Steve Rinella and his film crew came to the Shenandoah Valley to film the Virginia dove opener. We had a blast, it was probably the easiest and most comfortable episode they ever filmed. We talk about guns, gun fit, bird hunters that love their dogs more than hunting, preserve hunting vs. wild, and topics all over the board. and finally I turn the tables on Steve and ask him a question that he has neve been asked before. You will be surprised by his answer. Along with us is Janis Putelis, and my friend Bill McPhail to chime in on several subjects.

A great conversation with Mat Cervantes. He owns a Small Munsterlaner that he got while stationed in Germany. We talk about the differences in how we hunt here, and how it is done in Europe. We cover testing, training, breeding. and how serious hunting is taken by our counterparts across the pond. You will come away with a different perspective. What I took away from this episode was, we might need to pay more attention to what we take for granted,and what we should strive for. And not to be a broken record, please go to Itunes subscribe, rate the show,and leave a review. the fluffy dogs are gaining on us!!! Thanks so much  Ron

I have a great conversation with Steve Snell from Gun Dog Supply,  We cover tons of equipment and great hunting stories. From boots to vest, GPS, training collars, first aid, a little how to.. and a great story on saving one dog and almost losing another in the Texas brush country. You will learn something for sure on this one. Steve and family operate GDS as their parents have since 1972. They test everything they sell. and by that I mean Steve hunts over 100 day a year with wide ranges of dogs. According to Steve.. "these are considered work days"  I call bull on that... enjoy. And please if you listen on I tunes, leave us a rating and review. I hate it when the fluffy dog podcasts, get higher ratings than HUNTING dogs.

I hope many of you respond to this request. I have a friend who recorded a song that I will use for the Podcast intro and exit. Then I thought I should get pictures of the listeners dogs to accompany this song on a YouTube video!! it should be a hoot to see as many of your dogs as possible on this video. So send me photos to dancingdukekennel@gmail.com with some verbiage that tells when and where this picture was taken and a note to say you give me permisson to use the image.   Will have a regular episode out this week. 

I visit with Rick at his Virginia home. Just being in his office gave me goosebumps. We talk about lots of Smith family history, including horses, BiPlanes, favorite shotguns,puppies, wonder leads, and much more.  The Smith family has been messing with bird dogs for almost 100 years.. Not sure if there is any other family that can say that!!!

I chat with Camille Rice. She was born into a Weimaraner family back in the day, when she,her brother and Dad drove a few minutes outside the city limits of Detroit to drop ringneck pheasants over the family's Weims. We discuss that, and many other details of a dog breed that had a good start in this country, followed by a bad reputation in the sporting dog world. With her and some other great breeders and the"Hunting Weimaraner Alliance" They are going to put the Weim back in its rightful place. We also date ourselves by the phrase "older than color film" and touch on Cam's battle not only to be accepted as an early women State Trooper, but an even bigger challenge to find a dog trainer that would even talk to a lady, let alone a Women and her Weim. 

I'm back at Black Creek Training Center  with Justin Mcgrail. We cover myths about what to do, and what not to do with your bird dog.  Many old sayings become local fact or sometimes the gospel accorrding to Saint Dog Trainer. Most of these do come with a grain or two of truth. We cover  Whoa posts, picking pups, field trial, neutering, steady training, old dogs teaching young dogs, never train your pointer to sit!!!  along with a few random stories of the field. and that myth of all myths "My dog never lost a cripple"

Just me blabbering about my trip to Alaska, plus some random thoughts on guided hunts that I've been on.  along with a preview of upcoming episodes in August.

My friend Joe Zawadowski and I talk about his introduction to hunting. With Joe it started when he got his first falcon back in Illinios. And then many years later, after moving to the Carolina's he got his first Spinone to help with finding a rare turtle!! then discovered the 4 month long snipe and rail hunting season. We talk about everything from Dogs to waterfowl and snipe. How to cook them. and even how you collect semen from a male hawk, to do artificial insemination!!! this will give you a smile for sure.

A visit with Mike Stewart from Wildrose Kennels. We cover alot of info on Americas favorite dog. The Labrador Retriever.  From bloodtracking to Bobwhites and sheds to Sharptails. Mike's methods of selective breeding and training are proven to produce a hunting dog that can do it all. Even medical therapy tasks.

I talk with one of the countrys leading experts in tracking wounded big game. John Jeanneney fro NY state was the first person to receive a special permit to track wounded deer back in 1976. until then it was prohibited in almost the entire US.

This was simply what all happened in a 20 hour span, during the whelping process of Arties recent and last litter. A little boring if your not into what it take to bring a litter of hunting dogs into the world. cover birth, naming puppies, how the kennel got its name, True Grit, and ballet classes.

