Nordic Tales & American Trails

This week on Nordic Tales & American Trails, we're heading underground again!With Erik joining Jan Gustavsson (Trapperlodge) for the Badger BBQ this weekend, and with time being a little tight lately, we decided to revisit one of our earlier conversations.In this re-release of Episode 39, Erik and Adam sit down with Jan, one of Sweden's most experienced den hunters, to explore the world of fox and badger hunting with working terriers.We discuss Jan's experience with Patterdale Terriers, the development of den hunting in Sweden, training, equipment, and the challenges of working dogs underground. We also compare terrier hunting traditions in Sweden and the USA, with Adam sharing perspectives from Louisiana.Highlights include:🐕 Patterdale Terriers and traditional den hunting🦊 Fox and badger hunting in Sweden⛏️ Equipment, training, and working dogs underground🌍 Swedish and American terrier hunting traditions🤝 The experience, trust, and teamwork behind working terriersWe're looking forward to spending the weekend with Jan and the terrier community, and hopefully bringing back some new stories to share!🎧 Re-releasing Episode 39 Following the Trails. Telling the Tales.🎙️ Support the Podcast🛒 Official Merch Store:https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/❤️ Become a Patreon Member:https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrailsFollowing the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of Nordic Tales & American Trails, Erik continues his conversation with Mr. Loghead from Working Terrier History, exploring the traditions, practical experiences, and future of hunting with working terriers.They discuss the relationship between hunting, wildlife management, and conservation, along with how different cultures, environments, and legislation shape hunting traditions across Europe and North America.The conversation also explores Swedish terrier history, selecting dogs for different types of work, traditional digging methods, and the importance of preserving practical knowledge for future generations.Highlights include:🌲 Hunting, wildlife management, and conservation🦊 Foxes, badgers, and predator management🌍 Hunting traditions across Europe and North America🇸🇪 Swedish terrier history and artificial earths🐕 Selecting the right working terrier for the job⛏️ Traditional terrier work, equipment, and teamwork🍖 Hunting communities, traditions, and the badger barbecue📚 Researching terrier history and preserving working knowledgePart 2 concludes our conversation with Mr. Loghead, exploring the connection between hunters, working dogs, wildlife, and the traditions worth preserving.Following the Trails. Telling the Tales.🎙️ Support the Podcast🛒 Official Merch Store:https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/❤️ Become a Patreon Member:https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrailsFollowing the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nordic Tales & American Trails, Erik sits down with Mr. Loghead from Working Terrier History for the first part of a three-hour conversation exploring the history, traditions, and future of working terriers.They discuss the origins of terrier work in Britain and Europe, how hunting traditions shaped different breeds, and the influence of kennel clubs and show standards on working ability.The conversation also explores breeding for genuine working traits, traditional fox and badger work, and the skills and knowledge needed to preserve these dogs and their heritage.Highlights include:🐕 The history and origins of working terriers🏛️ Kennel clubs, show standards, and working ability🦊 Fox, badger, and historical otter hunting🧬 Breeding and preserving honest working bloodlines🌍 Hunting cultures and their influence on working dogs🐾 Understanding terriers working underground⚖️ Hunting traditions, legislation, and breed preservationPart 1 of our conversation with Mr. Loghead, exploring what makes working terriers unique and why preserving their working heritage matters.Following the Trails. Telling the Tales.🎙️ Support the Podcast🛒 Official Merch Store:https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/❤️ Become a Patreon Member:https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrailsFollowing the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year ago today, we lost our friend and former podcast guest Ask Hyldgaard to suicide.To remember Ask and mark one year since his passing, we are re-releasing Episode 38 of Nordic Tales & American Trails — the conversation we were fortunate enough to have with him about dogs, hunting, tracking, and his unique journey through life.Ask was a Swedish wounded-game tracker, dog handler, and former professional cowboy with a passion for working dogs. After years of experience with German Shepherds, his journey eventually led him to the Catahoula Leopard Dog — a breed rarely seen working in Scandinavia.In this episode, Ask shares how he uses his Catahoula to track wounded wild boar, moose, and deer in Swedish conditions, and how training, environment, and experience can shape the same bloodlines into very different types of hunting dogs. We also talk about why he added a Jämthund (Swedish Elkhound) to his team and what years of recovering wounded game had taught him about dogs.Highlights include:🐕 Working with the Catahoula Leopard Dog in Sweden🩸 Tracking and recovering wounded game🐗 Working wild boar, moose, and deer🧬 Nature vs. nurture in hunting dogs🫎 Why Ask added a Jämthund to his team🐾 Instinct, experience, and developing a working dog🤝 The relationship between hunter and dogListening back to this conversation a year later carries a very different meaning for us. We're grateful that we had the opportunity to sit down with Ask, hear his stories, talk dogs and hunting, and preserve a small part of his story through the podcast.Today isn't about how Ask died. It's about remembering how he lived, the things he cared about, and the stories he left behind.In memory of Ask Hyldgaard. 🕯️🐾And to everyone listening: check in on your friends, your family, and your hunting partners. If you're struggling yourself, please talk to someone you trust or reach out to a mental-health or crisis service where you live.Take care of each other out there.🎙️ Support the Podcast🛒 Official Merch Store:https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/❤️ Become a Patreon Member:https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrailsFollowing the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Erik catches up with Wayne Dixon for another chapter of Bjorn to Be Wild, following Bjorn as he takes his first steps from puppyhood toward becoming a hunting dog.Wayne shares what he has learned from watching Scotty raise her puppies naturally and how early exposure to the outdoors, other dogs, wildlife, and different environments can influence confidence, independence, and hunting instincts. Erik and Wayne discuss the importance of those first eight weeks and how early experiences can help shape a dog's future.The conversation also follows Bjorn's introduction to hunting and his early experiences around bears and other game. They discuss the balance between giving a young dog opportunities to learn while knowing when the risk of a bad encounter outweighs the potential reward.Along the way, Erik and Wayne talk about bonding, independence, learning from experienced dogs, modern training tools, and why developing a hunting dog is about much more than simply creating hunt drive.Highlights include:🐕 Bjorn's first steps toward becoming a hunting dog🐻 Early exposure to bears and other game🐾 Learning naturally from Scotty and experienced dogs🌲 Raising puppies with early exposure to the outdoors🧠 Why the first eight weeks can have a lasting impact🤝 Building a strong bond between hunter and dog⚖️ Balancing experience, confidence, and risk with young dogs📡 Modern tools and training young hunting dogsAnother chapter in Bjorn to Be Wild, following the experiences, instincts, and lessons that shape a young dog on his journey toward becoming a hunting dog.🎙️ Support the Podcast🛒 Official Merch Store:https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/❤️ Become a Patreon Member:https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrailsFollowing the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.