Gundog Nation
A show to bring together gundog enthusiasts, trainers, and handlers with discussion focused on all breeds and styles of gundogs.
Gundog Nation
Tracy W Stubbs - What It Takes To Build A Hall Of Fame Gun Dog
#60 A national hunt test that looks and feels like real duck hunting, judged by a standard that doesn’t blink—this is the HRC International Grand through the eyes of its chairman, Tracy Stubbs. We dig into why the Grand keeps growing, how a 1,000-dog event actually gets built, and what separates a solid weekend Finished dog from a Grand Champion that performs with style and precision.
Tracy breaks down the Grand’s five-series design—two land, two water, and an upland—and the scoring system that makes every decision matter. We talk pass rates around 20–25 percent, how marginal scores force perfection, and why consistency beats flashy heroics. You’ll hear how HRC’s realism—camouflage, decoys, poppers, duck-hunting distances—shapes training and produces dogs that are steady in the blind and sharp at the line.
If you’re choosing a puppy for competition or the marsh, you’ll get clear, practical guidance: look for multiple Grand passes in the pedigree, value amateur-earned titles, and insist on full health testing for longevity and reliability. Tracy shares what judges look for, how tests are approved for consistency and safety, and the volunteer engine—host clubs, site coordinators, and field crews—that makes the Grand possible. We also explore crossovers from field trials, why some adapt and others struggle, and the mindset shift required to check down on shorter, hidden-gun marks.
Most of all, this conversation is about community. Local HRC clubs welcome newcomers, teach real-world skills, and connect handlers across the country. Whether you’re aiming for your first Started ribbon or dreaming of Hall of Fame points, the best advice is timeless: slow down, train more than you trial, and run the dog when it’s truly ready.
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I'm Kenneth Witt and welcome to Gun Dog Nation. Gun Dog Nation is much more than a podcast. It's a movement to build a community of people around the world that like to watch a well-trained dog do what it's bred to do. Also, we want to get our youth involved into the sport of gun dogs, whether it be hunting, sport, or competition. We want to build a community of people united to preserve our gun dog heritage and to be better gun dog owners. Tune in to each weekly episode and learn about training, dog health, wellness, and nutrition. We will also offer tips for hunting with dogs and for competition, hunt tests, field trials, and other dog sports that involve gun dogs. Please go to our website, gundognation.com, and subscribe to our email list. We will keep you informed weekly with podcasts that are coming out. We also will be providing newsletters with training tips and health tips for your dog. You can also go to patreon.com forward slash gundognation and become a member. There's different levels of membership on there. Just go check that out. Also, we'd like to thank Sean Brock for providing the music for this show. The introduction and the outro is Sean Brock. He played everything on there except the Banjo by Scott Vest on the Dobro by Jerry Douglas. Sean is a neighbor of mine. I'm from over Harley, Kentucky. I'm just crossing Mountain in Hyde, Kentucky, and he's a super talented guy. But most of all, want you guys to check out the creakers. They are also from Hyde, Kentucky. This is an up-and-coming bluegrass and country band, and these guys are hot. They're all over TikTok and YouTube. You will hear these guys because of the year, so that they will be on the radio. They are very talented. Their videos are going viral on the net. These boys are family. Two of the lead singers, one dropped with my daughter, and the other one is my cousin's son. So he's family. But check them out. Check out the creakers. Also, last but not least, if you want to buy a hat, koozie, t-shirt, or even gun dog supplies, go to shopgundognation.com and you can purchase any of those items. Thank you so much for listening. It's a privilege to have people that want to put up with me talking about dogs all the time. I actually enjoy what I do, and I'm so glad to have this opportunity. And thank you. Hello, welcome back. It's Kenneth Witt with the Gundog Nation podcast. I'm actually coming to y'all today, not from Texas. I'm in Eagle River, Wisconsin, getting ready to attend Grouse Camp up here this weekend with the Rough Grouse Society. Anyway, it's a pleasure. I've uh getting ready to have a guest on here that's a real honor to have on, especially I know he's busy as heck right now because of what he's getting ready to put on. But let me introduce to you, who probably needs no introduction in the dog world, Mr. Tracy Stubbs with the HRC Grand Committee. How are you doing, Tracy? Good, Ken. How are you? Thanks for having me on. Thank you. And thank you for taking time. I can imagine right now, it's probably a rat race for you.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's getting it's getting geared up pretty quick now. It's uh about four or five phone calls an hour, it seems like. Now, Tracy, what's your official title at the HRC? I am the uh the chairman of the HRC International Grand, and that's our national event that we host twice a year. We have a spring grant and a fall grant, and obviously we're getting ready for our fall grand in uh Luverne, Tennessee.
