In this episode, host and hunting dog historian Craig Koshyk joins co-host Jennifer Wapenski—co-owner and director of operations at Project Upland—to unpack where show-ring conformation meets real field performance. Can the show ring judge a dog’s ability to hunt? Are parts of show-ring culture promoting lines that haven’t hunted for generations? They trace how standards originated, question assumptions such as straight-set legs and “ideal” shoulder angles, and compare Europe’s performance-anchored evaluations with North America’s ring-centric culture—arguing that form and function are inseparable for true working dogs.

They also dig into ethics and honesty in breeding: what “champion” really means without field proof, why lifetime records of structure and performance matter, and how breeders can give hunters clear, evidence-based guidance. Whether you come from the show side, the field side, or somewhere in between, the conversation offers a practical path forward—education, transparent evaluation, and testing that prioritizes real-world work.

Listen to past episodes here: Hunting Dog Confidential Podcast

In this episode, Craig Koshyk explores two distinct perspectives on pointing dog tails—whether they should be held high or low. What might seem like a minor detail sparks a deeper debate shaped by centuries of breeding, cultural differences, and shifting hunting styles. Craig takes us back in time through research, art, photographic evidence, and written accounts from the early years of pointing dogs. He expands on his own personal experiences, from Europe to the United States, and offers theories on how and why these differences—and the strong opinions surrounding them—persist today.

Parts of this history have broader implications, including the crossbreeding of not just various hunting dog breeds but even hounds. It prompts us to think long and hard about whether the tail truly matters—and when it does, why it matters at all.

Listen to past episodes here: Hunting Dog Confidential Podcast

In this episode, Craig Koshyk—renowned hunting dog historian and author—takes us on a deep dive into the fascinating world of breed names. From the earliest landraces to today’s officially recognized breeds, Craig unpacks how language, geography, and hunting traditions shaped the names we use for dogs today.

Through engaging stories and expert insight, Craig explores everything from the confusion around the word spaniel, to double-nosed pointers in Spain, to the meaning behind terms like braque, épagneul, and vizsla. Whether you’ve got a German Wirehair, a Picardy Spaniel, or a Labrador, this episode will give you a new appreciation for what your dog’s breed name really means—and where it came from.

Listen to past episodes here: Hunting Dog Confidential Podcast

The episode, hosted by Craig Koshyk, a renowned dog historian, explores how early German immigrants, particularly those who settled in Texas, may have introduced hunting dogs before the popularization of breeds like the  German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP). Koshyk, author of Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals and Pointing Dogs, Volume Two: The British and Irish Breeds, provides historically accurate insights, suggesting that settlers arriving in the 1830s and 1840s could have brought ancestral hunting breeds, challenging the belief that German gundogs first appeared in America in the 1930s.

Craig Koshyk, author of Pointing Dogs, Volume Two: The British and Irish Breeds, explores the unlikely story of how the Pointer rose to fame over the English Setter in America. At the time, this was something no one in the field trial circuit ever imagined possible, and before long, the Pointer dominated trialing. This is a story of culture, changing times, and America's continued efforts to advance everything they put their hands on.

Don't adjust your sets - we are back with a brief update on all things HDC! We've been getting lots of questions about the podcast, the magazine, and what other projects we have in the works. Craig and Jennifer are here to answer those questions and let you know what's in the pipeline for Hunting Dog Confidential!

We’ve been talking about the role of “place” in the history and culture of hunting dog breeds, but not every breed fits neatly within geographical boundaries. There are several breeds in North America who have a foot in two worlds: the parent country (often Germany) as well as North America.

We explore breeds such as the Deutsch Drahthaar, Deutsch Langhaar, and Deutsch Kurzhaar which are known by their German language names in order to differentiate from the German Wirehaired Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer, and German Shorthaired Pointer. Even though the names directly translate, the use of the German name signifies a very specific system and methodology that exists behind the individual dog. Each of these breeds is managed by a U.S.-based chapter of the German parent club, rather than an AKC or NAVHDA-based breed club.

