Hunt Test Hobo Podcast
Welcome to the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, your place for truck side chats and deep insights into the retriever game await.
Hosted by Chris Rud, a fellow retriever enthusiast and student of the game, this podcast is your go-to resource whether you're just dipping your toes into the retriever world or you're a seasoned handler looking to sharpen your skills.
Join us each week as we delve into the intricacies of retriever training, offering a blend of tips, tricks, and wisdom from both amateur enthusiasts and seasoned professionals. From tales of triumph to strategies for overcoming challenges, we explore it all, with a shared passion for forging unbreakable bonds with our loyal companions.
So grab your coffee, hop into the truck, and let's embark on this retriever adventure together. This is the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, and I'm Chris Rud. Let's dive in.
Episodes
67 episodes
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 ...
EP 66: Marcy Wright & Kenny Trott on Building Better Retrievers
National Champion Marcy Wright joins the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast alongside Kenny Trott to share decades of experience training retrievers from eight-week-old puppies all the way to the highest levels of competition.Marcy ref...
EP 65: Craig Koshyk Explains How Labradors Were Created
Craig Koshyk has spent decades researching the history of sporting dogs, traveling the world to interview breeders, historians, and experts in search of one question: How did our dogs become who they are today?In this episode, w...
EP 64: The Philosophy of Great Dog Training with Andy Attar
What makes a truly great dog trainer?In this episode, Chris sits down with legendary retriever trainer Andy Attar for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with Andy's journey alongside Pat Burns and Mike Lardy and evolves into a maste...
EP 63: 50 Years of Retriever Wisdom | Jim Van Engen
This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Retriever Hall of Fame trainer Jim Van Engen for a masterclass in developing young dogs. With more than 50 years in the game and countless champions, national champions, and Hall of ...
EP 62: Well-Placed Birds and Better Marking Dogs
This week, Chris is joined once again by Tyler Brenner for a laid-back but information-packed training discussion. The guys start with a handful of practical training tips, including simplifying problems, knowing when to quit on a success, usin...
EP 61: Building the Future of the Retriever Game
This week Chris sits down with Tim Kingsfield from WISILL HRC to discuss what it takes to build a thriving retriever club, bring new people into hunt tests, and create a culture that keeps handlers engaged for years.Before the interview,...
EP 60: Grand Recap: There’d Still Be Dogs in Kentucky Looking for That Bird
This one is a full-on grand debrief with Tyler Brenner, Bill Schaffer, and Clark Kennington after surviving one of the toughest International Grands in recent memory.We break down the tests, the brutal cover, birds nobody could see, drag...
EP 59: Bill Hillman on Balance, Multiples, and Amateur Mistakes
This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down once again with legendary retriever trainer Bill Hillman for a deep conversation on balance in dog training, teaching multiples, building true marking dogs, and why amateurs often move to...
EP 58: The Most Powerful Tool in Retriever Training??? With Dan Ihrke
This week on the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris is joined once again by Dan Ihrke for a deep dive into one of the most important — and misunderstood — concepts in retriever training: denial and steadiness.Before getting into the training ...
EP 57: Dale Swiderski: Building the Dual-Purpose Dog
Dale Swaderski joins the podcast to break down the world of pointing Labradors—and why they might not be what you think.From early controversy to modern versatility, Dale shares how pointing labs have evolved into high-level dual-purpose...
EP 56: Grace Williams: Building Better Dogs from Day One
This one’s a deep dive into the beginning of the retriever journey — before force fetch, before handling… before most people even think about training.Chris sits down with Grace Williams to talk about whelping, puppy development, and wha...
EP 55: From Hunt Tests to Field Trials w/ JD Babb
JD Babb joins the podcast to break down one of the most interesting transitions in the retriever game—going from hunt tests to field trials.We dig into what it actually takes to make that jump, the mistakes that will humble you fast, and...
EP 54: Building Better Marking Dogs with Marc Patton (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Chris’s conversation with trainer Marc Patton, the discussion dives deeper into the mechanics behind developing elite marking dogs and building cleaner fundamentals in retrievers.Marc breaks down how he approaches ...
EP 53: Marc Patton (Part 1) A Different Way to Think About Retriever Training
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with professional trainer Marc Patton of Green River Retrievers to dive deep into some innovative training concepts that are gaining attention in the retriever world.M...
EP 52: When Hunting Season Breaks Your Dog’s Training
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud and Tyler Brenner sit down for a classic truck-side style conversation about the realities of training dogs as an amateur.Chris shares the latest adventures of “hobo training”—gett...
EP 51: Clark Kennington and One of the Toughest Dogs You’ll Ever Hear About
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with pro trainer Clark Kennington during pre-Grand training in Paducah to talk about one of the biggest events in the retriever world—the Crown.Clark breaks down the test...
EP 50: Designing a Dog That Can Win Anywhere
Season 3 kicks off with a deep dive into what it really takes to build a “Grand Slam” retriever.In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with multiple Grand Champion Ron Anderson and training partner Scott...
EP 49: The First Wirehair to Pass the Grand – Landon’s Incredible Journey
In this episode of The Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Landon—a trainer who’s breaking boundaries in the retriever world. Landon’s dog, Harker, isn’t your typical Labrador—he’s a German Wirehaired Pointer and the first of ...
EP 48: Two Chris’ on Pressure, Programs, and Progress
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with Chris Jobman of The Flatlander Kennels Podcast for a deep dive into retriever training. The two discus...
EP 47: Training Beyond Finished: What It Takes to Level Up
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris is joined by Zac Patrick to recap an amateur pre-Grand training day in Ohio. With dogs and handlers facing setups tougher than a finished test, the group experienced firsthand the chal...
Ep 46: From Hunt Tests to Cash Payouts – The Rise of HRT
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Justin Smith and Justin Jackson to introduce an exciting new game in the retriever world: Hunting Retriever Trials (HRT). Born out of a desire to give handlers and owner...
EP 45: Big Stakes, Big Lessons: Prepping for Hunt Tests
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with seasoned handler Mike Schwan to talk all things Grand. From early mistakes to eventually stacking up seven Grand passes, Mike shares the lessons, strategies, and minds...
EP 44: Why Ribbons Can Ruin Dogs... Kinda
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Dan Ihrke and Tyler Brenner at Gun Dog Success to talk about the start of hunting season and the lessons learned from recent hunt tests. From “rip and send” mistakes to the imp...
EP 43: A Miracle in the Marsh: A Conversation with HRC President Glen Scarborough
In this powerful episode, Chris sits down with Glen Scarborough, President of the Hunting Retriever Club, to talk about his incredible journey in the retriever world. Glen shares how a near-fatal hunting accident changed his life, his path into...