The Upland Disciple Podcast

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!

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! We continue the conversation from last time with Hannah Peterson of Mud Lake Kennels. In this episode we pick up right where we left off, continuing on with the value of the crate, finishing a dog, and the value of wild birds in the development of a bird dog!!! Sit back and enjoy the second half of the conversation with Hannah and go find her on Facebook or Instagram at Mud Lake Kennels!

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast! In this episode we sit down for part 1 of a 2 part conversation with Hannah Peterson of Mud Lake Kennels. Hannah has a wealth of experience from bite dogs to pet dogs and more, but she has found her love most recently in the bird dog world. Hannah and her husband Kyle run primarily Setters but she will train any bird dog out there!

Hannah dives deep to cover a variety of topics from bird introduction, to obedience training, to the importance of a crate and crate training for the dogs benefit and mindset. We run the whole spectrum from puppy, to starting an older dog, to finishing dogs, to the value of wild birds in the development of a bird dog, and everything Hannah offers as bird dog trainer and what her philosophy and mindset is, as she works to get the most out of each dog that comes to Mud Lake Kennels.

Sit back and enjoy this fun chat with Hannah on bird dog development! You can find Hannah and Kyle on Facebook at Mud Lake Kennels!

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. In this episode we catch up with Dane Murphy and James Bouler. Dane and his father in law Henry just launched Covey Creek Farms near Five Points, TN as a new quail ranch just north of the Alabama line. Operating on nearly 500 acres, Covey Creek is set up to provide a hunter with a real southern Tennessee quail hunt, offering wild coveys, pre-released coveys that have become wild, and additional released birds the day of the hunt to guarantee you opportunities on birds, but also the covey rises we all yearn for.

James operates Bouler Game Birds and is the supplier of quail for Covey Creek as well as numerous other bird farms, dog trainers, and field trials in the south.

In this episode we focus on what a hunt looks like at Covey Creek, talking everything from cover and topography, to birds and dog work. You can find and book a membership to train and hunt or just take a day or weekend hunt with Covey Creek at www.huntcoveycreek.com.

I had the opportunity to go down to Covey Creek and shoot their promo videos and pics with my dogs, and I can say from first hand experience, this place is going to be awesome for a TN style quail hunt!! Sit back and enjoy the episode and reach out to Dane to book a hunt at Covey Creek!

Welcome back to another episode of The Upland Disciple Podcast. I apologize for the month away as there was a lot of life and dogs going on in September. With that being said this episode is one of my favorites as we welcome future Hall of Famer, and multiple time Handler of the Year, Mike Tracy of Summerhill Kennels to the podcast. I apologize in advance for a couple of overlaps in conversation as I was battling my internet during this conversation but didn't want to cut out any of the wisdom Mike shares in this episode!

Mike grew up in dogs following his father George into the field trial game and lifestyle running high end Pointers across the country. Aside from his success Mike is a dog man at heart, and this episode is a deep dive into training, handling, and evaluating dogs and horses. We touch on collar work, patterning, the breaking (steadiness) process, teaching a dog from a young age to go with you, and ultimately finishing a dog the right way, set up for success as a team.

Sit back and enjoy this awesome conversation with Mike Tracy, and hopefully you come away with a few nuggets of knowledge on training your own bird dog for success in the hunting fields and forests, or in the field trial or test game that you enjoy!

This an incredibly fun episode with a twist on our normal content. Nic is the founder of Land Trust, which at its essence is AirBnB for outdoors people. If you are looking for a hunt in a place you are not familiar with, Land Trust is a must!!! They offer the background work of places, ground, and opportunity, offer you hunts on private, massive, land spaces in the areas you are looking to go.

Can you imagine 5,000 private acres to go chase that bucket list bird? Often it's less than a couple hundred dollars a day, and the land owners often help and give you bird spots, so you are resigned to topographically scouting from afar!!!

This might be the coolest thing since sliced bread for the uplander!!! Check em out and give the episode a listen!!!

This episode is a low key, fun dive into a few of the key factors of how to prep and plan a trip so you don't find yourself lacking when you get to that remote spot on your next bucket list trip!!

Wayne is a friend from the Breton world who has found a love and passion for the bird dogs and wild birds as he explores terrain and areas he has never ventured to before.

Sit back and relax and enjoy listenting to Wayne help you build your checklist for your fall hunts!!!

This might be one of my favorite inverviews diving into the world unknown of bird dogs and falconers. Tyler is a premier hawk guy running pointing dogs and hawks on upland game in a completely unique and fun way. I would encourage anyone to take a listen to what this world is like and have fun listening to Tyler talk about how the hawk and gun dog world overlap in a crazy fun way!!!!

And as always, thank you to our sponsors American Natural Premium, Trinity Gun Dog Company, and Paradigm Sporting Dog for making this podcast possible!!!

Kaj is just an every uplander's dude. He wants to work dogs, read dogs, develop dogs, and have fund with his dogs!!! If that is you, then check out this episode with a not so amateur amateur working dogs with the best of em!

And thank you to the sponsors! American Natural Premium dog food, Trinity Gun Dog Company, and Paradigm Sporting Dog for making this podcast possible!!