists

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