Podcasts about united kennel club

In this inaugural episode of Gone To The Dogs, Buddy and Jason interview the show's host, Steve Fielder.Fielder is revealed to be the sole owner and host of the show with DU Supply providing the platform on which the podcast will stand.  The group gets to talking dogs and presents an overview of the latest member of DU Supply's family of podcasts.   Fielder is questioned about his earliest beginnings, his dog-related journey from the mountains of West Virginia to the cornfields and swamps of Michigan, his three-step journey with three of the nation's largest and best-known dog registries, UKC, PKC and AKC, and finishes with his goals for coming episodes.  If you don't know Steve Fielder, you will enjoy this entertaining first introduction.  If you have followed Steve in his previous adventures in the podcast realm, this episode will be more of what you've come to expect and enjoy from his seemingly limitless storehouse of experiences and memories. If you want to get current updates from Steve, make sure to check out the GONE TO THE DOGS PODCAST with Steve Fielder facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1261416840966633  You can also find his book  “Gone To The Dogs - A Coon Hunter's Journey” at https://www.dusupply.com/gone-to-the-dogs-coonhunting-book.htmlhttps://www.stevefielderbooks.com   We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Alpha Dog Nutrition and Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode. Want to learn more about Alpha Dog Nutrition? Check out the links belowhttps://www.dusupply.com/alphadogwww.dusupply.comhttps://alphadognutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

In this episode, I interview Chris Ingram, Marketing Promotions Manager for the United Kennel Club, to talk about the rich legacy of The American Field—a cornerstone publication in the pointing dog world since 1874. We dive into its evolution and the exciting launch of its next chapter: the American Field Sportsman's Journal. This newly revamped 100-page printed magazine honors the 151-year tradition while bringing fresh energy to the stories and heritage of hunting and working dogs. From bird dogs and retrievers to hounds and beagles, the AFSJ celebrates the enduring bond between hunters and their canine companions through in-depth articles, beautiful photography, and timeless storytelling. Spoiler alert: I have written an article which will appear in the Summer 2025 issue! If you'd like to subscribe to the new American Field Sportsman's Journal, go to journal.americanfield.com. To get in touch with Chris, you can email him at editor@americanfield.com. --- The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast covers hunting events for pointing breeds. We are sponsored by onX Hunt and Elevate Pet Provisions. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.

We peek behind the curtains with insights from Scott Trulock of Trulock Chokes on everything from the state of the industry to why steel quality counts, and an explanation of what TSS really is. Then Chris Ingram talks about launching a new magazine for sport dogs of all stripes (and their owners) from the United Kennel Club and American Field. From content strategy to nitty-gritty, Chris shares his plans. Listeners tell us what they're doing in the off-season, and "Fix It" tunes up your hunting vest. You get a chance to win a pair of Trulock choke tubes (value $199) in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week. And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Chris Ingram is the editor of a new publication that has roots older than your great grandfather. American Field has been publishing stories of the best dogs, places and events since 1874. When the United Kennel Club picked up the reigns, it was to preserve that heritage. Look for this new Journal to bring all dog people together.  and use the code  (huntingdogpodcast)  to get your journey started  

This week on the podcast, Allen and Trevor's journey through the coonhound running rules wraps up with a discussion about Rule 14 (questioning a judge), Rule 15, (electronic and controlling devices), and a section on panels and appeals. If you're a competition coonhunter, this is part of our coonhound running rules series not to be missed! To learn more about the UKC Coonhound program, visit https://www.ukcdogs.com/coonhound-about To learn how to join the United Kennel Club, visit https://www.ukcdogs.com Follow Us on Social! www.facebook.com/UKCHuntingOpsPodcast www.instagram.com/ukchuntingops https://www.youtube.com/@ukcdogs   Check Out Our Sponsors: www.eukanubasportingdog.com www.dogtra.com www.zoetispetcare.com/products/librela

This week on the podcast, Allen and Trevor's journey through the coonhound running rules continues with discussing Rule 7 (timeouts), Rule 8, (handler responsibilities), Rule 9 (judging), Rule 10 (spectators), Rule 12 (scorecards), and Rule 13 (ties). If you're a competition coonhunter, this is another show not to be missed! To learn more about the UKC Coonhound program, visit https://www.ukcdogs.com/coonhound-about To learn how to join the United Kennel Club, visit https://www.ukcdogs.com!   Follow Us on Social! www.facebook.com/UKCHuntingOpsPodcast www.instagram.com/ukchuntingops https://www.youtube.com/@ukcdogs   Check Out Our Sponsors: www.eukanubasportingdog.com www.dogtra.com https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/librela

Here is part four, the final installment of Allen and Trevor's journey through the Feist Squirrel Hunt Honor Rules. In this episode, we cover sections 14 - 20 of the rulebook, including time outs, scorecards, questions, panels and appeals, cast winners, and how to handle tiebreakers. Be sure to bookmark these rule episodes as you'll want to come back to them again and again! To learn more about the UKC Cur-Feist Program, visit: https://www.ukcdogs.com/cur-feist-about To learn how to join the United Kennel Club, visit https://www.ukcdogs.com!    Follow Us on Social! www.facebook.com/UKCHuntingOpsPodcast www.instagram.com/ukchuntingops https://www.youtube.com/@ukcdogs   Check Out Our Sponsors: www.eukanubasportingdog.com www.dogtra.com https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/librela  

The boys are back this week with a wild crowd of guest's interactions! This week's Facebook live recording was jam packed with laughter and the typical ribbing between houndsmen. Bryce and Basham talk about the recent podcast with Mr. Layne Leverette, breeding CHROME WHEELZ, and Basham finally being reinstated to compete in United Kennel Club licensed events. Sit down and stay for a while. The crew is ready to entertain you!

In this episode we are joined by Chris Ingram of Feather Wind Creative, the United Kennel Club and American Field Sportsman Journal. Chris talks about how getting into bird hunting opened many doors for him not only in the world of hunting but photography and writing. www.featherwindcreative.com www.ukcdogs.com www.americanfield.com www.3rdalarmcharters.com www.ajacksonsound.com

Release Date: May 29, 2019Success, for houndsmen of all persuasions, depends upon the performance of quality hounds that are bred to do the job. Top-performing hounds are the products of those skilled in the art of breeding dogs. Whether the proving ground is a cornfield-bordered Midwestern woodlot, a moss-draped southern swamp or a cliff-laced southwestern canyon, regardless the type of game the breeding behind the hound will largely determine the success of the hunt. In this episode, Chris and Steve interview Treeing Walker breeder Randy Smith whose Lone Pine Treeing Walker kennel in Pennsylvania has produced several winners in the fast-paced arena of competitive raccoon hunting, America's largest organized sporting dog activity. Smith and his partner Tom Strang won the 2016 World Championship for coonhounds sanctioned by the world's largest coonhound registry, United Kennel Club and have made numerous appearances in the finals of the most prestigious events in the sport.Chris and Steve explore Smith's background, his philosophy on breeding hounds and the keys to his success as a hound breeder and competitor. Smith's portfolio of non-hound related outdoor pursuits, including fur trapping nationwide and trophy pike fishing above the Arctic Circle, typifies the extreme performance mindset of our guest, embodied in each episode of the Houndsman XP podcast. ►Get Your Houndsman XP Info, Gear & More Here!www.HoundsmanXP.com►Become a Patron of Houndsman XP! Check out our Tailgate Talks.|

