Hunt Test Hobo Podcast

73 Episodes

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EP 73: Andy Attar: When to Push a Dog and When to Back Off

2026-09-1601:19:21

Andy Attar is back on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, and this conversation goes deep. After more than 40 years in the retriever game, Andy shares how his approach to training and evaluating dogs has evolved. We talk about the seasonal rhythm of training for field trials, preparing dogs for Nationals, evaluating young dogs, and knowing when a dog simply needs more time versus when it may not have what it takes to become competitive. The conversation really gets interesting when we dive into press...

EP 72: Teaching Dogs to Think in the Water with Marc Patton

2026-09-0901:42:39

In this episode, Marc Patton and Chris take a deep dive into water work, including swim-by, cheating singles, angles, reentries, corrections, and how to develop a dog that understands what you're asking rather than simply becoming a robot. Marc explains how he introduces cheating singles, why getting the dog into the water is often the real lesson, when to correct a cheat, and why he believes maintaining momentum is so important. We also talk about stress, over-handling, and knowing when you ...

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

2026-08-2655:17

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 grea...

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

2026-08-1901:24:10

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, han...

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

2026-07-2101:09:01

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 dril...

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