SPEAKER_01:Now, what is getting ready for that entail? I can't imagine the logistics you guys do.
SPEAKER_00:Well, uh, this is gonna be our largest grant ever, Ken. Uh we have a thousand fifty dogs were entered at the closing of entries. Now we'll lose some of those dogs to heat and injuries and you know different things, and folks can't make it, but uh we're expecting a thousand dogs, and that that's a record for us. Wow. Well now, what's the average been in the past, Tracy? Well, we we've we've been very gracious and and thankful that we've been on an upward scale. Um, you know, uh twelve years ago we were around 400 dogs at a grand, and then now we're we're running a thousand, and it's it's a slow, steady increase, which is is good for us. It allows us to grow.
SPEAKER_01:Now, I I noticed, and I don't, you know, I'm not trying to get controversial by any means, uh, but I know there's some new rules this year affecting the Master National as far as limiting the amount of people, uh the lot of dogs that they've normally let in there. I don't know all the specifics and don't claim to, but I've I would think that that would up your all's attendance. That do you see that?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, well, we we had an increase. Um we had about a 60 dog increase in our entries. Um, but you know, we like I said, we've been enjoying this this slow, steady climb for for several years now. Um the effects at the Master National Club, that's gonna affect their Masternational next year. So, you know, it's kind of unpredictable at this time. Okay, gotcha.
SPEAKER_01:I I didn't I'm glad you pointed that out for me. Um, so Tracy, let's just dig right down into it. It's tell ex educate me and the listeners about the HRC, what it is, what it stands for, and what your goals are.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, the the HRC stands for the Hunting Retriever Club, and it's uh it's a retriever performance uh event, and it's open to retrievers and versatile uh gun dogs that are recognized by the United Kennel Club. The United Kennel Club is our sanctioning breed registry that recognizes our titles, it does our litter registrations and all that. So to earn HRC titles, you have to be a permanently registered dog with United Kennel Club.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Um and a little bit of the history of HRC, how did it how did it come about?
SPEAKER_00:Well, it was a vision and a dream of uh a man named Omar Driscoll down in Ruston, Louisiana area, um in Lake Village, Arkansas, is where Omar's uh lives now. And uh he he was a field trialer, you know, white coat field trialer, and and was looking, I I guess for lack of better terms, wasn't satisfied with that, and was looking for something that uh was more related to a duck hunter. And uh, you know, field trials are incredible. Those those dogs do things that it's just unimaginable what they can do. And uh the the handlers and the trainers, you know, kudos to them. But it doesn't represent what we're doing in in the duck world, and uh and there's all kinds of venues. I'm a proponent of all of them. Anytime that you have a better trained dog and can improve bloodlines and the breeds and all that, I'm for it. So I'm not against any any venue out there. It just HRC is my my passion.
SPEAKER_01:You know, I I like that. And you know something, just me being an outsider, Tracy, uh I I do HRC. I'm just really getting into that world uh and and AKC tests both. The one thing I notice, and I'm not trying to take sides and I'm not asking you to, but it seems like the HRC, you know, it's more of a family kind of event. They have dinners there, and I really enjoy that. AKC is a good group too, and I go to those. I'm actually an AKC started judge, and working on my HRC C uh started, I mean, and uh and AKC Junior, I always get them mixed up. But uh I really like that about the HRC. It's it's a very family-oriented, uh community-oriented organization.
SPEAKER_00:It is, and I think that that's what draws me a lot, and and I and I've had good relationships with all the venues that that I've ever been involved with. I run some AKC with my dogs, and the SRS is is another great venue, and the field trial I've always enjoyed good relationships. And uh but the the the HRC that's going back to the roots of it, is it's you got the camouflage, we shoot a gun over it. Now we shoot poppers for the safety factor, but you know, it's uh it's duck hunting. We try to keep that realism. There's decoys, it's actual duck hunting distances, and you know, it doesn't take away from anything else. It's just that's what is popular about the HRC.
SPEAKER_01:Now it's it's no secret to guy to to you know men and women that are in this sport, but the grand, I've been told I've never competed in the grand. I that's my goal. I I mentioned that to you yesterday via text. But the grand is by far the hardest hunt test to achieve. Would that be safe to say?