Today's readings are from the March 1967 issue of Full Cry Magazine.  Founding Editor Estell Walker had some very special words for a very special dog. Bawlie played a pivotal roll in many breeding programs through the years ranging from coon dogs to big game hounds across the country.  The dogs and handlers of the past have paved the way and continue to shine a light for those continuing on their work today.Special thanks to Next Level Super Premium Dog Food for supporting our past, present and our future. Next Level Super Premium Pet Food – Next Level Pet Food We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Alpha Dog Nutrition and Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode. Want to learn more about Alpha Dog Nutrition? Check out the links belowhttps://www.dusupply.com/alphadogwww.dusupply.comhttps://alphadognutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

In this his final episode, at least for now, Corey joins Steve in recalling their memories of coon hunting in Michigan.  Each served on the staff of Michigan-based United Kennel Club, albeit some ten years distant in times served, and they share, in this episode, many memories of hunting one of the very best states for coon hunting in the nation.As summer winds down, what better way to usher in fall than stories of hunts under a harvest moon with corn shocks rustling and hound voices echoing across the fields, swamps and woodlots of Pure Michigan?   We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Alpha Dog Nutrition and Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode. Want to learn more about Alpha Dog Nutrition? Check out the links belowhttps://www.dusupply.com/alphadogwww.dusupply.comhttps://alphadognutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

In this his final episode, at least for now, Corey joins Steve in recalling their memories of coon hunting in Michigan.  Each served on the staff of Michigan-based United Kennel Club, albeit some ten years distant in times served, and they share, in this episode, many memories of hunting one of the very best states for coon hunting in the nation.As summer winds down, what better way to usher in fall than stories of hunts under a harvest moon with corn shocks rustling and hound voices echoing across the fields, swamps and woodlots of Pure Michigan?   

Jamie Estep is the busiest man in the coon hunting game.  He's a sharp guy with boundless energy and a winsome personality.    Not only is he a Field Representative for United Kennel Club, he serves as an official interpreter of UKC rules, anchors the annual YouTube broadcast of the UKC Tournament of Champions, is President of the West Virginia State Coon Hunter's Association, the president of his local coon club, the principal of a Christian school and serves as a full-time pastor of his local church.  Recently Estep was the overseer of a very successful West Virginia Championship which he and Steve discuss at length in this episode.Being from the State of West Virginia, Jamie and Steve have a lot of common memories of hunts and hunters of the Mountain State.  This one presents Dog Talk At Its Finest, Appalachian style  It's a good one.   

Jamie Estep is the busiest man in the coon hunting game. He's a sharp guy with boundless energy and a winsome personality.  Not only is he a Field Representative for United Kennel Club, he serves as an official interpreter of UKC rules, anchors the annual YouTube broadcast of the UKC Tournament of Champions, is President of the West Virginia State Coon Hunter's Association, the president of his local coon club, the principal of a Christian school and serves as a full-time pastor of his local church. Recently Estep was the overseer of a very successful West Virginia Championship which he and Steve discuss at length in this episode. Being from the State of West Virginia, Jamie and Steve have a lot of common memories of hunts and hunters of the Mountain State. This one presents Dog Talk At Its Finest, Appalachian style It's a good one.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Estep is the busiest man in the coon hunting game.  He's a sharp guy with boundless energy and a winsome personality.    Not only is he a Field Representative for United Kennel Club, he serves as an official interpreter of UKC rules, anchors the annual YouTube broadcast of the UKC Tournament of Champions, is President of the West Virginia State Coon Hunter's Association, the president of his local coon club, the principal of a Christian school and serves as a full-time pastor of his local church.  Recently Estep was the overseer of a very successful West Virginia Championship which he and Steve discuss at length in this episode.Being from the State of West Virginia, Jamie and Steve have a lot of common memories of hunts and hunters of the Mountain State.  This one presents Dog Talk At Its Finest, Appalachian style It's a good one.    We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Alpha Dog Nutrition and Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode. Want to learn more about Alpha Dog Nutrition? Check out the links belowhttps://www.dusupply.com/alphadogwww.dusupply.comhttps://alphadognutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

Jamie Estep is the busiest man in the coon hunting game.  He's a sharp guy with boundless energy and a winsome personality.    Not only is he a Field Representative for United Kennel Club, he serves as an official interpreter of UKC rules, anchors the annual YouTube broadcast of the UKC Tournament of Champions, is President of the West Virginia State Coon Hunter's Association, the president of his local coon club, the principal of a Christian school and serves as a full-time pastor of his local church.  Recently Estep was the overseer of a very successful West Virginia Championship which he and Steve discuss at length in this episode.Being from the State of West Virginia, Jamie and Steve have a lot of common memories of hunts and hunters of the Mountain State.  This one presents Dog Talk At Its Finest, Appalachian style  It's a good one.   

Jamie Estep is the busiest man in the coon hunting game.  He's a sharp guy with boundless energy and a winsome personality.    Not only is he a Field Representative for United Kennel Club, he serves as an official interpreter of UKC rules, anchors the annual YouTube broadcast of the UKC Tournament of Champions, is President of the West Virginia State Coon Hunter's Association, the president of his local coon club, the principal of a Christian school and serves as a full-time pastor of his local church.  Recently Estep was the overseer of a very successful West Virginia Championship which he and Steve discuss at length in this episode.Being from the State of West Virginia, Jamie and Steve have a lot of common memories of hunts and hunters of the Mountain State.  This one presents Dog Talk At Its Finest, Appalachian style  It's a good one.   

In this, the second episode about tree dogs, the boys are dealing with problems that occur at the tree.  Everything from tree jacking to chewing to guarding the tree are discussed in detail. In their years of experience with tree dogs of all types, the pair has experienced and have attempted to correct all manner of issues that make what should be the sublime experience of walking up and seeing game in the tree at the end of the trail, a stressful and often worrisome experience for the hunter.The episode is ripe with common sense approaches to dealing with tree problems and is a program most any tree dog enthusiast will appreciate even if they don't recall as personal experiences.  Admittedly, there may be more problems identified than resolved in this issue with a promise of more solutions to come.   Tree problems are complex and the hosts don't take them lightly, being careful to present only useful, commonsense remedies.Prepare to hear discussions on milling at the tree, dogs that become jealous at the tree and dogs that become hunt sour after entering too many competitions.   There's a lot of information packed in this issue and it's all intended to make the experience of hunting game with tree dogs more enjoyable.   There is also an admonishment that if the listener is afraid to correct problems at the tree, he or she may well need to find another dog or at the extreme, another sport.    

