In this first episode of the "summer shorts" series, we look at puppy development from four professional trainers and their method. We kick it off with Ronnie and Suzanna Smith, of the Smith Method, looking at the importance of all things pup, with a special focus on keeping the end in mind and using "eustress" or good stress (stressors that have a positive solution) in the mental development of a young dog.

We continue on with George Hickox, of the Hickox Method, and focus on how using clicker training lays a foundation for mental and behavioral development in the life of a dog, by keeping it positive, marking behaviors, and more.

We then turn to The Method Dog Training, with Sonny Piekarz and Jordan Wells, looking at the importance of puppy development for the life development of the dog. Again we revisit the "problem-solving mindset" through their use of an obstacle course. As with all four methods, they talk about the value of puppy walks in the field.

We close it out with Perfection Kennels, with Jon & Jessica Hann, looking at the impact of exposure to new things in this time frame - puppy walks, early retrieve intro through games, playing in the water to build a pups confidence there, and more. 

You will find some differences between the methods, and many similarities as the big themes hold true throughout. Building boldness, confidence, cooperation, problem-solving, and keeping it fun!

Resources:

For the Smith Method:

1) www.smithkennels.com

2) Instagram - @smithkennelsbirddogs

3) Facebook - @smithkennels

For the Hickox Method

1) www.georgehickox.com

2) Instagram - @georgehickoxbirddogs

3) Facebook - @GeorgeHickox

The Method Dog Training

1) www.haycreekkennels.com (Sonny) & www.jwellskennels.com (Jordan)

2) Instagram - @the_method_dog_training

3) Facebook - @themethoddogtraining

Perfection Kennels

1) www.perfectionkennel.com

2) Instagram - @perfection_kennels

3) Facebook - @perfectionkennel

This is an introductory episode letting you, the listener, know what we have coming this summer. We will be doing roughly 10 "shorts" on a variety of different skills or developmental areas for dogs, bringing you directly from the top professionals, their tools, drills, application, and resources. The goal isn't to tell you our opinion, but to give you four different ways of training each specific skill, so that you can decide for your own situation which method works best for you. We will at the end of each episode spend a little time highlighting some similarities, differences, and advantages to each method to help you lean into the method that works for you!

Welcome back for another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. On this episode we welcome in Sonny & Jordan from "The Method" dog training based out of both Connecticut and Wisconsin. Sonny and Jordan have found a unique niche in bird dog training, combing strong elements of obedience through the use of an obstacle course to develop cooperation, understanding and the ability to problem solve for the dog. It is a fun listen to hear how they envision bird dog development from this perpsective and how it translates to the field time and time again. Hope you enjoy another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast!

In this episode we switch it up a bit, still talking bird dogs and bird dog training/development but from a tools provider perspective. Mike Neiduski owns Ugly Dog Hunting, and as an avid uplander builds his business based on training tools, devices, and apparel that make sense and work for him and his customers. His product lines aim at longevity, usefulness, and not overselling the unneccessary stuff we all seem to get early on in our training lives!! 

You can find all things Ugly Dog Hunting at www.uglydoghunting.com or on Facebook or Instagram @uglydoghunting. 

We pick up where we left off in reverse pod episode 1, talking about training dogs to use their natural drive to extend or shape their range/pattern. We talk primarily about avoiding yo-yo-ing and getting your dog to stay to front from a young age using birds and the dogs natural drive to shape an up front dog. While we talk edges, this could be done in a patterning format as well if that is your desired hunting style with your dog!!

We pick up where we left off with field trials, training, and all things bird dogs!

In this episode we jump into all things bird doggin' with Kelli Aitken of Quantonas Irish Setters. It's a 2 parter so come back for part 2 in a couple weeks! Kelli gets into her story, her love of the Irish Setter, training, learning, field trialing, and even a a bit of judging! Kelli is a very accomplish trainier/handler in the field trial world, with some of the nicest Irish Setters around!!

This week we welcome to the pod, legend in the making and national champion and dog of the year handler, Jamie Daniels. Jamie has trained and handled multiple champions, including recent AA dog of the year Miller's Blindsider. Jamie has been in the bird dog world since his youth, and we dive into his origin story in bird dogs as a helping hand, all the way up to his decorated career (so far) as a handler, as well as his dog development program, and what he looks for in developing the next great bird dog. It is a wealth of knowledge from Jamie, and well worth the listen.

I apologize up front for some of the recording issues as we recorded this on the phone while working a bit, so it is heavily edited to try to help your listening experience!! Enjoy!

In this episode we turn things upside down just a bit. Rather than me, Josh, interview a guest, long time friend and bird dog guy Jake Faas w/ True Loyalty Dog Training out of MN, asked if he could interview me about the history and my experience and thoughts of the breed I work the most with, the Epagneul Breton. With over 35 years of life spent around and with the breed, we discussed everything from breed standard, to personality, to breeding philosophy, to understanding the breed for what it is and can be.

There are some controversial topics within the breed, as there are in any, from the common misunderstanding of what "foot-hunters" dog ought to be, to what the "range" of these dogs should be, to outcrossing versus line-breeding or inbreeding in a successful breeding program. We tread the waters lightly and try to address the truths behind some of these myths, the reason these small but mighty pointing dogs have the following and fanfare that they do, and reframe the converastion over some of these topics all while weaving in stories and examples of EBs who have been trained in different styles, to different nurture environments in their development, all in a pursuit of a fully formed bird dog that can be that demon in the field and angel in home.

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! In this episode we welcome back former guest of the pod and good friend Jake Faas of True Loyalty dog training. 

In this episode I let Jake take the reigns and walk us through the process of a positive reinforced trained retrieve. Using his wealth of knowledge from shaping dogs in the bite dog sports, Jake has brought with him a knowledge and style of training the retrieve that is unique, well thought out, and effective!

If you, like me, have a dog here and there that needs some work on their retrieve, or if you are in a competitive arena where the retrieve needs to on command and clean every time, listen twice to this episode with Jake. It was truly an eye-opening and ear popping conversation for me to hear how Jake has developed this method of trained retrieve through years of shaping behaviors and training dogs!

You can find Jake on Facebook or Instagram at True Loyalty, and I would encourage you to reach out and ask questions or maybe for a short video of what this conversation looks like when applied to your personal bird dog! Sit back and enjoy this packed episode on the trained retrieve!