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.
Hunt Test Hobo Podcast
EP 59: Bill Hillman on Balance, Multiples, and Amateur Mistakes
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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 too fast without realizing it.
Chris opens up about a recent training mistake with a talented young dog — overemphasizing difficult concepts while skipping foundational multiples — and Bill breaks down why great marking dogs are built through clarity, consistency, and balance rather than just drilling hard concepts.
The two also dive into:
- Why Bill dislikes the term “transition”
- The importance of flow vs rigid training systems
- Creating a training checklist
- Why repetition matters more than novelty
- Teaching hip pockets and retired guns correctly
- Multiples progression for hunt tests and field trials
- Why confidence comes from preparation
- The difference between training concepts vs teaching dogs to truly mark
One of the most practical and thoughtful conversations yet for amateur retriever trainers trying to level up their dogs without losing the fundamentals.