SPEAKER_00:In the hunt test programs, you know, I I'm very partial to the grand and HRC. So, you know, my my opinion is a bit biased, but it it is hard. And the and the reason is because of the scoring system that was developed long before my tenure as chairman by some folks that had some great forethought. You know, it is the national event and the national title of our organization. It's the pinnacle, and that includes the hall of fame now. Okay, uh, because you have to be a grand champion to be in the hall of fame. But it uh we have a scoring system. That's what it differs from the weekend event, is it has a scoring system that once you're scored down to a marginal score, you can't gain that ground back. So you know, you can you escape by then, you know, you have to be perfect from that point forward. And I think that that's what separates us out and gives us that more competitive edge. And when you have a grand champion, and especially a hall of fame grand champion, that's an incredible animal.
SPEAKER_01:You know, I think that I've uh when you ask people, Tracy, you know, when you're looking for a pup and you want like just the best bred pup that's also a hunting companion, so many pros tell me, look one that not just has a couple grand passes, but several grand passes, because that's not easy to achieve.
SPEAKER_00:That's not easy. And you there's a there's a lot of great dogs out there that have never passed the grand. You know, I have one of those myself that's been to that fifth series several times. And yeah, you know, it's it's that competitive edge, you know, with that he's a great dog, the best dog I've ever had, and I am grateful for him, but he just can't hold it together long enough, you know. But it just drives you for the next one.
SPEAKER_01:What you know, and and please correct me if I'm wrong, Tracy. I've been told, I guess, I'm not sure who told me, but the pass rate on average for the grant is around 23 percent. Is that accurate?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the historical pass rate is is right around that 20 to 25 percent average, you know. And that's very cyclic with the dogs, uh times of the year, you know, it's it there's a lot of factors. There's been a lot of uh spreadsheets to try to quantify you know what what that percentage builds, but it's really about what dogs, what conditions, how the sun was, you know, there's so many uncontrollable factors in there, it's not fair to try to quantify it.
SPEAKER_01:So um and and just for everybody else, I think I know the answer to this question, but how many passes, what does it take to make a Hall of Fame dog in the HRC?
SPEAKER_00:Okay, well let's let's go back to what it takes to get qualified for the grant. Is you have to be permanently registered with UKC, you have to be a member of the Hunting Retriever Club, and then your dog has to be a hunting retriever champion, meaning at the local events it's it's pass finished and earned the hunting retriever champion title. Once you receive that title, you are automatically qualified for the grant.
SPEAKER_02:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Um to run the grand, it's the five series, two water series, two land series, and then an upland series. To get the title, it's two grand passes and a total of a hundred or three hundred championship points from the local level and grand passes. And then to be a Hall of Fame dog, it's a thousand points, championship points, and four grand passes.
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SPEAKER_00:Yes, sir. That's that's a lot of fun and a lot of anguish. All in about 15 seconds.
SPEAKER_01:Man, yes. Uh, is that one of the things? What do you see that's the most challenging of the grand competition?
SPEAKER_00:I think the most challenging is is uh the consistency. You know, though these dogs come in here and they are trained as hard as they can be trained, building up to it. And you get here to the grand and they can make one minor mistake. And so they've got to be consistent. They've got to be a good marker, they've got to be a good blind runner. You know, if you've got a dog that can't get through a weekend event at two tests and has to handle both days, that's not a grand dog. Because he's he's not gonna get you out of the second series. If you run, you know, we we should always look at our blinds and say, you know, am I running really tight challenging blinds and challenging that line and challenging that herd? If you think you're sloppy or they're like you, you know, you're not you're not feeling super confident, then that's that consistency you're lacking at very well.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Now, Tracy, what would you look for? Just your personal view. If you're looking for a pup bred to that your your goal is to take a pup all the way the grand, which is what I'm doing, what do you look for?
SPEAKER_00:Well, it it's in the breedings. If if you want to run the grand, then you want a grand titled parent in your puppy. You know, as much as you can get in that that breeding, you want those GRHRCs in there. And uh because that's telling you that those that that type of dog can be consistent at the grand level of training. Okay, and usually they're pretty successful at everything else, too. So it, you know, that's and it'll show over because they'll carry all those titles, and you know, that super competitive dog is going to be good at all these venues that we run. So it but I am I personally want as much grand titles as I can see in that dog. If it's amateur titles, that is a big bonus, you know, because that that's a dog that's been trained by an amateur and and not put in a pros regiment. You know, there is we have some really great pros in HRC that can consistently build, they have high pass rates, they build a lot of great dogs because they have great programs.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:And so, you know, you mix that in there with some amateur built dogs, and that's what you're looking for. And I know we're we're we're getting around the circle to hear what you just picked up this week, and that's exactly where we're at. There's a long, long history on both sides of the dogs, and you know, Chris Rudd's done a great job with winter, and she's been out and been super consistent at an amateur level. So and then Stroker being the side I'm gonna spill all your beans and steal all your thunder, but you know, stroker's thrown great, great puppies in the past, and you know, this this is a repeat breeding, and you know, those dogs are doing good, so that's that's what I look for. And then fundamentally, you need to have a genetically sound dog, good hips, good elbows, with all of our uh genetic testing we do now, EIC and CNM, PRA, uh, everything that's on that panel, you need to be as clear as you can of those. So that that's and that's the basis of the whole program is building those performance dogs with better genetics.
