In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my journey to become an AKC hunting test judge for pointing breeds. I walk through the requirements for becoming a judge, share my experience apprenticing at a recent hunting test, and reflect on the key takeaways from the experience. Tune in for insights into the judging process, what I learned along the way, and why I enjoyed watching the dogs and handlers.

In the intro, I mention the scentwork course I am hosting with Tamara from Canine Development & Testing and Mike from Ugly Dog Hunting. The course starts February 3rd and registration is now open! Here's the link to register: https://caninedevelopmentandtesting.mykajabi.com/birddogdetection

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

This episode kicks off a new series for the podcast! Every few episodes, I will be featuring interviews with other people who got bird dogs as pets and then got into hunting later because of their dogs.

The first tale of a fellow accidental bird dog owner is Sara Kline. Sara lives in Alaska with her three dogs: a vizsla named Jack, and two Deutsch Drahthaars named Dicky and Rufus. Sara originally got Jack as a running buddy when she lived in England, but it wasn't long before Jack decided he liked pointing pheasants along their runs, too. Sara has grown a lot in her journey training her dogs and is very forthcoming about the mistakes she's made along the way and how she's trying to use the lessons she's learned with her new puppy. Sara's story is very relatable and I know you will enjoy it! 

You can follow Sara on Instagram at @journeyswithgundogs.

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

This is the last episode of 2024! Thanks to everyone who has listened this year. In this episode, I answer questions about Zara and Lanka, the priority I place on wild bird hunting, and what I'm looking forward to in 2025.

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

In this episode, I interviewed Carl Correra, who is an AKC field trial judge and competitor. Last year, I had the honor of watching Carl and his 12 year old GSP, Fancy, participate in the inaugural AKC Master Hunter Excellent test. Fancy tore up the course, was steady as a rock, and had all the participants cheering for her.

As someone who has unintentionally been competing with an older dog due to our late start, I've found myself being worried about her age. I think there's a lot of misconception out there about what is possible for a dog who is 10+. Carl and I discuss considerations to keep your older bird dog going strong even as they age. 

You can email find Carl on Facebook or send him an email: [email protected]. 

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

In this episode, I discuss how I went about preparing for the NAVHDA Natural Ability test with my puppy, Lanka. I also give a recap of the highs and lows on test day—including when 4-month-old Lanka went a little rogue! Listen for a behind-the-scenes look at how Lanka's first bird dog event went.

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

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.