In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down with Swedish hunter, tracker, and lifelong Laika man Mikael Kronstrand for a deep dive into dog work,

training philosophy, and what truly separates a good dog from a great one.

They explore the mindset behind building reliable wounded-game trackers,

the differences between East and West Siberian Laikas, and why Scandinavian dog culture operates so differently from what we see in North America.

From bark tempo and species reactions to real-world tracking challenges, this conversation goes far beyond the surface

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They also break down the Scandinavian moose hunting trials — how they’re judged, what traits actually matter in the field, and how trials translate into real hunting situations.

Whether you run Laikas, elk dogs, or hounds, this episode delivers insight only decades of hands-on experience can provide.

Highlights include:

🐺 Laikas vs. Elkhounds — traits, differences, and what each brings to the hunt

🩸 What makes a consistent wounded-game tracker

🐗 How dogs change behavior from moose to wild boar

🎧 Scandinavian vs. American dog culture — two worlds, two mindsets

🏆 How moose trials actually work — judging, expectations, and real-field relevance

🧭 Why some dogs make it and others don’t

🔥 Training philosophy from a lifetime of experience

A grounded, experience-driven conversation for anyone who loves working dogs,

Scandinavian hunting culture, or the craft of building a dog that can truly perform when it matters.

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