This episode will be Corey's last for awhile as he and his wife Kayla welcome their second child, another girl, into the Gruver household.  It could happen at any time. It's an exciting time for sure and one that will demand a little more of Corey's attention than usual.  He'll rejoin the show as soon as things settle down a bit over there in Greenville, PA.In this, Corey's parting episode, the discussion moves to observations on the recent UKC Tournament of Champions.   We break down the hounds and the handlers of the finals and offer some pretty darn good arm-chair quarterbacking of the final three from the perspective of individuals that have seen their fair share of major events from behind the scenes.At the center of this one is a discussion on why Walker dogs win when other coonhound breeds don't.   You can almost hear the porch boards squeaking as the motion tries to keep up with the spirited conversation.   Grab a rocker and join in this “dog talk at its finest.”      

Steve is on the road for a couple of weeks to New Jersey for family time and some fly fishing.  The only dogs he'll see is the daughter's hound/pit bull mix and the family Dachshund Louie who accompanies Ella everywhere.  But the combined efforts of Ma Bell and Al Gore provide the opportunity to keep Gone To The Dogs on schedule while on the long and winding road. The boys discuss the format, breed breakdowns and the ambiance that makes the TOC the premier coonhound event that it is, an event that boasts a purse of $250,000 distributed among winners at the finals held on the weekend following the airing of this episode.  The overall winner captures $50 grand!  Who would have thunk it?Things get interesting, even humorous, when the boys throw another chunk in the stove to discuss recent posts on the Coon Hunting Conversations Facebook group page.  Moving stud dogs around the country, deep-and-lonely dogs being born that way or manmade and what is seemingly causing smaller heads in some coonhounds.  It's all here and as the cliched phrase admonishes, “You won't want to miss this one.”  Heck, we don't want you to miss any of them.   Give that log a little more air, son.  

This is an interesting and informative look at the nation's first and longest-standing “hunt-for-monetary-awards” organization. Many competition hunters begin their journeys in United Kennel Club events and may find the prospect of hunting for cash awards to be daunting if not all-out confusing.  This episode provides the remedy in easy-to-swallow doses.The boys talk about the stereotypes generally attributed to money hunts and explore the basic differences in hunting for cash versus hunting for traditional commemorative awards.  Listeners that have never tried PKC or its style of competition will benefit greatly from the discussions as the boys gather around this week's edition of coon hunting's version of Hot Stove with Steve and Corey. 

This is an interesting and informative look at the nation's first and longest-standing “hunt-for-monetary-awards” organization. Many competition hunters begin their journeys in United Kennel Club events and may find the prospect of hunting for cash awards to be daunting if not all-out confusing.  This episode provides the remedy in easy-to-swallow doses.The boys talk about the stereotypes generally attributed to money hunts and explore the basic differences in hunting for cash versus hunting for traditional commemorative awards.  Listeners that have never tried PKC or its style of competition will benefit greatly from the discussions as the boys gather around this week's edition of coon hunting's version of Hot Stove with Steve and Corey. 

On today's show I am joined by Kristin Block. Kristin is the owner and operator of Block Sport hounds. She has many years of experience in the show ring dating back to 1976. She started at a very young age as she was mentored by her father in Junior Showmanship. Not only does she show beagles she raises them as well. On her farm she has several different breeds including some super nice racing horses. Her experience in the sport of showing dogs is unmeasurable as it includes Westminster, American Kennel Club, and The United Kennel Club. Set back and enjoy as we dive deep into her history and experiences over the years.  

On today's show Mike is joined by Kristin Block. Kristin is the owner and operator of Block Sport hounds. She has many years of experience in the show ring dating back to 1976. She started at a very young age as she was mentored by her father in Junior Showmanship. Not only does she show beagles but she raises them as well. On her farm she has several different breeds including some super nice racing horses. Her experience in the sport of showing dogs is immeasurable as it includes Westminster, American Kennel Club, and The United Kennel Club. Set back and enjoy as we dive deep into her history and experiences over the years.  

This episode covers AFTCA field trials, which are the amateur side of American Field (now owned by United Kennel Club). This is part one of my conversation with Laura Miller, an accomplished field trial competitor and judge. We discuss the different levels including Puppy, Derby, Shooting Dog, and All-Age and some key differences from AKC trials.  You can reach out to Laura on Facebook through her CH Lundy's Red Bull for American Field Hall of Fame page. 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 

Responsibly Developing New Breeds… What Does That Look Like? The facts are that all but a very, very limited handful of our breeds today have been created by mankind for some purpose. Companionship is a purpose. I would like to introduce you to the Toy Fox Terrier, for example. As society moves away from agrarian and hunter gatherer lives, companion breeds and even new companion breeds are more in demand than ever. Society changes. And I think that when we talk about purebred dogs being living history, in some cases that history is still being made and there are different needs in today's society than there were 100 or 200 years ago. [caption id="attachment_12482" align="alignleft" width="321"] DASH DNJ HOP UWP URO1 EGRCH SB Knightfall SPOT[/caption] Join me for a conversation with Nikki Holcomb about the American Bully. Recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2013, Holcomb is leading the push to responsibly develop this companion breed with health testing, temperament testing, breeding goals, a breed standard and more. “The American Bully is a companion breed,” Holcomb said. “A lot of people, when they see them, will immediately question that. They're like, ‘Are you sure these are dogs in the companion group?' Even when we're at dog shows, we're standing ringside and they're like, ‘Are you sure at the right ring?' And I'm like, ‘I'm absolutely positive.' It's surprising to people, I think, to see a big bulky dog beside a little bichon or a little toy poodle or whatnot, and they're like, well, we just really don't understand. And that's valid. [caption id="attachment_12481" align="alignright" width="358"] MBIS/MRBIS TDBIS MSDBIS VBIS R1 STAR3 RACEN URO1 AP2 VPA UWPO UGWPCH IC-GRCH INT-BCH DGCH ArK9s Noschitt Sherlock DNA-VIP NTD SPOT-ON[/caption] “But I think that American Bullies fill a really important spot. There are people out there that want to have a bigger dog, a little bit bigger than medium size, that can do all of the really fun sports, but they really don't want a working dog. Or maybe they don't want the attitude of a terrier, or they don't want to deal with the baying of a scent hound or the quirks that come with the sight hound. You know, whatever it may be. But they want to sport dog. Or they want a dog that can go on three-mile hikes with them or go swimming at the lake and they're like, well, do I get a small dog or do I just go with some of the things I don't enjoy as much and I think American Bullies do fill that space really well. “They're very easy to train. They're incredibly handler oriented. They're absolutely in love with their people, to the point where they've never met a stranger. Protective is definitely not on their list. A lot of people will see them. They're like, oh, they're guardians. They're 100% not guardians. They're not going to protect you. That burglar coming in the house is their best friend. They're super outgoing, they're fun loving and they love to try everything you know, anything you could do. They're excited to do it.” “The official listing of founding breeds for the American Bully are the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pitbull Terrier, Old English Bulldog and English bulldog. [caption id="attachment_12480" align="alignleft" width="307"] Health testing for the American Bully. Infographic by Anissa Shotbolt.[/caption] “I think they really took traits from each of these breeds and really focused on making a dog that could be calm enough and low drive enough to be with a young family, with young kids, or even a first time pet owner. Removing a lot of the dog...

