Hunt Test Hobo Podcast

This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Retriever Hall of Fame trainer Jim Van Engen for a masterclass in developing young dogs. With more than 50 years in the game and countless champions, national champions, and Hall of Fame dogs behind him, Jim shares the lessons he's learned from training over 1,500 retrievers and studying under some of the greatest minds in the sport.
The conversation covers everything from puppy development and socialization to line manners, retired guns, identifying future superstars, and the biggest mistakes trainers make when working young dogs. Jim explains why "more training" isn't always better, how to know when a dog needs a break, and why success comes from simplifying rather than adding pressure.
If you've ever wondered how elite trainers evaluate puppies, teach retired guns, build confident markers, or develop dogs that love the work, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately. Whether you're training for hunt tests, field trials, or simply trying to build a better retriever, this is an episode you'll want to listen to more than once.

This week, Chris is joined once again by Tyler Brenner for a laid-back but information-packed training discussion. The guys start with a handful of practical training tips, including simplifying problems, knowing when to quit on a success, using "fun bumpers" to build momentum, and creative ways to reinforce confidence during basics.

The conversation then dives deep into one of the most overlooked skills in retriever training: bird placement. Chris and Tyler break down what makes a bird "well placed," how factors like wind, cover, topography, obstacles, and water influence a dog's decision-making, and why great setups teach dogs without constant handler intervention. Chris also walks through a challenging reverse-order double he recently used with Autumn and explains how he taught through the problem without creating confusion.

The episode wraps up with a discussion on marking dogs versus line-running dogs, creating tougher hunts, bridge birds, and how experienced handlers learn to read subtle cues from their dogs during high-level competition.

Whether you're running Started dogs or chasing national-level events, this episode is full of practical training concepts you can apply immediately.

This week Chris sits down with Tim Kingsfield from WISILL HRC to discuss what it takes to build a thriving retriever club, bring new people into hunt tests, and create a culture that keeps handlers engaged for years.

Before the interview, Chris shares two practical training concepts that came up repeatedly while running a hunt test: holding blind manners and creating sharper whistle sits through reward.

If you care about the future of retriever sports, this episode is for you.

This one is a full-on grand debrief with Tyler Brenner, Bill Schaffer, and Clark Kennington after surviving one of the toughest International Grands in recent memory.

We break down the tests, the brutal cover, birds nobody could see, drag backs from hell, and the mental gymnastics dogs had to do just to survive. The guys dive deep into the Avery water, Garmin water, Hoss Straps land, and Winter Timber series while sharing what separated the successful dogs from the ones headed home early.

Clark also announces his new venture, FowlCraft Kennels & Champion Gun Dogs, and the conversation eventually spirals into hotel parking lot stories, questionable chicken wings, and why Tyler may or may not live inside The Matrix.

If you love high-level retriever talk, grand strategy, and the chaos that comes with running elite dogs at elite events, this episode is for you.

This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down once again with legendary retriever trainer Bill Hillman for a deep conversation on balance in dog training, teaching multiples, building true marking dogs, and why amateurs often move too fast without realizing it.

Chris opens up about a recent training mistake with a talented young dog — overemphasizing difficult concepts while skipping foundational multiples — and Bill breaks down why great marking dogs are built through clarity, consistency, and balance rather than just drilling hard concepts.

The two also dive into:

• Why Bill dislikes the term “transition”
• The importance of flow vs rigid training systems
• Creating a training checklist
• Why repetition matters more than novelty
• Teaching hip pockets and retired guns correctly
• Multiples progression for hunt tests and field trials
• Why confidence comes from preparation
• The difference between training concepts vs teaching dogs to truly mark

One of the most practical and thoughtful conversations yet for amateur retriever trainers trying to level up their dogs without losing the fundamentals.

This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris is joined once again by Dan Ihrke for a deep dive into one of the most important — and misunderstood — concepts in retriever training: denial and steadiness.

Before getting into the training talk, Chris shares the chaos and excitement around welcoming baby Madison into the world, the latest update on the Floyd x Winter puppies, and getting Autumn back home and back to training.

Then the conversation turns into a masterclass on dog behavior and training mechanics. Dan breaks down the science behind reinforcement, punishment, and how “denial” fits into developing a steady, mentally disciplined retriever. From puppy foundations to advanced mark work, this episode explains why timing, consistency, and standards matter so much in building a reliable dog.

If you’ve ever struggled with steadiness, creeping, impulse control, or understanding why your dog makes certain choices in training, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Dale Swaderski joins the podcast to break down the world of pointing Labradors—and why they might not be what you think.

From early controversy to modern versatility, Dale shares how pointing labs have evolved into high-level dual-purpose dogs that can compete in hunt tests, upland games, and even elite retriever events. We dig into the training philosophy behind building a dog that can switch between independence and control—and why upland work might be one of the most underrated tools in developing a great retriever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether pointing labs are legit, how to train one, or how upland work impacts marking and control… this episode will challenge what you think you know.

This one’s a deep dive into the beginning of the retriever journey — before force fetch, before handling… before most people even think about training.

Chris sits down with Grace Williams to talk about whelping, puppy development, and what actually creates a solid dog before it ever hits the training field.

From “finger painters” to kennel habits, potty training systems, and puppy socialization, Grace breaks down the small details that separate easy dogs from problem dogs.

They also get into:

• Grace’s unique path into the dog game (starting at 16)
• Building a business around breeding, puppy raising, and training
• Why most puppy problems start with the breeder — not the trainer
• Systems that make puppies easier to transition into homes
• How early structure impacts long-term performance

If you’ve ever thought about raising a litter — or just want a better dog — this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

JD Babb joins the podcast to break down one of the most interesting transitions in the retriever game—going from hunt tests to field trials.

We dig into what it actually takes to make that jump, the mistakes that will humble you fast, and why JD had to completely rethink how he trains dogs. From letting young dogs develop over time to handling massive all-age blinds, this episode is packed with real insight for anyone serious about improving.

JD also shares his journey—from throwing birds for beer money in college to building Bu-Yah Retrievers into one of the top open kennels in the country.

If you’ve ever wondered what separates hunt test success from field trial success… this is it.

In Part 2 of Chris’s conversation with trainer Marc Patton, the discussion dives deeper into the mechanics behind developing elite marking dogs and building cleaner fundamentals in retrievers.

Marc breaks down how he approaches Derby dogs, why he believes in simplifying marking setups, and how repetition with single guns can create the mental pictures young dogs rely on later in competition. The conversation also explores how dogs process marking concepts like angle backs, water entries, and gun memory.

Chris and Marc also spend time unpacking Force to Pile, including a unique training tool Marc uses—a training chute system that creates clearer, more black-and-white decisions for dogs during early blind work.

Other topics include:

• Why many marking problems are actually training picture problems
• The role of bumper size and object selection in hold conditioning
• Preventing “shopping” in a pile
• How environmental pressure affects casting and compliance
• Why simplifying drills often produces better long-term results

If you're working through Derby training, force to pile, or early blind work, this episode offers practical ideas that both amateur and professional trainers can apply immediately.