We’re re-uploading both parts of our conversation with George Lambert from Mountain Music and Mules as one complete episode. 🐾🐴

This conversation dives into hunting dogs, mule work, mountain hunting culture, and the lessons that come from a lifetime spent working animals in tough country.

We discuss:

🐶 Dog training, patience, and communication

🐴 What mules can teach us about handling dogs

🌍 American vs. European hunting dogs

🐻 Bear hunting, tracking, and mountain terrain

🧠 The mindset behind developing good working animals

George brings decades of experience and a grounded perspective shaped by hounds, mules, and hard country. Whether you run Laikas, hounds, feists, or just appreciate working dogs and hunting culture, there’s something in this one for you.

🎥 You can also find George on YouTube under Mountain Music and Mules.

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In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down to reflect on the podcast journey so far — from the early days to now reaching listeners in more than 90 countries.

We talk about what we’ve learned through conversations with hunters and dog handlers, how the podcast has influenced our own training and hunting approach, and what’s ahead this season.

The discussion moves between upcoming hunts in Sweden, breeding plans, blood tracking, solo hunting with one dog, and the practical side of importing and exporting dogs.

We also share thoughts on merchandise, events, and growing an international hunting community.

🎙️ Reflections on building the podcast

🐕 Dog training insights and solo hunting philosophy

🩸 Blood tracking and breeding considerations

🌍 International listeners and community growth

🧢 Merchandise and upcoming events

✈️ Importing and exporting hunting dogs

A grounded conversation about growth, lessons learned, and where the next trail leads.

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In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down with Mikael Andersson for a focused and experience-based conversation on wounded game hunting, blood tracking, and wild boar pen work in Sweden.

We dive into what happens after the shot — when responsibility truly begins. Mikael shares real-world insights into tracking wounded game, reading dog behavior under pressure, and preparing young dogs for controlled exposure in boar pens.

The discussion moves between breed traits, scent imprinting, recall challenges, and the ethical use of training tools. We also touch on protective vests, gear development, and why equipment should always be tested in realistic scenarios before entering the field.

At its core, this episode centers on responsibility, preparation, and the partnership between handler and dog when situations become serious.

Highlights include:

Blood tracking and wounded game recovery

Wild boar pen training and evaluation

Reading and managing dog behavior

Ethical use of training tools

Protective gear and field preparation

A grounded conversation about dog work, ethics, and the realities of hunting beyond the first shot.

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In part two of Bjorn to Be Wild,

Erik sits down again with Wayne Dixon to continue the real-time journey of developing a West Siberian Laika into a solo bear dog.

This episode shifts the focus toward bonding and expectations — the foundation that everything else is built on. Wayne explains why primitive breeds require a strong relationship from day one, and how patience, repetition, and steady leadership shape a young dog’s mindset long before serious hunting begins.

We talk about puppy development stages, realistic goals for different ages, and why rushing progress can create long-term setbacks. The conversation also touches on progressive exposure to game, pack mentality, breeding influence, and the balance between instinct and obedience.

This isn’t about quick results.

It’s about building something that lasts.

🐾 Bonding as the foundation of training

🎯 Managing expectations by age and experience

🐻 Preparing for future solo bear work

🧬 Breeding influence vs. daily effort

🧠 Patience and long-term development

A continued, honest look at what it truly takes to turn potential into performance.

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In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down to reflect on a Erik's recent journey to the USA— a trip that blended hunting, culture, food, and landscape into one shared experience.

We explore what it’s like to see American nature through Scandinavian eyes — from the Smoky Mountains and the Natchez Trace Parkway to Louisiana swamps and backroads. The conversation moves between scenic drives, national parks, and small towns, highlighting how terrain, habitat, and scale shape both wildlife and hunting traditions.

Erik shares his impressions of American small game hunting, including running beagles on rabbits, navigating different terrain, and observing how land use and habitat management differ from Sweden. We also touch on turkey hunting culture, predator balance, and how wildlife management systems reflect broader societal values.

Beyond hunting, the episode reflects on lifestyle contrasts — housing, land ownership, driving culture, and how Americans and Swedes prioritize space, nature, and outdoor life.

Food becomes part of the story as well, from crawfish boils and sweet tea to regional traditions that say as much about culture as they do about taste.

But beyond comparisons, this episode centers on something deeper — perspective.

How travel reshapes understanding.

How different systems can pursue similar goals. And how hunters, regardless of country, are connected by shared experiences in the field.

Highlights include:

🌄 Scenic routes through the Smoky Mountains and Southern landscapes

🐕 Beagle rabbit hunting and terrain differences

🌿 Habitat and wildlife management comparisons

🦃 Turkey hunting culture in the U.S.

🐊 Louisiana wetlands, airboats, and wildlife encounters

🍽️ Regional food traditions and cultural exchange

🌍 Swedish vs. American approaches to land and lifestyle

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In this episode, Erik sits down with Wayne Dixon to launch a new standalone series within Nordic Tales & American Trails — Bjorn to Be Wild.

This series will follow the real-time journey of developing a West Siberian Laika puppy into a solo bear dog. From breeding decisions and bloodlines to early socialization and first introductions to game, we explore what it truly takes to build a reliable working dog from the ground up.

Wayne shares his philosophy on intentional breeding, selecting the right traits, and why effort, patience, and consistency matter more than hype or shortcuts. We discuss pack dynamics, confidence building, and the role of calm leadership in shaping a young dog’s mindset

.

