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.

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with professional trainer Marc Patton of Green River Retrievers to dive deep into some innovative training concepts that are gaining attention in the retriever world.

Marc shares his unique journey into the dog world—including attending a “dog college,” working with sled dogs, and eventually building his retriever training program. Along the way, he developed a philosophy that blends traditional Rex Carr fundamentals with a highly reward-driven approach.

The conversation explores topics like:

• Creating dogs that love the work
• Using high-value rewards to build motivation
• Balancing pressure with praise
• The importance of timing, bird help, and clear answers
• How training setups should make success obvious for the dog

Marc also explains how sled dog conditioning and other working dog disciplines influenced how he thinks about drive, endurance, and training attitude.

If you're interested in building a dog that attacks the work with confidence and enthusiasm, this episode is packed with insights that will make you rethink how reward, pressure, and learning all fit together in retriever training.

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud and Tyler Brenner sit down for a classic truck-side style conversation about the realities of training dogs as an amateur.

Chris shares the latest adventures of “hobo training”—getting kicked out of training grounds, battling Midwest wind storms, hauling wingers around with an e-bike, and squeezing meaningful work into short solo sessions. If you’ve ever trained alone, improvised setups, or wondered how pros and amateurs approach the game differently, this episode will hit home.

The conversation then shifts into practical training insight as Chris and Tyler break down what they focus on right after hunting season ends. They discuss resetting dogs that have relied too heavily on their nose during hunting season, rebuilding visual marking habits, and why this time of year is perfect for drills, marking concepts, and communication work between handler and dog.

Topics include:

• Resetting dogs after hunting season
• Using white bumpers and visual aids to rebuild marking
• Teaching marking concepts like hip pockets, pinches, and in-line triples
• Why drills are critical during the transition season
• Re-establishing fundamentals with tune-up drills
• Early-season water work and revisiting cheating concepts
• Poison birds and maintaining handling discipline

Whether you're coming out of waterfowl season or gearing up for spring hunt tests, this episode gives you practical ideas for getting your dog back into training mode.

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with pro trainer Clark Kennington during pre-Grand training in Paducah to talk about one of the biggest events in the retriever world—the Crown.

Clark breaks down the tests, the strategy behind running blinds under pressure, and what it’s really like walking to the line when everything is on the line. They dive deep into how the Crown is judged, the challenge of separating elite dogs, and how a single cast can decide a championship.

The conversation also turns to one of the most incredible comeback stories in recent retriever competition history—Daisy’s return after nearly dying from a rare fungal infection. From a feeding tube and months of uncertainty to nearly winning the Crown, her story is a reminder of just how tough these dogs really are.

If you’re interested in high-level retriever strategy, competition mindset, and the stories behind the dogs we run, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Season 3 kicks off with a deep dive into what it really takes to build a “Grand Slam” retriever.

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with multiple Grand Champion Ron Anderson and training partner Scott Arceneaux to unpack the journey behind one of the most accomplished amateur-trained dogs in the game.

We talk about Rip — a true unicorn — and what it means to build a dog capable of winning across formats:

• Field Trials
• Hunt Tests
• The Grand
• The Crown

This isn’t a “we got lucky” story. It’s a 30-year evolution of selective breeding, intentional development, and a training group built on trust, ego-free collaboration, and high standards.

We break down:

• Why Ron flipped the script and built a field trial foundation first
• The “brick by brick” philosophy of developing a complete dog
• Breeding decisions behind Rip
• The importance of memory, pressure tolerance, and comfort in chaos
• How serious amateurs can compete at the highest levels
• Why intimidation — not mechanics — loses most big events

If you’ve ever dreamed of building a dog that can run the SRS one weekend and a field trial the next… this one is for you.

This is about more than titles.
It’s about building the dog — and the handler — the right way.