The German clubs, along with their U.S.-based chapters, tie together a dog’s performance, health, and conformation into a single system. Before a dog can be bred, it must successfully complete a series of tests and evaluations. The purpose of this system is to ensure that the dogs maintain their consistent form and function, generation after generation. This fits in with the German hunting culture which requires “certified” hunting dogs in the field—in other words, it’s based on qualification rather than competition.

So is a Drahthaar the same thing as a GWP? We settle on the answer of “it depends”—at least when it comes to an individual dog. One dog may be the offspring of two Drahthaars but if the parents weren’t tested and certified for breeding within the regulations, then the puppies can’t be considered Drahthaars…even if the genetics are the same. But if this continues for five, ten, or twenty generations, at which point do enough differences creep in that they could be considered different breeds altogether? So rather than studying any one individual dog, it’s more productive to look at the GWP vs. DD discussion at the larger population level. In that case, they are not the same thing, since the breeds are managed in entirely different manners.

Is a German-bred dog right for you? Again, it depends. Jennifer talks about what drew her to the Deutsch Langhaar club, ultimately causing her to jump in feet first. But as with anything else, it’s a matter of personal preference. If the idea of a standardized system with strict protocols resonates with you, then it could be a great fit. On the other hand, if you bristle at the idea of being governed by a strict system, then it likely won’t be a good fit for you. Craig talks about the importance of evaluating the culture around a breed before deciding if it’s the right breed for you.

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Hunting Dog Confidential is presented by Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food and supported by Syren USA and Kent Cartridge.<

The end of World War II saw thousands of American servicemen and servicewomen returning home to the United States and Canada, many of whom brought home new dogs they’d met while in occupied Germany. These “new” dogs were unlike the setters and Pointers that dominated the bird dog scene in North America. Defying labels, these dogs could search, point, retrieve, and track.

Some of these dogs fit in well with the American field trial culture and found success alongside setters and Pointers. Others, however, struggled to find success in the competitive environment that favored fast, big-running dogs over the versatile, jack-of-all-trades dogs produced in Germany.

As the new breeds looked to gain a foothold in North America, some clubs sought marketing help to take advantage of the growing influence of television and mass media to generate interest in their breed. The Weimaraner is a classic example of publicity and popularity gone wrong—while the efforts to market the breed were wildly successful and led to an explosion in popularity, the dog failed to live up to all the wonder-dog hype and quickly fell out of favor. As with anything, popularity is a double-edged sword; breed clubs have long sought to straddle the line between promoting the dogs to hunters without losing control of the messaging and, ultimately, the natural hunting abilities.

The introduction of the versatile breeds from the European continent eventually led to the formation of NAVHDA, which represented a stark departure from the competitive nature of traditional field trials. This new system was based on the German versatile hunting dog system with some changes made to better suit the North American hunting traditions. What began as an idea in a living room in Canada eventually became an international club with thousands of dogs tested annual and membership growing every year.

The late part of the twentieth century saw a major transformation in the availability of technology and information, ultimately culminating in the introduction of the internet and, later, social media. Suddenly, hunters could connect with like-minded people across the globe. Breeding decisions were influenced by genetic testing. Litters could be advertised and promoted with the click of a button. Information that was once limited to members of certain clubs is now widely available to anyone with an internet connection. This modern era is characterized by technology, information, and—ultimately—connection.

What does this new era mean to the future of breed clubs and registries? Craig has a few ideas about how these organizations will need to change, or else risk becoming irrelevant. Tune in to hear his vision and encouragement for riding the inevitable waves of change.

Enjoy the show and don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this podcast.

Share | Comment, review and discuss this episode of the podcast in our Project Upland Community Facebook group.

Hunting Dog Confidential is presented by Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food and supported by Syren USA and Kent Cartridge.

Up until the late nineteenth century, the use and breeding of hunting dogs in North America was rather chaotic. Dogs were used in a variety of different ways, whether it was market hunters using Setters to retrieve waterfowl or big game hunters using Pointers to track and hold wounded elk at bay. There was no consistency in the breeding, either, as different types of dogs were often mixed and matched at will.

