In this episode of Build From Here, Joshua Parvin talks with CGA member Russ Freehling about a lifetime of waterfowling, finishing the 41-species North American quest, and the rewards of training his own retriever—from backyard drills to seasoning a pup on real hunts. Tune in for practical training tips, creative urban adaptations, and the joy of building a true hunting partnership. Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence? Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy Need gear for t...
#073 Every dog owner remembers the moment everything clicked, but few journeys are as transformative as watching a nervous college student evolve into a confident hunting partner alongside his retriever. Colin Berry takes us through five incredible years with Milo, from that fateful puppy pickup day when flip-flops and non-toe-biting behavior sealed the deal, to their recent epic Kansas waterfowl hunt that showcased the power of patience and proper foundation training. We dive deep into the ...
#72 What happens when the digital world of retriever training transforms into face-to-face connections? The answer lies in the groundbreaking Nashville Chapter event – the very first Cornerstone Gundog Academy chapter gathering that's changing how retriever owners train, learn, and build community. Kevin Wright returns to the podcast to share the remarkable success story of organizing and hosting this inaugural chapter event. As a passionate CGA member who took the initiative to bring fellow...
#071 What happens when perfectionism meets a headstrong Labrador? Blair Badham shares his transformative journey from frustrated dog owner to confident trainer through perseverance, community support, and a crucial mindset shift. Blair's story begins with his childhood love of the outdoors, fishing with his father and eventually discovering hunting. Despite having no family background in dog training, Blair took on the challenge of training his British Black Lab, Gus, as both a family compan...
#070 Wade Skeen's path from Air Force serviceman to Kansas waterfowl guide extraordinaire reveals how passion, community, and proper training methods can transform both careers and gundogs. As a longtime Cornerstone Gundog Academy member before becoming a professional outfitter, Wade brings a uniquely valuable perspective that bridges the worlds of retriever training and professional hunting. Growing up in Mississippi with a focus on whitetail and turkey hunting, Wade's move to Kansas in 201...
BFH #069 When Chris Rowland's wife gifted him a Cornerstone Gundog Academy membership for his birthday, neither of them realized it would spark a transformative journey into the world of science-based retriever training. In this captivating conversation, Chris shares how his background in psychology helped him appreciate the profound difference between dogs that work because they "get to" versus those that work because they "have to." Chris takes us through his evolution from casual hunter t...
BFH #068 What do retriever training and life's toughest challenges have in common? More than you might think. In this heartfelt conversation with CGA member Seth Vaughn, we explore how training a golden retriever named Rusty became not just about creating a hunting companion, but a journey of personal transformation and healing. Seth takes us from his Southern Illinois upbringing surrounded by outdoor pursuits to his pivotal moment witnessing a trained retriever at work in Arkansas. That exp...
BFH #067: Ever wondered if you could train your own hunting retriever without professional help? James Rousse and his wife faced that question head-on when they brought home their Boykin Spaniel puppy, Benelli. What followed was a journey of patience, perseverance, and unexpected life lessons that transformed both dog and handlers. Growing up in the hunting culture of Louisiana, James always admired the incredible work of retrievers in the field. When the opportunity arose to get a dog of hi...
Dive into a heartfelt conversation with Kevin on building a memorable bond with his hunting dog, Mabel. We explore Kevin's journey from a novice hunter to a dedicated retriever trainer, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs along the way. From learning how to handle Mabel’s exuberance to celebrating remarkable hunting successes, this episode captures the essence of what it means to train a dog and form a partnership in the field. Listeners will appreciate Kevin’s candid reflections o...
In this episode of the Build From Here podcast, host Josh Parvin interviews Ken Witt, a Founder's Member of CGA and the creator of Gundog Nation. Ken shares his journey from a rural upbringing in Kentucky to becoming a lawyer, military veteran, and passionate dog trainer. He discusses the importance of mindset in training, the transition to retrievers, and the value of community in dog training. Ken emphasizes the need to preserve hunting heritage and encourage youth involvement in the sport....