This is part two of my conversation with Grayson Guyer about United Kennel Club (UKC) field trials. In this episode, we get into the details about the Gun and Open classes: how they are judged, what titles you can earn, and the differences between the two. To get in contact with Grayson, visit his website or check him out on Instagram. He also hosts his own podcast, the Companion Gun Dog podcast. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. Our newest sponsor is Toyota! We are part of the HerUpland family of podcasts. You can find me on the following platforms: Instagram | Facebook | Website 

This episode features my first guest: Grayson Guyer, an experienced bird dog trainer who runs Lost Highway Kennels. Grayson and I discuss United Kennel Club (UKC) field trials and he provides some history about the beginning of the program. We also get into the Natural Ability (TAN) and Water Retrieve (WRT) tests. To get in contact with Grayson, visit his website or check him out on Instagram. He also hosts his own podcast, the Companion Gun Dog podcast. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. Our newest sponsor is Toyota! We are part of the HerUpland family of podcasts. You can find me on the following platforms: Instagram | Facebook | Website 

In this episode Steve talks with Corey Gruver of Greenville, Pennsylvania.  Steve and Corey have a common denominator in their backgrounds, each having worked for United Kennel Club, the recognized chief registry of coonhounds worldwide.  Furthermore, each worked with coonhounds and coonhound activities in what is now the Hunting Ops Department. Steve became interested in having Corey share the Gone To The Dogs microphone as he recognized Gruver's wide interest in several breeds and combinations of breeds of tree dogs. Steve wanted to, and does, explore the reasons his guest has chosen to enjoy several breeds instead of being a single-breed hunter as most are. While at UKC Gruver wrote several articles that piqued Steve's interest as well convincing the host that his guest would be an interesting speaker and he certainly doesn't disappoint.  He's a very interesting guy and has no difficulty expressing himself on several subjects of interest to listeners of this podcast. Sit back and spend a couple of hours with Corey and you'll readily see why Steve invited him to join the impressive list of hunters that have shared the Gone To The Dogs Podcast microphone with the old coon hunter. 

The United Kennel Club's annual Tournament of Champions, open to coonhounds that have earned the registry's prestigious Nite Champion title, has rapidly become  the most-sought-after competition in the realm of purebred coonhounds.  Held annually in Greencastle, Indiana, the annual competition consists of more than one thousand eligible coonhounds competing for the overall win.Our guest in this episode is Jeff Ricklefs, a former guest on this podcast, who emerged the overall champion with a Treeing Walker Coonhound owned by John Strickland and Doug Galbreath of Kentucky named Grand Nite Champion Strick's Hardtimes Hobo.  Hobo took home the $50 thousand top prize for his owners in a commanding performance that is rarely seen at this level.. In this episode, Ricklefs recaps his exciting run for the title and the big check.  Jeff is a podcaster's dream, an articulate speaker with tremendous recall and the ability to put the listener in the truck and in the woods in the fast lane of competition as no one else can.  This is a great episode!

This episode gives an introduction to the main organizations that put on hunting tests and trials for pointing breeds. I cover well-known ones such as the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Field, and NAVHDA. I also discuss the wide variety of specialized groups like JGV USA, UFTA, SBHA, and NAHRA. The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by OnX Hunt and Boss Shotshells. We are part of the HerUpland family of podcasts. You can find Terry Ann on the following platforms: Instagram | Facebook | Website 

On this tenth episode of the UKC Hunting Ops Podcast, Field Trial and Hunt Test Program Manager Domenick Muoio is joined by Allen Gingerich to discuss the Hunting Retriever program, United Kennel Club's nearly 40 year relationship with the Hunting Retriever Club, and a few things you should know about getting registered with UKC and the upcoming Fall Grand. 

Bear and author, houndsman, pastor and all around good egg Robert “The Beagle Bard” Ford sit down and talk hounds, the wonderful books that Bob has written, and we discuss the plusses and minuses of air conditioning. Bob is an funny guy with a sharp wit, who hides lessons on life, God, and love in stories about beagles. For more information about Bob, his beagles, and their books go to www.beaglebard.com

The United Kennel Club is setting the bar for premier events in competition coonhunting. The Tournament of Champions, commonly referred to as the TOC is formatted in a way that is affordable, accessible and achievable for anyone who aspires to achieve greatness with their coonhound. In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast, Chris dissects this innovative, premier event. Interviews with the youngest competitors to elder statesmen to the behind the scenes operations and key personnel, Chris looks at every aspect of the most innovative and exciting hound focused event of the 21st century. Listeners will ride in the truck into the grounds, get a full visual of the venue, feel the excitement of the competitors and go behind the scenes to see the details of this successful and premier event.  www.ukcdogs.com Sponsors: www.timetogowild.com www.wall2wallfab.com www.joypetfood.com https://cajunlights.com www.shopbriarcreek.com www.dogsrtreed.com www.freedomhunters.org www.roughcutcompany.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Kennel Club is setting the bar for premier events in competition coonhunting. The Tournament of Champions, commonly referred to as the TOC is formatted in a way that is affordable, accessible and achievable for anyone who aspires to achieve greatness with their coonhound.In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast, Chris dissects this innovative, premier event. Interviews with the youngest competitors to elder statesmen to the behind the scenes operations and key personnel, Chris looks at every aspect of the most innovative and exciting hound focused event of the 21st century. Listeners will ride in the truck into the grounds, get a full visual of the venue, feel the excitement of the competitors and go behind the scenes to see the details of this successful and premier event. www.ukcdogs.comSponsors:www.timetogowild.comwww.wall2wallfab.comwww.joypetfood.comhttps://cajunlights.comwww.shopbriarcreek.comwww.dogsrtreed.comwww.freedomhunters.orgwww.roughcutcompany.com

The United Kennel Club is setting the bar for premier events in competition coonhunting. The Tournament of Champions, commonly referred to as the TOC is formatted in a way that is affordable, accessible and achievable for anyone who aspires to achieve greatness with their coonhound.In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast, Chris dissects this innovative, premier event. Interviews with the youngest competitors to elder statesmen to the behind the scenes operations and key personnel, Chris looks at every aspect of the most innovative and exciting hound focused event of the 21st century. Listeners will ride in the truck into the grounds, get a full visual of the venue, feel the excitement of the competitors and go behind the scenes to see the details of this successful and premier event. www.ukcdogs.comSponsors:www.timetogowild.comwww.wall2wallfab.comwww.joypetfood.comhttps://cajunlights.comwww.shopbriarcreek.comwww.dogsrtreed.comwww.freedomhunters.orgwww.roughcutcompany.com

In this fun episode, Elissa and Whitney are talking about conformation with Jennifer Sider, a long time competitor and breeder of rat terriers who is located in southern Ontario, Canada. We talk about what Conformation is all about, what these shows look like, what the dogs and handlers need to know, and more! About Jennifer: Jennifer has been involved in the dog world for over 25 years. Breeds she has owned in the past include an American Pit Bull Terrier, a South African Boerboel and a Central Asian Shepherd. She is a Canadian Kennel Club breed mentor for CKC judges for the Rat Terrier breed. She leads a local 4-H Dog Club, and competes in CKC, AKC and UKC competition, in both performance and conformation classes. Prior to her involvement in dogs, she was involved in various aspects of the horse industry for 20 or so years. Conformation can be done through the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club, as well as various other organizations throughout the world. If you're involved in conformation, we'd love to hear about your experiences!