The conversation moves beyond techniques and into something deeper — expectations. What does it really mean to commit to developing a big game dog? How do you balance instinct and obedience? And how do you stay steady when progress isn’t linear?

This isn’t a finished-dog story. It’s the beginning of a process.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll follow the successes, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way — documenting the path from fuzzy puppy to working bear dog.

Highlights include:

🐾 Intentional breeding and bloodline selection

🐕 Early socialization and confidence building

🎯 Effort vs. genetics in developing a top dog

🐻 Training toward solo bear work

🧠 Leadership, patience, and long-term mindset

🌲 The realities of developing a big game dog

A grounded and ongoing conversation about breeding, training, and the long road of turning potential into performance.

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In this episode, Erik sits down with Heath Hyatt — dog trainer, hunter, and law enforcement professional — for a wide-ranging conversation about the deeper foundations of dog training and hunting culture.

We explore Heath’s journey into hunting and working dogs, and how his experience in law enforcement shaped his philosophy around patience, consistency, and long-term development. Rather than chasing quick results, Heath emphasizes building a strong foundation — mentally and practically — that allows dogs to succeed across disciplines.

The conversation moves between hunting camps, K9 units, and everyday training sessions, highlighting how principles of communication, structure, and clarity remain the same regardless of the environment.

Heath shares insights on breed selection, the role of genetics, and the traits that separate an average dog from a truly exceptional one. We also discuss pack dynamics, mixed breeding, tracking work, and the importance of understanding canine behavior rather than simply controlling it.

Beyond technique, this episode reflects on something larger — expectations. From the impact of social media on training culture to the growing divide between short-term results and long-term success, we examine what it really takes to develop reliable, confident working dogs.

The discussion also touches on hunting regulations, wildlife management, cultural differences between the U.S. and Sweden, and the responsibility that comes with working dogs in modern society.

Highlights include:

🐕 Foundation and patience in dog training

🎯 Long-term development vs. quick results

🐾 Breed traits, genetics, and selection

📡 Tracking dogs and scent imprinting

⚡ The e-collar — tool or crutch?

🌎 Cultural differences in hunting practices

🦌 Population management and conservation

🤝 The evolving relationship between hunters and dogs

A grounded and experience-based conversation about dogs, discipline, hunting culture, and the mindset required for long-term success — whether in the woods or in uniform.

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In this episode, Erik sits down with Björn Sundgren from the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management to take a closer look at moose management and the foundations of Swedish wildlife conservation.

We explore how Sweden built one of the world’s most recognized wildlife management systems — from rebuilding game populations after historical declines to today’s data-driven approach shaped by hunters, landowners, and science working together.

Björn shares insights into moose population trends over time, how harvest strategies are adapted, and why the balance between quantity and quality is central to long-term sustainability. The conversation also highlights the role of hunters in data collection, public trust, and why the Swedish model relies heavily on responsibility at the local level.

But beyond systems and numbers, this episode also centers on something deeper — hunting as culture. From the role of dogs in Swedish hunting traditions to the connection between hunters, land, and wildlife, we reflect on what makes this system work in practice.

Highlights include:

🫎 Moose management & population trends

📊 Hunter-led data and local responsibility

🌲 Rebuilding wildlife populations in Sweden

🐕 Hunting with dogs and cultural traditions

⚖️ Balancing harvest, quality, and sustainability

🤝 Public trust and the role of hunters

A grounded and experience-based conversation about moose, management, and how hunting, science, and tradition come together in the Swedish system.

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In part two with Chris Sundström, we shift focus toward how environment, culture, and hunting systems shape the way dogs are bred, trained, and used.

We talk about what happens when dogs bred in one system are introduced into another, and the challenges that come with adapting to different terrain, game, and hunting conditions. From Scandinavian forests to North American landscapes, environment plays a major role in how a dog performs.

The discussion also explores the balance between preserving breed identity and allowing for regional adaptation, and the risks of losing original working traits over time.

We also touch on cultural differences in hunting traditions, and how future breeding decisions will shape the next generation of working dogs.

Highlights include:

🌍 Terrain and its influence on dog performance

🐕 Adapting dogs across continents

🧬 Breed preservation vs. regional adaptation

⚠️ Maintaining original traits

🌲 Cultural differences in hunting

A thoughtful continuation focused on the long-term future of working dogs.

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In this episode, Erik and Darren sits down with Chris Sundström to explore the origins, breeding, and working style of plot hounds in both the United States and Sweden.

We begin with the background of the breed and how plot hounds have developed across different regions, shaped by terrain, game, and hunting traditions. Chris shares his experience working with both Scandinavian and North American dogs, and why lineage, pedigree, and proven ability still matter when building reliable hunting dogs.

The conversation also dives into the differences between track hunting and free casting, and how regulations, land structure, and hunting pressure influence how dogs are used in Sweden today.

We also touch on the growing role of plot hounds in Swedish bear hunting, and the challenges of importing dogs across continents while trying to maintain their original traits.

Highlights include:

🐾 The origins and development of plot hounds

🧬 The role of lineage and working ability

🐻 Plot hounds in Swedish bear hunting

🌲 Track hunting vs. free casting

⚖️ Regulations shaping dog work

✈️ Importing and adapting dogs

A grounded conversation about breeding, dog work, and the systems that shape them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.