Training a retriever can be a rollercoaster of triumphs and challenges. Jarod and Melody Free have grown familiar with these ups and downs over the past 18 months. Join us as Jarod and Melody share how one expensive house repair lead to them taking on the challenge of training their dog, Punch, on their own with the help of our courses. From tackling the fetch hold release phase to navigating the nuances of retriever training drills, their story is a testament to the power of persistence, pat...
Every hunter has their start. Whether it was a friend inviting them to try hunting or a beloved father. In CGA Member Wayne Triplett's case, his grandad was the first one to introduce him to the outdoors when he took him on his first turkey hunt. That defining moment in Wayne's life started a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Wayne's infectious enthusiasm for the sport and his dogs shines through as he recounts memorable hunting tales, including his pivot to archery and the exhilarating mo...
It's amazing how one simple duck hunt can change everything. Some 17 years ago, one simple duck hunt transformed CGA Member Todd Sanders from a deer hunter into a duck hunter nearly instantaneously. From that day forward, Todd has been in a passionate pursuit of the sport of waterfowl hunting. All waterfowlers can agree a good dog can make or break a hunt. Todd decided to take his hunting a step further by finding a good dog. Todd's dog Tusk made an incredible debut on his first h...
Every hunter deserves to have a hunting dog that they are proud to hunt with in the duck blind. So often, hunters end up settling for less because they just aren't sure how to train their dog or because they are overwhelmed by all of the misinformation out there. Scott started out on his journey unsure if he would be able to train his dog with limited time and the uncertainty of not doing it before. Once he got connected and started following 52 Plus, that's when everything changed. Sc...
Join us in today's episode as we talk with CGA Members Steve and Cherie Strongman. Steve and Cherie share the challenges they have faced as first-time retriever owners and how they have overcome those challenges and gained confidence on their retriever training journey. Want to learn more about how you can gain confidence on your retriever training journey? Visit: https://www.cornerstonegundogacademy.com to learn more. Want to inquire about a guided hunt with Steve? Visit his website here: ...
Marty Haynes is an incredible man who exemplifies what it means to be a CGA Member. From walking the walk himself to helping other people on their journey of training a hunting retriever, Marty is always willing to learn and lend a hand. Join him as he shares his success tales from this past hunting season and recounts the triumphs and challenges of shaping Koda and Bear into the impressive duck-hunting retrievers they've become. From the gripping excitement of tower shoots to the sign...
When Cody Weis recounts his first experiences in the world of duck hunting and dog training, it's more than just a story—it's a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and the deep bonds we share with our hunting retrievers. From Wisconsin to Texas, join us as Cody and I explore the emotional rollercoaster that is dog training—from those first nervous attempts to the remarkable moments when everything clicks into place. This episode isn't just about the technicalities of ...
What if the love you harbor for the outdoors could be as profound as the bond you share with your dog? On our latest episode, we sit down with CGA member Steve, a seasoned outdoorsman with a wealth of wisdom to share on retriever training. Brought up in the embrace of nature, Steve’s journey with retriever training is a tale worth your time. Be it the tales of his childhood or the significant role his father played in nurturing his passion for hunting, Steve lays it all out for listeners, ope...
Join us on a captivating journey as fourth-generation Floridian, Louie Pappas opens up about his experiences training his retriever, Red. With the support of the Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy (CGA), Louie chronicles the lessons learned from generations of hunting in his family, the cherished artifacts passed down, and the intoxicating allure of waterfowl hunting. Listen as he reveals his joyous and challenging moments - from the day he picked up Red to their current training sessions. Louie sh...
CGA Member Jake Birrenkott. This podcast is full of valuable insights and inspiration that can help you on your training journey. From BBQ analogies to discussing the American style of training vs. the British style of training, this is one hunting dog podcast you do not want to miss. Learn more at https://www.cornerstonegundogacademy.com/podcast Listen to this episode to hear CGA Member Jake Birrenkott.