Steve and Sid Underwood met in 1983 when each was attached to the Field Operations Department of the world's largest working dog registry, the United Kennel Club.  Underwood's role as a Field Representative, largely serving the expansive Texas territory, rapidly gained him national attention although his was already a household name among Lone Star State coon hunters.  His involvement with coon hunting and particularly Treeing Walkers anchored him deeply, even as a young man, into the bedrock of coon hunting history in that part of the world.  He hunted with, or at least found himself in the company of, some of the sport's most significant hounds and the men that hunted them.In this episode, old friends talk about the UKC days, the fascinating aura of the Texas State Championship, and spend a whole lot of time analyzing the way things were and are, now and then.Texas is one of Steve's favorite coon hunting destinations and he spares no effort to share with listeners the fascinating, unique style that is Texas coon hunting, something he first experienced way back in 1969.  This one is as comfortable as a well-worn pair of Wranglers and as satisfying as a stop at a Texas crossroads café for chicken-fried steaks.  Pour yourself a tall iced tea, settle back and we'll go coon hunting Texas-style with one of the sport's most interesting figures, Sid Underwood.  Listeners will also enjoy the debut of weekly podcast visits by storyteller supreme, Fred Moran.  

The old rule of thumb for new employees until there is someone hired after you - you are the new guy. Trevor Wade has crossed that threshold and is the not so new guy now. By now you have heard of Trevor, from Trevor, or met Trevor. Hired by UKC in 2019 as the Coonhound Programs Manager, Trevor has made a huge impact on the coonhound program at the United Kennel Club.Chris caught up with Trevor for a sit down at the Grand American in Orangeburg, SC. Anyone that spends more than a few minutes with him sees that he is a dedicated, hardworking young man. With down home roots and values to match, Trevor is easily likable and he is quick to talk about his love of family and his passion for coonhounds and hunting.www.ukcdogs.comwww.joypetfood.comwww.shopbriarcreek.comwww.dogrtreed.comwww.sticbowoutdoors.comwww.freedomhunters.org#youfollowyourhounds #fueledbyjoy Houndsman XP is Powered by Simplecast

The old rule of thumb for new employees until there is someone hired after you - you are the new guy. Trevor Wade has crossed that threshold and is the not so new guy now. By now you have heard of Trevor, from Trevor, or met Trevor. Hired by UKC in 2019 as the Coonhound Programs Manager, Trevor has made a huge impact on the coonhound program at the United Kennel Club.Chris caught up with Trevor for a sit down at the Grand American in Orangeburg, SC. Anyone that spends more than a few minutes with him sees that he is a dedicated, hardworking young man. With down home roots and values to match, Trevor is easily likable and he is quick to talk about his love of family and his passion for coonhounds and hunting.www.ukcdogs.comwww.joypetfood.comwww.shopbriarcreek.comwww.dogrtreed.comwww.sticbowoutdoors.comwww.freedomhunters.org#youfollowyourhounds #fueledbyjoy Houndsman XP is Powered by Simplecast

The old rule of thumb for new employees until there is someone hired after you - you are the new guy. Trevor Wade has crossed that threshold and is the not so new guy now. By now you have heard of Trevor, from Trevor, or met Trevor. Hired by UKC in 2019 as the Coonhound Programs Manager, Trevor has made a huge impact on the coonhound program at the United Kennel Club.Chris caught up with Trevor for a sit down at the Grand American in Orangeburg, SC. Anyone that spends more than a few minutes with him sees that he is a dedicated, hardworking young man. With down home roots and values to match, Trevor is easily likable and he is quick to talk about his love of family and his passion for coonhounds and hunting.www.ukcdogs.comwww.joypetfood.comwww.shopbriarcreek.comwww.dogrtreed.comwww.sticbowoutdoors.comwww.freedomhunters.org#youfollowyourhounds #fueledbyjoy Houndsman XP is Powered by Simplecast

In this inaugural episode of Gone To The Dogs, Buddy and Jason interview the show's host, Steve Fielder.Fielder is revealed to be the sole owner and host of the show with DU Supply providing the platform on which the podcast will stand.  The group gets to talking dogs and presents an overview of the latest member of DU Supply's family of podcasts.   Fielder is questioned about his earliest beginnings, his dog-related journey from the mountains of West Virginia to the cornfields and swamps of Michigan, his three-step journey with three of the nation's largest and best-known dog registries, UKC, PKC and AKC, and finishes with his goals for coming episodes.  If you don't know Steve Fielder, you will enjoy this entertaining first introduction.  If you have followed Steve in his previous adventures in the podcast realm, this episode will be more of what you've come to expect and enjoy from his seemingly limitless storehouse of experiences and memories. If you want to get current updates from Steve, make sure to check out the GONE TO THE DOGS PODCAST with Steve Fielder facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1261416840966633  You can also find his book  “Gone To The Dogs - A Coon Hunter's Journey” at https://www.dusupply.com/gone-to-the-dogs-coonhunting-book.htmlhttps://www.stevefielderbooks.com  

Todd Kellam is not only an old friend of mine, he also happens to be the vice president of the United Kennel Club. We do a little reminiscing of the old days and our Wirehairs and make a few announcements that may surprise you! and the next day we go grouse hunting....

In this episode we welcome Trevor Wade to the back of the old country store. Trevor tells us about his journey from East Tennessee to Southwest Michigan and what it's like running the coonhound program for the United Kennel Club. You're going to enjoy getting to know this soft spoken family man whose enthusiastic passion for our sport is only surpassed by his dedication to preserving our legacy while putting a fresh face on old stereotypes. UKC is moving forward and we think they've got a good man leading the charge. Take a listen and see for yourself in the 47th episode of the NLNP.

