The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast

In this episode, I discuss my training journey with Zara, sharing the real, sometimes unfortunate mistakes I made along the way—and the valuable lessons I learned from them. From challenges with steadiness and retrieving to issues with honoring, duck searches, and the blind retrieve, I dive into the struggles that come with training your first dog. The good news is, I learned a lot and managed to recover from most of these setbacks—though it certainly took time! Now, as I start training my new puppy, Lanka, I’m applying these lessons to make sure I do things differently this time around. Tune in to hear my honest reflections and get insights you can use to avoid common training pitfalls with your own bird dog.

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

For this episode, I am joined by Dr. Carol Gillis, a rehab veterinarian and ultrasound specialist based in Aiken, South Carolina. Dr. Gillis has many years of experience helping horses and dogs recover from injuries, including my vizsla, Zara! She shares invaluable insights and unique strategies to keep canine athletes in peak condition. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just starting out, this conversation is full of tips to prevent injuries in hunt test, field trial, and hunting dogs. 

You can reach Dr. Gillis through her website: equineultrasound.com. 

The Supreme Top Form joint supplement is available at panamvetcorp.com.

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

Zara was diagnosed with a major injury early this year – bilateral iliopsoas strains/tears. In this episode, I talk about how she went from being an extremely active 10 year old dog to a rehab patient having to endure months of restricted exercise and rehab. It was a tough process for both of us but thankfully she is doing much better now. I discuss how I think the injury originated and everything I did to help her recover. This episode sets the stage for the next one which will cover prevention of injury for canine athletes.

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

Experienced horse trainer and field trialer Meredith Mays joins me to discuss the art of scouting in American Field/UKC and AKC field trials. Meredith provides insight on a scout's responsibilities, the characteristics that make a good scout, and what makes a dog challenging to scout for. Meredith is passionate about encouraging people new to field trials and making the sport enjoyable for everyone.   If you'd like to reach out to Meredith, find her on Facebook.    The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

This is the companion to the previous episode, Dealing with Failure. It might seem weird to talk about "dealing" with success, because, after all, isn't success a good thing in the context of dog sports? But success is not always as straightforward as you might think.   

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

If you're participate in hunting events long enough with your bird dog, "failure" is inevitable – meaning, not passing a test, earning a placement, or failing to meet your expectations. In this episode, I talk about some failures I've experienced and how I dealt with them. Realizing how to learn from failure and using it to make you and your dog better is important.

Hopefully this episode will provide some useful tips for the next time you're dealing with some disappointment after competing with your dog.

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

This episode is part 2 going into detail about the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation (VHDF). Kyle Hough chats with me about the three levels of testing and what is required at each level. While the tests have similarities to the NAVHDA and JGHV systems, there are distinct differences.   You can contact Kyle through the Northeast chapter of the VHDF. Visit https://northeastvhdf.wildapricot.org/

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

You can find me on the following platforms:

Instagram | Facebook | Website 

Jeff Funke joins me to discuss the VHDF, an organization that was founded in 2007 with the intention to take the best parts of existing testing systems and make a series of tests that really reflected the versatile hunting dog in North America. The VHDF's scoring system allows for a lot of nuance and is able to highlight exceptional dogs, which is a plus for breeders who are trying to breed better hunting dogs.   You can contact Jeff via email [email protected]. For more information about the VHDF, visit https://versatilehuntingdogfederation.wildapricot.org.  

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

You can find me on the following platforms:

Instagram | Facebook | Website 

Gretchen Stephenson joins me again to talk about the Shooting Ratings tests for Weimaraners. These field events were developed in the 1950s as a way to objectively evaluate the hunting skills of Weimaraners and are put on by the Weimaraner Club of America. AKC's hunting tests for all pointing breeds were actually based on these tests! There are distinct differences, however, which we discuss.     You can get in touch with Gretchen on Facebook, via email at [email protected] or view her website at caninemannersandmore.com.   

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt, Boss Shotshells, and Toyota. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

You can find me on the following platforms:

Instagram | Facebook | Website 

Gretchen Stephenson, Weimaraner owner, breeder, and trainer, joins me to talk about Retrieving Ratings tests for Weimaraners. These events were developed in the 1950s as a way to objectively evaluate the hunting skills of Weimaraners and are put on by the Weimaraner Club of America.    You can get in touch with Gretchen on Facebook, via email at [email protected] or view her website at caninemannersandmore.com.   

The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt, Boss Shotshells, and Toyota. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

You can find me on the following platforms:

Instagram | Facebook | Website