Today I talk with Marty Monger and Steve Johnson. They chase bears with their Walker Dogs all over the UP and lower Michigan. Marty is also a K-9 officer in Marquette Mi. We talk about bear hunting, Wolves, Police Dogs. and a few chase stories with their pack of Walker hounds.

Justin McGrail from Black Creek Training Center, joins me to talk about his approach to training,and hunting, both his dogs and his clients. I have brought several of my personal dogs to him, for various stages of training.  Black Creek is first class facility with top shelf training grounds. We talk about starting a pup, wild birds vs pen raised, hunting in Montana and Kansas, shitty shoots and memorable retieves. and much more

Ed Bailey is a life long hunting dog owner, Ph.D. majoring in animal behavior. Ed was one of the founding members of NAVHDA. He shares a few stories of the past, answers a few listener questions, and gives a real feel for what we need to do with our four legged partners. We cover soft dogs, field trial lines, cooperation, obsessive compulsion,and how Cableas built right on top of his favorite dog training area.

This is a great interview with the next generation of dog loving hunters. Cassandra is a nationally ranked competior in the "Bird Dog Circuit" In her spare time she is one of the nations most renowned eye surgeons for all creatures great and small. From penguins to ardvarks, and all of our canine companions. We learn about what we should be doing for our dogs before and after a day in the field. And also talk about  why dogs eat socks and panties. (because they can) and we learn those lessons the hard way.

This was such a treat for me to talk with Ben O Williams.  Ben has been hunting since a young boy, starting in Illinois, then moving west after college. His love of bird hunting with his Brittanys has brought him to national notority, Author of over a dozen books along with writing articles for every major upland hunting publication. As well as a professional photographer and sculpter. Ben shares some stories and knowledge about what he has learned in his life with dogs. If you dont learn something from this episode you should sell your guns and give your dog away.

We cover dogs, shotguns, training, puppies,and a few old yarns about some long gone dogs.

This was a real blast, getting to talk with Dez Young.  He single handled produced a TV show that featured his dog Hank in the field. Then after being well recieved, continued to film his upland bird hunting experiances for many years. Not just with Hank, but also with Hanks offspring "Dash"   It was my favorite show.  Dez talks about his start in TV and many other subjects.  If you arent old enough to remember the series, then you should google Dez and his two great dogs, and learn a little about what upland hunting is all about.

This Episode was recoreded in Wisconsin at the SCOA Specialty. For those of you who have no idea what Im talking about, All parent breed clubs of all sporting dog breeds hold an annual meeting with hunt tests and conformation shows. Now i know most of you wont run around the ring with your hunting partner, but it is truly an important funcuntion. The reason most of us fall for a particular breed, is because of the dedication of breeders to maintain the standards set by these parent clubs.

WARNING:  this podcast had some language barriers, as I talked with Doctors  Amadeo and Maria Louisa Bottero.  They are international confomation judges from Italy. They own and hunt my Favorite breed in its motherland.

This episode is with Ronnie Smith, of the famous Delmar Smith family of dog trainers. Ronnie answers some listeners questions, along with giving great advise on when he starts a pup on birds, force fetching, porcupines, deer chasing pointing dogs, and when and how to use an E collar.  if you dont find something from this interview to take in and use for your dog, you might want to get a hearing aid!!!!

This week i talk with Stephen Sprago. He host the biggest hunting podcast from the land down under. We compare a boat load of subjects from small game to silencers, all the differences between New Zeland and the USA. and touch on traditions from deer camp to duck camp. or as the Kiwis call it MiMi (MyMy) for those who cant speak the language.

I brought Mike back to find out how his Virgina grouse season finished. Also about another gem of a hunt he enjoyed, shooting wild quail and woodcock over his two Brittanys. Also a few of my own trips thrown into the mix. and my new toy, the Garmin Alpha.  Also talk about off season play time with dogs and shotguns.

I sit down with my friend Al Harmeyer. Besides being the hardest working man I know, he is also a professional trainer, and applies that work ethic to helping folks with their K9 partners. Krystal Creek Kennels in Cedar Grove Wisconsin is where he lives and trains birds to all levels needed to compete, test, of simply getting your dog tuned up for hunting season. We tell a few old stories, but mostly Al answers questions from listeners of the HDP.

We continued our conversation about Craigs travels and observations about our favorite animal.  Rich history of the development of the pointing breeds in Europe.

We touch on hunt tests, breeders, and those who traveled back to North America to hunt with Craig.

The most indepth discussion about the history of bird dogs. Craig made 12 trips to Europe to compile this book. It is without parallel, in the dog world. And if you just like pictures and dont read?? your in luck. over 400 photos. We talk about what he experianced and how he put this together.