SHOW NOTES:  Summary: Stacey Barnett is an active competitor in nose work, tracking, obedience, rally, agility, and barn hunt and the host of the Scentsabiities podcast, but scent sports are her primary focus and her first love. Links mentioned: www.scentsabilitiesnw.com  Scentsabilities Podcast on iTunes Next Episode:  To be released 4/14/2017, featuring Julie Daniels. TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today, we'll be talking to Stacy Barnett. Stacy is an active competitor in nose work, tracking, obedience, rally, agility, and barn hunt and the host of the Scentsabiities podcast, but scent sports are her primary focus and her first love. Welcome to the podcast, Stacy. Stacy Barnett: Hi, Melissa. How are you? Melissa Breau: Good. Good. How are you? Stacy Barnett: I'm doing very good. Thank you so much. Melissa Breau: Yeah, I'm excited to talk today. To start us out, can you just tell us a little bit about the dogs you have now and what you're working on with them? Stacy Barnett: Sure. I have three dogs currently. I have a seven-and-a-half-year-old rescued Labrador-ish dog named Judd. Judd, he's my elite dog, my NACSW. That's National Association of Canine Scent Work. He's my lead dog, and we're competing at that level. He's the one that really kind of got me started in the nose work and really made me very passionate about the sport. I also have Joey. Joey is a nine-year-old standard Poodle, and Joey taught me all about building motivation into my training methods, and Joey is at the NW3 level, and I have Why. Why is a mini Aussie. He is about five years old. He has very, very little confidence. He's a rescue. He's got a lot of baggage, and you know, he's really taught me how to build confidence into the way I teach. Melissa Breau: Did you start out in nose work? How did you originally get into dog sports? Stacy Barnett: So how I got into dog sports, actually, I spent a lot of years...you know, I was a horse trainer for a while. I rode in dressage. Melissa Breau: I Didn't know that. Stacy Barnett: Yeah. Yeah. I was really big into horses. Loved horses. I still love horses, but they're just a little bit too expensive for me, which, I know, they're walking money pits, and so I'm a little bit of a frustrated horse trainer. I've had dogs my whole life, and I love training things. So I'm like, well, if I have a dog, I'm going to train it. Then it just kind of went from there. It just seemed to be a very natural transition. I just love doing it. You know, I love the training aspect, what it does for the relationship that you have with the animal, and I enjoy competing. Melissa Breau: What was the first dog sport you dove into? Stacy Barnett: Oh, the first dog sport, I would say it was probably a little bit of agility. I did start out with a little agility, a little bit of rally, not successfully. I don't have a successful past in any of the sports. You know, nose work's really it for me. Melissa Breau: Well, what led you to specialize in nose work? Obviously, being good in it is a big plus, but what led you down that path? Stacy Barnett: I have to say it was a little bit of a whim. I decided, you know what, hey, I'm going to try nose work, and I tried it with Judd, and he gravitated to it, and I just saw this passion come out of this dog, a dog that...you know, he's got a nickname. I call him fragile little flower. He's a washout, and I'm saying that in a very loving way, but he's a little bit of a washout in a lot of the other sports. I tried all these other sports. He's got some titles, but he was really only doing the sports because I wanted him to, and it was to please me. When we got into nose work, he just kind of was like, wow, I really love doing this, and to see my dog so passionate about a sport and so...you know, this inner drive, this inner excitement, this inner desire to do the sport, it made me passionate about it, and then I saw, with my other dogs, the benefits that nose work provides, and it's just become something that...you know, I eat, sleep, breathe nose work at this point. Melissa Breau: So you kind of mentioned the benefits in there. I know that nose work's often referred to as confidence building. Is that what you're alluding to? Stacy Barnett: Yes. Yes. Nose work is not only a confidence builder. It can also help reactive dogs. Nose work itself is very reactive-dog friendly in those venues because the dog doesn't have to work within eyeshot or earshot of another dog. They get to work on their own. However, it really does help from a confidence perspective. The sense of smell is actually pretty amazing. It goes through the limbic system, which means that it goes through the hippocampus and the amygdala. So the amygdala is kind of the fight or flight area, and the hippocampus is responsible for developing those early memories. So what happens is, is that the dog is scenting, and the dog is using about one-eighth of his brain with scenting, and this is all going through this system that's responsible for emotion and responsible for memory. If we can develop this positive feeling toward sensing and toward scent, we can actually help to put the dog into a really good space so that they can work, and also, you know, as long as you're working the dog under threshold, the dog is able to continue to work and will actually become more confident over time and actually less reactive over time. I saw this particularly with my little dog, Why. When he came to me, he could not work at all away from the house. He was also fairly reactive to other dogs. Had about 100-foot visual threshold to seeing other dogs. Now, through nose work, he has developed a lot of confidence. He's now able to search in novel environments with very little acclimation, and he's also quite a bit less reactive. He's got about an eight-foot visual threshold now to other dogs, which I think is absolutely amazing. So the behavioral benefits, especially for a dog like Why, they're off the charts. Absolutely off the charts. Melissa Breau: I hadn't realized that part of that was tied into the actual areas of the brain and some of the science behind that. That's really kind of neat. Stacy Barnett: Oh, it's fascinating. It's absolutely fascinating, and also, if you have a dog that has a lot of energy or a dog that might be a little bit on the hyper side, it's really a fantastic way to get them a little on the tired side, because they're using so much of their brain. They also have a tendency to be less reactive in the moment because an eighth of the brain of the dog is being used at the time, so they're a little bit less focused on what they see and what they hear. Melissa Breau: I was going to say nose work seems like it's really unique just even in the sense that most sports, we really want the dog focused on what we're telling them to do, and it's really dog led, right? Stacy Barnett: Oh, it is. It is. It is, and you know, when I tell my students when they're handling, I say try to think of it as 80 percent dog / 20 percent handler. You're in there, and you have responsibilities for the search, but the search is really driven by the dog. We use something called scent theory, right? But again, it's just theory. So although we have ideas of what scent does, we really don't have a perfect representation of what scent does except by watching the dog, because dogs are able to... I don't know if you know this, but they're able to scent directionally, which actually means that, you know, with a human, we can hear directionally. So if I'm talking to you, you know if I'm in front of you or behind you. Dogs are able to do this with their nose, so they really have to drive the search. This is something that we're not able to get in there and be involved in this, but at the same time, we have to make sure that we're covering the search area, and we have to interpret our dog's body language, because we have to be able to say is the dog at source and call alert so that we can get credit for that hide. So it does require a lot of teamwork, but it is driven by the dog. Absolutely. Melissa Breau: And you mentioned reading your dog's body language. I feel like that, in and of itself, is such a valuable thing for people who have dogs who are behaviorally challenged in whatever way. Stacy Barnett: Yes. Yes. Melissa Breau: So I don't have official figures, but at least anecdotally, it seems like nose work is one of the fastest-growing dog sports out there. Do you agree with that? Is that accurate from your perspective? Stacy Barnett: It's growing at a pretty good clip, yeah. Last figure I heard with the NACSW, I think there are, like, 15,000 dogs registered at this point. Melissa Breau: That's kind of incredible. I mean, I'm a Treibball competitor, and I can see just, comparatively speaking, nose work has taken off in a huge way. So I was wondering if you could give us a 10,000-foot view for people not involved in the sport, maybe what venues are out there, anything else that people should know if they're just learning about the sport or just starting to become interested? Stacy Barnett: Oh, certainly. Certainly. Essentially, what the dog is looking for is essential oil, and what we typically use, we use scented Q-tips. So the dogs are able to actually source or actually find these scented Q-tips, and they're hidden. We call those hides. They could be hidden in a number of different elements, and depending upon which organization you're competing in, you might have different elements, and these are just basically different searches that the dog has to do. The searches could be inside a building. It could be outside a building. You know, in some venues, you might have to search vehicles, although