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 

Some consider wild bird hunting to be superior to tests and trials involving pen-raised birds. But for many people, hunting events have their place as well. In this episode, I discuss the value of tests and trials as well as transitioning between these events and hunting.

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 

Summer is often a lull period between testing and trialing seasons. When it's hot and humid and there isn't always access to birds, you may be wondering what to work on with your bird dog. This episode covers some ideas of things to do during the summer months.

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 

Mike Neiduski, owner of Ugly Dog Hunting company and Senior NAVHDA judge, joins me to talk about becoming a NAVHDA judge. We discuss his experiences going through the Apprentice Program, including why he decided to become a judge, what it was like to apprentice for the first time, and what he enjoyed the most about being an apprentice. We also get into his journey becoming a Senior judge and what the future may hold.   Mike also hosts the Ugly Dog Podcast. You can find him on Instagram, Facebook, or Tiktok. And you can visit his website or send him an email at [email protected].

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