SPEAKER_01:Tracy, you just taught me something, and I never really thought that far through, but picking an amateur titled dog in the grant. I never you thought, but yeah, that I could see how that is an even more challenge.
SPEAKER_00:Sure, because that that amateur doesn't have you know 30, 40 bullets in his in his kennel that he's trained in every day that that becomes that expert at interpreting dogs and reading dogs. You know, most amateurs have one or two, maybe three at the most, dogs, and so they don't have they don't gain that experience as fast. And there's some great amateurs. Don't don't let me lead you astray. There's some amateurs that could compete with any of the pros in our program. And and at the grand level, I would say all of our amateurs can compete at that level. They are, you know, they just don't bring as many bullets.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes. Um and you know, I hear that uh on this podcast a lot, Trace. I hear a lot of people like Roadie Best and like uh uh you know talk about uh how for example the SRS series, you know, how the amateur competition is really tough now. That's right. And I'm sure the grand's that way too. Um is it say you know, to me, my outside outsider looking in at the grand competition since I've never gotten to that level by a long shot, it seems that to me that obedience is is a pure must in that competition. Is that uh would you elaborate on that?
SPEAKER_00:You know, your your your your finished level dog at the local event, that's a dog that's a really, really good hunting dog. He's gonna go just anywhere in the country and pick up the majority of real birds without without any issue. The grand dog is the guy that will, the dog that will go anywhere with style and precision. You know, and that's what you he's gonna get you invited back when you're you're not such a good guy, your dog's always gonna get you invited. You know, that that's what I get the pinnacle of the grand dog. And you know, there's there's some fallacies out there that the dog has to be perfect and walk in cadence and all that. That's not it. It's it's a dog that is going with the handler, that sits obediently and quietly at the line and watches and wants to be engaged to the hunt and to retrieve birds and work with the handler. That's a grand champion, and that's with precision and style. You know, that you're not screaming and yelling at that dog. We've all been out there on them hunting areas and everybody's screaming for the dog before daylight. Where's my dog, you know, and all that. That ain't a grand champion. A grand champion's a dog that's right there in the boat, ready to go hunt.
SPEAKER_01:Now, Tracy, I assume I know a little bit of your background, and and we've talked about that off offline, but I would assume you have a lot of experience judging and competing. Tell us about your experience.
SPEAKER_00:Sure. Uh I got started back around 2000 with uh I was a duck hunter and and got bitten. You know, I grew up hunting deer and hogs and turkeys in Florida. And when I got old enough to travel on my own, we started hunting ducks and getting out. And uh I'll tell you where I got started. We were deer hunting up in Georgia, and we went to the Georgia Bucarama in Perry, Georgia, there. It's a big, big deer show. And uh, Old South Hunting Retriever Club was there putting on a demonstration, and a very good friend of mine, Marcus Pice, was there. And I what I saw him do with his dogs, I I turned to my my girlfriend at the time, but she's now my wife, and I said, I gotta have one of those. And uh probably spent enough money to buy a pretty good house and nice vehicles and all that to get there. But you know, I I keep a pretty good duck dog, and you know, and once you're bitten by it, it's it's there. But you know, when I've trained on um from puppies from seven weeks old, the first puppy that I trained as a competitive dog was given to me. And uh he was very well bred and was a really good dog. He was a lot. I wish I would have known what I know now when I had that puppy, because he was an incredible dog. And uh, but he was given to me, and and just enjoyed the guys like, you know, you you've got this dog that you bought that was trained, but here's a puppy, and enjoy the journey. Find yourself an HRC club and and go and do it. And that's kind of what led me there as a man named Alden Little out of uh Birmingham, Alabama. And uh he uh sent me on there, so that's that's 25 years ago now almost, and and got involved with my local club in Central Florida, the Central Florida Hunting Retriever Club, and the members there, going back to what you talked about, the family, just welcomed me in. The president at that time, Carl Knock. I talked, called him and talked to him on the phone for an hour, like we were old friends. And he was a retired colonel, uh worked for Martin Marietta after his service, and just a great guy. And I remember pulling in at the property owner's land, and I pulled through the gate, and when I opened my door to get out, Carl was standing there and shaking my hand and like we'd been friends for a hundred years, and and just everybody there, the landowner wing guy, and just you know, just going back, it gets me a little choked up thinking about it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Now, so Tracy, where where is the Central Florida Club located?