we never actually search the interior of the vehicles. We're just searching the outside of them, or you can be searching containers. So containers could be boxes. It could be luggage, or in some venues, they're even burying or starting to bury the scent in the ground, and the dog has to be able to locate the source of scent and then to communicate the location of that to the handler. What we do is we train the dogs very similarly to the way like drug detection dogs are trained. So it's kind of like having your very own pet detection dog, which is a lot of fun. It's really a lot of fun. I mean, as an aside, I was driving down the road the other day, and I saw a couple of police cars pulled over, and I saw somebody putting a Labrador into the back of a vehicle or a policeman putting a Labrador into the back of a vehicle, and I'm like, oh, I know what you're doing. It's kind of exciting. Melissa Breau: Right. Right. In terms of venues or organizations, what does that look like right now for the sport? Stacy Barnett: So that's also growing. So probably the largest organization in the United States currently is the National Association of Canine Scent Work, or NACSW. That's a very large organization. I compete a lot in that organization as well. In the United States, we also have the United Kennel Club, or the UKC, that also has their own version of scent work. AKC is coming out with a version. The trial should be available starting in October of this year. We have organizations popping up worldwide. We have an organization in Canada, which is SDDA. They use, you know, some slightly different odors, and there's a handful of other venues. So, basically, if you want to do nose work, there's something out there and available for you, and it's just growing. Melissa Breau: Is there a lot of crossover between the different venues? Like if you train in one, is it possible to compete in others, or is that difficult to do? Stacy Barnett: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I've competed in NACSW. I've gone up to Canada. I've competed in SDDA. I've done a little bit of UKC, and I'm a Performance Scent Dogs judge. That's another organization that's also growing. I compete there. Most of the organizations will use a lot of the same odors. Some of them use slightly different odors, but it's very easy to get your dog onto a new odor. That's a very easy thing to do, but essentially, at the core of it, the dog is still searching. The dog is still identifying, you know, the location of the hide, and it's still communicating that location to the handler. So although there are small nuances between differences between the organizations, they're all pretty much consistent. Melissa Breau: So you mentioned AKC's new program, and congrats. I hear you've been approved as a judge. Stacy Barnett: Thank you. Melissa Breau: What do we know about the program so far? You mentioned they're starting up in October. Stacy Barnett: It's a new program. The preliminary rules and regulations are out there. There's still I think some discussion about the fourth odor, which right now is identified as peppermint, although I think they're still trying to decide, I think, if that's going to be the final odor. I've heard some things that they might be reconsidering that, but otherwise, it's still the same first three odors as a lot of the other organizations, the birch, anise, and clove. The AKC also is going to have buried hides. So this is where, at the novice and at the advanced level, the hides are actually going to be buried in dirt in a container, and the dog has to be able to pick out the right container. At the higher levels, they're going to have a larger area, and it just might be outside, and the hides will be buried up to eight inches deep into the ground for the dogs to be able to find. They have that. They also have, as a part of the AKC program, is handler discrimination, which is, essentially, the dog is looking for the handler's scent, which is, you know, trained very similarly to looking for an essential oil, but it requires some different skills for that, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I think it's going to provide a lot more trialing opportunities for folks and open up a lot more doors for a lot of dogs. Melissa Breau: Obviously, just AKC's marketing program, in and of itself, is so much more robust than any individual organization can easily manufacture, so hopefully that'll give the sport an additional boost, too. I heard a rumor that there's a new FDSA class in the works, specifically to prep competitors for the new AKC program. What do you know about that? Stacy Barnett: Well, funny that you ask. I was working on a syllabus for one of them this morning. We're actually taking a look at the whole program, and we think of FDSA nose work as preparing the competitor for nose work regardless of what venue you compete in. So we're not focused on just one specific venue. So in order to prepare our students also for AKC, we're going to be making some key changes to our program and adding material. There are a couple different classes that are in the works for April that people can register for come registration that has to do specifically with AKC. I'm doing one that's going to be Introduction to AKC Scent Work, and in that class, what we're going to be doing is actually practicing each of the different elements and learning how to do buried hides and learning how to really, you know, work the dog using the challenges that AKC is going to provide, and all within the guidelines of AKC, and Julie Simons is going to be doing a really great class on handler discrimination, because she has an OTCH. So she's done a lot of scent discrimination work. So she's able to actually take her obedience side and bring a lot of that experience to the table as well. So we're going to have a class on handler discrimination, and then we're also going to be looking at our core classes and saying what do we need to do to help to make those more applicable to people who want to also trial in AKC? So there's a whole lot of stuff going on with that, and I think it's really going to position our students and really put them into a good position to be able to take advantage of AKC. Melissa Breau: I think Denise had mentioned the goal is to offer enough classes between now and October that, theoretically, FDSA students could be competing when the first trials are available in October. Is that right? Stacy Barnett: Yeah, I think that's about right. Yeah. Melissa Breau: So my understanding now, being a nose work competitor, is that there are very common methods out there for teaching the fundamentals. Just based on my research at FDSA, you guys use operant conditioning. Can you explain a little bit what that means, and maybe what some of the other things are out there, what maybe the advantages are to that method? Stacy Barnett: Yeah. Sure. Certainly. Basically, what I want to do is preface this with all methods work. There are a lot of methods out there for teaching nose work, and I have to say that all the methods I know of are based on caring for the dog, and they're really positive in their approach. So I do want to say that all the methods work, so I'm not one to say, you know, one method works and one doesn't, but I do think that the method that we teach at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is a fantastic method, and it does use operant conditioning. So, basically, the dog learns clarity at the get-go. They learn kind of a cause and effect relationship. They learn that putting their nose on source or on the source of an essential oil, right, the odor from the essential oil results in a cookie, or I use cookie generically. I use things like hot dog. Exactly, that's still a cookie. A hot dog cookie, but what they learn is that they learn very clear from the get-go that their action results in reward. It's a very, very clear way of teaching nose work. We also introduce hunting very early on, so they understand the discrimination to find odor. So, for instance, we'll start out with containers, and they can actually pick out the correct box with the odor in it, and then we build hunting into that approach so that the dog also learns that they have to search for it, and it's not just selecting one box out of many. One large method uses hunting for food initially, and then they use classical conditioning to pair odor with a food and then wean off the food so that they just have the odor. So all of the methods do work, and they get you to the same place, but I have to say, I think our method, it's very quick, and it's very clear to the dog, and I think, from a clarity perspective, clarity builds confidence. So I really think that the method itself has to build confidence in the dogs. The other nice thing is that, you know, as the dog goes up in levels, food is used as a distraction. So if we start the dog on odor only, the dog never feels that they can self reward on food, right? So food is already out of the equation. We don't have to teach the dog, okay, I know you've been searching for food in the past, but now food is no longer an option. So I think it's a really clear way of the dog being able to understand what's going to result in a reward and understand exactly how to play the game and how to win the game. Melissa Breau: Now, I know that a lot of the questions I came up with, because I don't compete in nose work, were a little bit beginner things. So I wanted to make sure we included something for the people out there, who are probably your number one fans, who are actually actively competing in the sport. I was curious if there's one skill or one problem