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.