Before long, though, some of the same concepts from the industrial revolution found their way into dog fancy. In order to achieve consistent results, fanciers knew they needed to apply a consistent technique along with a form of quality control. Registries were formed, pedigrees were issued, and dogs were judged according to newly established standards. The result was consistency in breeding and a standardized form and function for the dogs.

While hunting was still an everyman’s activity, dog enthusiasts knew that they needed “men of means” in order for dog breeding to really gain momentum. Before long, success in the show ring and in field trials was accompanied by increased social standing. This increased attention—and financial backing—was exactly what hunting dogs needed to reach their golden age.

Pointers and Setters were the first breeds to become established in North America, but imported dogs from Europe soon followed. The “Russian Setter” (likely a Wirehared Pointing Griffon) was an early arrival, followed soon after by the Brittany, German Shorthaired Pointer, and the Labrador. We discuss some theories on why—with the exception of the Griffon—those early imported breeds went on to become some of the most popular hunting dogs in North America today.

We end the episode right around the end of the second World War, when returning servicemen and women were bringing new German hunting dog breeds back home to North America. The economic boom and the growth of the middle class fueled an explosion in popularity for many of these dog breeds. For some dogs, popularity was both a blessing and a curse. Stay tuned for the next episode where we discuss some of these examples.

Enjoy the show and don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this podcast.

Share | Comment, review and discuss this episode of the podcast in our Project Upland Community Facebook group.

Hunting Dog Confidential is presented by Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food and supported by Syren USA and Kent Cartridge.

We continue the history of hunting dogs as a function of place and time, resuming our discussion about dogs in North America in the colonial era.

When Europeans arrived on North American shores—whether it was the Spanish, the French, or the English—we know that they had dogs with them. Early writings and paintings from this era depict a variety of dogs that accompanied the colonists for purposes of protection and hunting. Some of these dogs bear a strong resemblance to old varieties of pointers and hounds.

In order to better understand the development and use of hunting dogs during this time, it’s important to understand the culture around hunting at the time. Back home in Europe, hunting was reserved by law for the elite landowners as a leisure activity. Even though North America offered the legal and geographic freedom for everyone to hunt the abundant game, it was still frowned upon, especially as a form of recreation or sport. This mindset was largely due to religion, which tended to view any sort of idle leisure activity as a sin. It was also believed that consuming wild meat could lead to savage, wild behavior. So while people did hunt in colonial North America, it was only done out of necessity and rarely as recreation.

Attitudes began to change in the mid-1800s as the population boomed and the cities became increasingly polluted and crowded. Americans started to look toward the wilderness not as a place to fear, but as a place of solitude and rejuvenation. Writers around this time are credited with changing the very definition of a “sportsman” from a gambling, drinking man to a self-sufficient hunter or angler. Men who worked and lived in the dirty cities began to yearn for the clean air and freedom to roam in pursuit of game and fish.

This transformation was swift and effective. Hunting as a form of recreation was soon widely enjoyed and even prescribed by doctors for better health. While they didn’t have the language of mental health at the time, evidence points towards a culture that recognized outdoor activities as a healthy pursuit for both the body and spirit.

Before long, the newly rebranded sportsmen looked at their hunting dogs as an essential part of the hunting experience. Suddenly there was interest in breeding and training better dogs, along with the realization that such activities would take an investment of serious time and money. Early enthusiasts looked to England as an example of how competitions, trials, and shows could lead toward the development of superior dogs. This cultural transformation reflects the beginning of the golden age of hunting dog breeds in North America, which we will explore in the next episode.

Offering the same disclaimer as we do in the last podcast episode, we acknowledge that North American history is fraught with bias, racism, and erasure. While our research is conducted with that in mind, we also realize that the facts we report are not free from bias. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via email if you have any corrections or alternate perspectives to share.

As always, we thank you for listening and invite you to submit feedback or questions to us at [email protected].

Share | Comment, review and discuss this episode of the podcast in our Project Upland Community Facebook group.

Enjoy the show and don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this podcast.

Hunting Dog Confidential is presented by Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food and supported by Dak