that you find people having issues with again and again and what you recommend or how you typically suggest they tackle that? Stacy Barnett: So, I don't actually necessarily see a particular skill. Actually, well, I do see a skill that I see that people have a hard time with, but I'm going to talk about this in two stages. So the first thing that people are focused too much on is skills and not enough on the foundational aspects of good training, and this is just what I see in general. It's not focused anywhere specifically, but it's just what I see in general. When I teach, I use a framework, and that framework is built like a pyramid. So, at the bottom of the pyramid, the first layer is confidence. Then on top of that layer is motivation, and then the third layer of that pyramid is skill. So you don't even get to skill until you've built up a good foundation of confidence and motivation, and then the final layer of that pyramid is stamina. So what I like to do, you know, when I'm taking a look at a dog and I want to see does the dog have an issue, and what kind of problems is the dog exhibiting, I try to take a look at this framework of confidence, motivation, and skills, and stamina to try to understand where the breakdowns are occurring. A lot of the time, the breakdowns do occur in confidence or motivation, and it really isn't skills based. So when I see a dog that's struggling in nose work or having a really hard time with one thing or another, what I'm finding is it's not a skill usually. Usually, it's an issue with a motivation issue or it's an issue with the dog's confidence, either the confidence in their skills or the confidence in their environment, and I find that if you remedy these things, that then the dog is able to tap into their skillset, and they're actually able to be a lot more successful. So that's kind of the one side of things, because I like to, again, diagnose based on that framework. The other side of things, if we're going to talk about specific skills, then, that I think a lot of dogs do have a problem with, it's a fundamental skill that I think sometimes we don't pay enough attention to. Is, actually, when the dog is searching at the higher levels, they have to be able to search and source more than one hide. So what I've actually taught my dogs is once they find a hide and they get rewarded for it, that hide is essentially finished. So the dog is able to then work on the next hide, versus if we say find another, the dog might just go back to the previous hide and expect reinforcement. So there's a certain amount of training that has to be put in place so that a dog can effectively search for more than one hide. This is especially important if you're working on converging odor where the scent cones overlap and the dog might have to work for finding multiple hides within a small area. So, by being able to give this dog this skill and if the dog has the skills, they're able to find a hide, search, find another hide, search, find another hide without being enticed back to an original hide, and I find that that's a really core skill that is really essential for being successful at all the levels. Melissa Breau: Well, I'd imagine that's something that's incredibly hard to teach, because you're rewarding the dog for a behavior and then expecting them not to repeat it. Stacy Barnett: It's actually not that hard to teach. Melissa Breau: Really? Stacy Barnett: Yeah, it's really not. Dogs are really smart, and we have to give them a lot of credit. Each hide has a different scent profile. So they're not only looking for birch, anise, or clove, but they also can smell, you know, where the hide is placed. They can smell it's in a tin. How much QuakeHold is used? A magnet, a Q-tip, everything. So there's a whole scent profile associated, and they realize that once they get rewarded at that hide, that hide, yes, it's valuable, but the next hide is even more valuable. So we teach them to actually go to the next hide as being something even more valuable, and then they start to realize through training that a previous hide is no longer valuable. So it's really just working with the value that you place on what's going to be reinforced and what's not going to be reinforced. Melissa Breau: To round things out, there are three questions I've asked everybody who's been on so far. I wanted to make sure we got to them. So, first, what's the dog-related accomplishment that you are proudest of? Stacy Barnett: I have to say, that has got to be quitting my job and doing full time nose work. Melissa Breau: Congratulations. That just happened, right? Stacy Barnett: It is, and I'm completely free of corporate. I just love this sport so much, that now it's my complete...you know, this is what I do for a living. I train dogs in scent detection. That, I have to say, is my biggest dog-related accomplishment because I just finally figured, hey, I have one life to live. I could either be semi miserable in my day-to-day job, or I can really embrace my passion and work on something that I love, where, I know I'm working 24/7 it seems, but I love it, and to me, that's a really big accomplishment because it also means that I can share this passion with other people, and I can share this passion with my dogs. Melissa Breau: So what does that look like? Obviously, you're teaching through FDSA. I know that you're doing some seminar work. Are you teaching locally as well? Stacy Barnett: I do. I do. I have about a dozen live in-person classes. I teach seminars. I do webinars. I write a blog. I do the podcasts. I have to say, though, that the bulk of what I do is teaching with FDSA, but this has just kind of become all encompassing, and it's really what I do, basically, day in and day out, and I absolutely love it. Melissa Breau: So, for those who may be local to you, where are you based? Stacy Barnett: New Jersey. I'm in Northwest New Jersey. Melissa Breau: Okay, and then for those who are not close to you, what's the best place to go to find your webinars, and your blog posts, and all that stuff as they come up? Stacy Barnett: So I have a website. It is www. ScentsabilitiesNW.com. I also list all my online classes there through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Those are listed there. My webinars are listed, and my seminars schedule is listed as well. I write a blog. The blog is pretty informative and seems to be well read, and that's on my website as well. So I definitely recommend that, or just contact me. I'm on Facebook. I love chatting with people, so go ahead and reach out to me, and I can point you in the right direction. Melissa Breau: So the next question here is usually my favorite of the whole interview, which is what's the best piece of training advice that you've ever heard? Stacy Barnett: I have to say the most impactful part is, actually, I have to credit Denise with this. It's training the dog in front of you. It is so easy to take a dog and try to apply a recipe to it and try to train each dog the same way, but that's just not going to work. You know, even when I look at my own dogs, each one of my own dogs is such an individual. Judd's kind of a rock star, but he has a little bit of a fragile past. Joey had some motivation issues. I had to really work through some really big motivation issues with him. Why comes to me with a whole history, whole baggage behind him, and he had to really learn how to be confident. So in order to set out the way I was going to train each dog, I had to understand what that dog came to the table with and what kind of history the dog has. So understanding where the dog that you're working with as a starting point can really help you figure out what is the path forward. So I think that that's probably the best piece of training advice I've ever had. Melissa Breau: And our last question, who is someone else in the dog world that you look up to? Stacy Barnett: There are many, many, many people. I have to say, from a detection side of it, I really look up to Randy Hare. He's a professional detection trainer, and I have his DVDs. I watch his DVDs. I've learned a ton from him. At some point, I would love to be able to work with him in person. You know, just learning a lot from him. I look up to him. That's on a detection side. On the other sports, I have to say, every single instructor at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy I look up to, because I started out as a student. I didn't start out as in instructor. So I've learned so much from each and every one of the instructors, and all of that information, all of that knowledge, I've been able to transfer and translate a lot of that into how I teach nose work. So I just find that there's so many people, that I really can't identify just one person, you know, people that I look up to. Melissa Breau: Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Stacy. I really appreciate it. Stacy Barnett: Well, thank you for having me. Melissa Breau: Absolutely. It was great to dig a little bit into nose work, and hopefully we'll do some more nose-work-focused stuff in the future — and for our listeners, thanks for tuning in. We'll be back in two weeks with Julie Daniels, one of the foremost names in dog agility in the US. She was one of the early champions of the sport and helped many clubs throughout the country get up and running. If you haven't already, subscribe to our podcast in iTunes or the podcast app of your choice to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. CREDITS: Today's show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang and transcription written by CLK Transcription Services. Thanks again for tuning in -- and happy training!