When Cody Lloyd brought home his first retriever, he did what most of us do — pieced together training from YouTube, books, and whatever he could find online. He ended up with a “good enough” gun dog… but not the steady, reliable partner he knew was possible.

In this episode, Cody shares how he went from feeling stuck with a 2–3 year–old dog to building the once-in-a-lifetime hunting partner he’d always dreamed of — without sending Bo off to a pro trainer. You’ll hear about generational hunting roots, the chaos of a pit blind with a breaking dog, the duck no one could find, and the one-whistle cast that changed everything.

We also dive into why he restarted with Cornerstone’s 52+ from day one, how the community helped him solve specific problems (like picking up giant honkers), and why it’s not too late if you feel behind with your dog.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can my dog really get to that next level?” this conversation will fire you up and give you hope.

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the BuildFromHere Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.