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
49 episodes
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 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 49
•
1:10:15
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 48
•
1:12:43
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 47
•
57:17
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 46
•
49:59
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 45
•
1:02:41
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 44
•
1:16:10
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 43
•
50:23
EP 42: The Art of Retriever Breeding with Marty Roberts
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Marty Roberts of Sporting Life Kennels to dive deep into what makes a truly great breeding program. From his first Labrador “Jim Bob” to building a respected kennel operation, ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 42
•
1:03:14
EP 41: HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!! RetrieverFoundations.com is LIVE
Chris Rud welcomes back pro trainer Dan Ihrke to announce the launch of RetrieverFoundations.com—featuring the brand-new Puppy Foundations course. They dive deep into why a rock-solid start between 2–6 months can set your retrie...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 41
•
1:01:43
EP 40: Pat Burns: A Lifetime at the Line
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with one of the most influential figures in the retriever world—Pat Burns. From his early days training and learning under Rex Carr, to running elite field trial dogs and coa...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 40
•
1:19:11
EP 39: Building a Great Dog: Ray Voigt’s Take on Talent, Timing, and Training
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, host Chris Rud sits down with Purina's Ray Voigt—a seasoned pro in the retriever world and former right-hand man to Mike Lardy—for a wide-ranging Q&A that covers everything from training philos...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 39
•
1:14:14
Bonus Episode (38) Blood, Sweat & Puppies: Chris Recaps Winter’s Whelping
In this special bonus episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud opens up about the whirlwind experience of Winter’s third breeding. From stressful late-night vet visits and unexpected complications to the relief of a healthy litter, this...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 38
•
42:30
EP 37: Ron Anderson: 30 Years in the Retriever Game
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with amateur retriever legend Ron Anderson. With 30 years in the game, Ron shares his journey from a farm in Louisiana to training multi-crowned champions like Smoke and Rip. They t...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 37
•
57:32
EP 36: Building Great Dogs One Decision at a Time with Bill Hillman
In Part 2 of our conversation with legendary trainer Bill Hillman, we dive deeper into the philosophy and technical wisdom behind creating confident, decision-making retrievers. Bill discusses his approach to handling on marks—especially...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 36
•
51:23
EP 35: Bill Hillman: From $6 Shelter Dog to Retriever Icon - Part 1
In this special two-part series, host Chris Rud sits down with the legendary Bill Hillman, one of the most influential figures in the retriever training world. In Part 1, Bill opens up about his unlikely beginnings—from sneaking a $6 dog...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 35
•
57:03
EP 34: ESPN Dreams to SRS Reality: Jason Pflasterer’s Story
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, host Chris Rud welcomes Jason Pflasterer, a passionate handler from Nebraska whose journey took him from hunting the Platte River to competing on the biggest stages in the retriever world. Jason sh...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 34
•
1:11:40
EP 33: Andrew Quintana and The Dog Trailer That Launched a Manhunt
What happens when a retriever trainer’s meticulously customized dog trailer is stolen in the middle of the night? You get one of the wildest episodes yet. In this installment of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with Andrew Quinta...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 33
•
1:13:55
EP 32: King of the Fluffies AKA Tyler Brenner
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with pro trainer Tyler Brenner for an unfiltered and entertaining conversation covering everything from golden retrievers in the Grand to the surprising history of Labradors as ship...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 32
•
1:12:25
EP 31: HOF Jett & Zac’s Aleutian Adventure
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with Zac Patrick to talk about two unforgettable journeys—one built in the training field, the other across the icy waters of Alaska. Zac shares the story behind his Hall o...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 31
•
1:07:23
EP 30: Clark’s Grand Recap and discussing the "IT" factor
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris sits down with the one and only Clark Kennington for a deep dive into the Spring Grand, what separates good dogs from great ones, and how to define the elusive "it" factor
•
Season 2
•
Episode 30
•
52:23
EP 29: Doing It All: Jeff Brezee’s Journey Through Every Retriever Game
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, host Chris Rudd sits down with Minnesota’s own Jeff Brezee—a true student of the retriever game who’s done it all. From growing up as a bird boy in field trials to earning SRS podium finishes, bree...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 29
•
1:01:51
EP 28: Two Trainers Walk into a Podcast: The Jake & Bill Show
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, host Chris Rudd sits down with Jake Stinson and Bill Schaefer for a wide-ranging, honest, and often hilarious conversation about life in the retriever world. From Bill’s unlikely journey w...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 28
•
1:03:15
EP 27: Winter Goes QA2 + 5 Tips for Running Quals
In this special solo episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, I share the story of how Winter earned her QA2 title at our latest Qual. From the long training days and unexpected setbacks to a standout water series that she smoked. I walk you thro...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 27
•
55:48
EP 26: The Art and Science of Marking with Dan Ihrke
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, we dive deep into the critical skill of marking with seasoned pro trainer Dan Ihrke. Dan unpacks what makes a great marking dog, from visual focus and memory to factors like terrain, timing, and tr...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 26
•
1:08:29
EP 25: Dan Ihrke and a force fetch dissertation
In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with his mentor Dan Ihrke for an in-depth conversation about one of the most critical — and misunderstood — parts of retriever training: force fetch. They break down every step ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 25
•
1:05:35