NAME: Derek Witlib
BREED: Llewellin Setter
LOCATION: Ontario, Canada
TARGETS: Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock
FAVORITE EPISODE: Ep. 185 The Place Whoa, Ep. 197 Mo Lindley, Ep. 202 Perfection Kennel
MISTAKE: Starting Force Fetch too soon and catching too many birds early on

GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes, helps promote the idea that WE ALL STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE!
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Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Use Code: GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20% | PHEASANT FEST CONCERT GIVEAWAY LINK

Final Rise
Upland Gun Company
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Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
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Affiliate Link Gear Lists:
Hunting Gear
Living & Training w/ Dogs
Other Items I Use and Recommend
Photo + Video Equipment
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GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GDIY Profile | Derek Witlib

DIY gundog trainers and enthusiasts discussing all topics pertaining to hunting and living with dogs.

Kids & Family

Sports

Wilderness

Pets & Animals

You should always jump at the opportunity when you get the chance to talk to someone in the upland space who has been chasing these birds for as long as Walt Lesser has! After all, he literally wrote the book on the Real Ryman Setter.
It was a privilege to sit down with Walt in his home and hear his stores and what it was exactly that spoke to him about the Ryman Setters.

Starting out bird hunting with beagles?!?

Getting the first setters from George Bird Evans & George Ryman

Tryin to fix a blinking Setter back in the day

Not much interest in trials and testing. It was all about the birds and habitat.

Continuing the Ryman lines

Bringing Turkeys back to Dodrige County, WV

The Appalachian Ryman breedes

How Rymans range and hunt

Hunting the legendary Canaan Valley

Thinking of Grouse or WC when planning future dogs?

The WV grouse habitat though out the decades

The process of developing dogs back then

The first beeper collars

Maintaining the Ryman type Setters today


Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Check out their Online Courses and Use Code GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20%
Upland Gun Company | Midwest Double Gun Classic
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Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
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GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

266.  The Real Ryman Setter w/ Walt Lesser

Robb and Jim make their return to the podcast to recap and share their thoughts on our recent experience at Old Hemlock and the "Trouble with Bird Dogs" event put on by the Bird Dog Society.


The purpose of the Troubles with Bird Dogs event

The downward trend of bird numbers over decades

Learning from history

The experience of the historical property

Jim connecting the dots to his personal connection with G.B.E.

A bowl of wishbones?

Dont let your boxes of shotgun shells go unused

Theres a spirit to Old Hemlock

G.B.E. and Kay, the original upland content creators?

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Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Check out their Online Courses and Use Code GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20%
Upland Gun Company | Midwest Double Gun Classic
-
Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
-
GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

265.  BDS & OH Recap

You've at least heard George Bird Evans referenced at some point even if you've just barely dipped a toe in the upland hunting space. His words continue to inspire and motivate upland hunters even decades removed from his passing. Come and take a step back in time to catch a glimpse of what it was like for George, and his wife Kaye, living at the old 1815 cabin nestled amongst the inspiring forests in the small Northeastern corner of West Virginia. This property is best known as 'Old Hemlock.'
Watch the Full Episode Here!

How did LeJay find himself at Old Hemlock?

The privacy of Old Hemlock

George and Kay's life timeline

Artist, Musician, Author, Hunter.....Perfectionist

When George decides to focus primarily on hunting literature and lifestyle

George's writing style

Developing a Setter line

Kaye's role in everything

George's outlook on dog training and development

Their day to day routine

Property development and conservation

George's hunting preferences and finding focus in the uplands

The status of Old Hemlock and the foundation's philanthropy

The art and treasures around the cabin

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Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Check out their Online Courses and Use Code GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20%
Upland Gun Company | Midwest Double Gun Classic
-
Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
-
GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

264.  Old Hemlock

A listener recently reached out asking for an episode talking about general advice when it comes to planning a hunting trip. It would be fun to revisit and provide an updated version of this subject but for now I thought it was worth revisiting episode 108 with Josh Flowers originally released on 9/21/21.

Why test and train in the off season

The best of each breed are on level playing ground

Using your relationship with your breeder

Some people on have week long seasons if they have to travel

The only wrong option is letting your dog sit at home

Picking your target species

Travel time and dog development

Lodging options

The delicate balance of doing group trips

Be of value to the group. Labor or $$$

Balancing dog power

The importance of your down learning to travel calmly

Security and safety considerations

Biggest mistakes for newbies

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Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Check out their Online Courses and Use Code GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20%
Upland Gun Company | Midwest Double Gun Classic
-
Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
-
GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recall | Ep. 108 Planning Your Hunting Trip

"Pick a method and stick with it!" Sure, thats sound advice. Especially for beginners. But for those of us that want to know why a particular method works or how to overcome and even prevent certain roadblocks or snags from appearing, simply focusing on the "HOW" may not be enough.
Nate Czarnota of Iron Oak Dog Co. joins me to talk about the principles of dog training and how paying attention to learning theory can help you recognize what is actually connecting and driving your dog. Nate is a graduate from the NEPOPO Gold School and has since enjoyed helping teach others how they can have a better trained dog while improving their relationship with the dog by focusing on the "WHY."
WATCH HERE

A nice well behaved dog that also hunts

Piecing together a training program

Bringing concepts and principles to the NAVHDA chapter

Focusing in on the WHY rather than the HOW

Agreeing on the terminology in dog training

Using "room service" to reward steadiness (Really high drive dog owners listen up!)

Having your E-collar mean both stop and go!

Primacy vs recency

Forensic dog training

Both dog and handler BOTH are having fun

Teach first. Add pressure second. Clarity begets compliance.

NePoPo. Pressure predicts a reward!

Sequencing and classical conditioning

Reward structures and "The Talent Code"

Make them work for it!

A dopamine dog vs an endorphin dog

Reward variability and the dog anticipating the pattern

The power of the ritual

"Kicking splinters" and fighting to stay in behavior!


Show References:
Nate's NePoPo Seminar
NePoPo
Daniel Coyle "The Talent Code"
Andrew Huberman "Maximize Dopamine"
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Presented By:

Standing Stone Supply | Check out their Online Courses and Use Code GDIY to save 15%

onX Hunt Maps | Use Code: GDIY20 to save 20%
Upland Gun Company | Midwest Double Gun Classic
-
Other Partners:
BPro Kennels
Eukanuba [What I Feed My Dogs: Premium Performance 30/20]
Bird Dog Society
-
GDIY Links:
Patreon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GDIY Profile | Derek Witlib

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