Hunt Test Hobo Podcast

EP 71: Let the Dog Figure It Out with Luke Cour

Crown Champion Luke Cour joins the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast to talk about his journey through the retriever world and the lessons he's learned from Rody Best and Danny Farmer.We talk about trusting the process, building confident dogs, knowing when to step in, and why sometimes you need to let a dog figure things out.Luke also shares his transition from hunt tests and SRS into field trials, how he structures his training, and why competition-style training can make better hunting dogs.A great conversation about training dogs, learning from others, and enjoying the process.

EP 70: Getting Ready for the Grand: Marks, Blinds & Everything In Between

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with Tyler Brenner to talk about one of the most important parts of running the HRC Grand: how you actually prepare a dog for it.Instead of simply throwing harder and harder setups, Chris and Tyler break down the skills that can make the difference when things don't go according to plan. They talk about point-and-shoot training for marks your dog doesn't see, drag-back scent, gun swings, diversion birds, difficult blinds, handling strategy, and why confidence and communication become so important at the Grand.They also discuss how their training changes in the weeks leading up to the event, why they focus more on hunt-test scenarios, how to build a dog's confidence without taking away discipline, and the difference between training a dog to perform a picture and training a dog to deal with the gray areas that inevitably show up at the Grand. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about preparing for the “what ifs.” Because at the Grand, your dog probably isn't going to see every bird—and your ability to stay calm, make a plan, and keep your dog moving can be just as important as the training you've done beforehand. 

EP 69: Build a Confident Water Dog: A Transition Guide

Water work can make—or break—a retriever.In this episode, Chris Rud sits down with Dan Ihrke to walk through the complete progression they use to develop confident, reliable water dogs before advancing to Seasoned and Finished level work.They discuss building water attitude, introducing force-to-pile in water, teaching water T, avoiding common mistakes that destroy confidence, and why timing, simplicity, and momentum matter far more than most trainers realize.Chris also shares the unbelievable story of losing a trailer wheel on the way to a field trial, turning an ordinary weekend into one he'll never forget.Whether you're training your first retriever or refining your program, this episode is packed with practical concepts you can immediately apply.Topics include:Building a dog's water attitudeTransitioning from land to water drillsForce-to-pile in waterWater T fundamentalsPreventing cheating and loss of momentumReading your dog's confidenceBalancing pressure and successCommon handler mistakesTrailer disasters, field trials, and learning the hard wayIf you're serious about developing better retrievers, this episode is one you'll want to revisit.

EP 68: Stop Skipping These Retriever Training Drills (With Dan Ihrke)

Most retriever handlers know what drills to run... but very few understand why they run them or when to introduce each one.In this episode, Chris Rud sits down with Dan Ihrke to break down the complete land progression they use before ever running a Hunt Test. From force fetch and the T to modified T, four-pole drill, buzzer blinds, cold blinds, and memory work, they explain how each drill builds on the previous one to create a confident, reliable handling dog.This isn't just a list of drills—it's the reasoning behind the progression.In this episode you'll learn:Why most handlers move to cold blinds too earlyHow the Modified T and Four Pole Drill develop better handlingThe purpose of buzzer blindsBuilding trust during cold blindsHow to teach dogs to handle multiple casts confidentlyWhy progression matters more than individual drillsWhether you're preparing for your first Hunt Test or simply trying to build a stronger retriever, this episode gives you a clear roadmap.👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a review. It helps more retriever trainers find the podcast.

EP 67: Why Good Dogs Fail: Breaking Down Real Hunt Test & Qualifier Setups

Most people only see the ribbon. They don't see the decisions, mistakes, and lessons that happen on every bird.In this solo episode, Chris breaks down actual qualifier and finished hunt test setups from the past month—including Autumn's first Qualifier JAM, Winter's performances, and a couple of failures that turned into valuable training opportunities.Using real diagrams from each test, Chris explains how terrain, bird placement, wind, old falls, gun stations, and blind placement influence what dogs actually do in the field. He also shares the handler mistakes he made, why they happened, and exactly how he'll adjust his training moving forward.Whether you're preparing for Finished, Master, Qualifiers, or simply want to become better at reading marks, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how experienced handlers analyze tests after the weekend is over.Topics include:Autumn's first Qualifier JAMWhy bird placement matters more than distanceReading terrain and windCommon marking traps judges useHandling decisions that cost birdsTurning test failures into better trainingHow to evaluate your own dog after every weekend