SPEAKER_00:Montverde, Florida, that's on the northwest side of Orlando, up towards between Claremont and Orlando.
SPEAKER_01:Well, here's a question I've always wondered about you guys. You know, I uh you you know that I've spent a lot of my early years, my my childhood and everything down in where you grew up. How do y'all train dogs with gators everywhere? I mean, what what how do you very carefully?
SPEAKER_00:Okay you know, you you you don't go to places that you don't know what's going on there, and uh, you know, you spotlight them at night, um, stay away from deep water, you know, those things. And you you learn. I mean, we grew up around gators, and it's it's no different in Florida as it is all across the Gulf Coast, all the way to Texas. You know, gators, gators are everywhere, you just gotta be smart about them. And you know, when they're super active, you don't go around them. And uh, you know, just be careful. And knock on wood. I've I've been really lucky to never even have a near incident, but I'm I'm pretty paranoid about it.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, yeah. That's uh I've always wondered what you do down there. Um interesting. So so you guys I guess your retriever club had a training grounds, yes, sir.
SPEAKER_00:And it very well managed there. Um, you know, and it took out nuisance gators if we needed to, and you know, those kinds of things. And uh that area didn't have a lot of gators on it, so you know it's but it the the property owner took care of it, so yes, nice.
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SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I don't even know how many assignments I've had. I I started judging in about uh 2001, and uh, you know, it's it's like when you get into the dog world and you train your dog and then you start judging, and then all of a sudden your dog's sitting in the truck while you're judging, but somebody's gotta do it. And and I I it's taken me a lot of places that I would have never been able to go through my judging assignments, uh, and met people that are are some of my closest friends and just family to me, you know. And and I got involved at the uh national level. Some guys uh felt that I I could help out there and got involved there as a field rep for UKC at the national level. And and then and then uh I'm trying to think now. About 2011, I became president of HRC. And I served two terms there, and then and then after that, um the the grand chairman, Mr. Ernie East, who is a legend, uh he had passed away, and I and I was honored to be asked to become the grand chairman. I was helping on the committee and and uh I got asked to be the chairman, and you know we we had some plans that we wanted to do and and move forward with the event and and grow it. And I have been blessed with the support of all the executive committees after that. Um and then and then the the committee personnel that are on there, they just they're tireless workers. I don't know how they tolerate me, and and because if I call and ask, they take care of it. Wow, and you know, and it started out with about 10 of us, and it on the whole committee, and as we've grown, I think we're up to around 65 or 70 people that travel to every event. And and when they can't make it, it it's a big deal for them. You know, they're upset and you know, they feel like they're missing out. But it's it's the most passionate group of people that I've ever been involved with. And you know, I grew up as a career in the fire department, and you think those are passionate guys, these retriever guys are next level because it might be a doctor, a neurosurgeon beside you, to uh a housewife, you know, that's got some of the best dogs in the world. So it's it's all spectrum, and I that's what I really, really enjoy.
SPEAKER_01:You're right. This uh I've been up here you know, in Montana, North and South Dakota, and now Wisconsin grouse hunting for two weeks, and and it's such a small world. I I was hunting in Montana, I'm from Hyden, Kentucky, and ran into some guys that are from London, Kentucky, which is where my mom lives, you know, 40 miles away. But you know I'm gonna touch on this just because uh HRC is such a huge community-based organization. Tracy, as best you can, try to explain to the outside world, you and I are in the dog world, you're at a much higher level than me, but what it's like to be in this community. I mean, just like you, you came in with no knowledge 25 years ago, roughly, you didn't know a soul, you saw a dog. Uh, and I hear stories like that over and over, but let people know what it's at, what it's like, and and how inviting the community is.
SPEAKER_00:It's just it's the dogs are the center of the focus. And it starts out with the the that little started dog, or somebody makes a phone call and says, Man, I got this puppy, and and I want to do something with him. I I've hunted dubs, or and a lot of times it's folks that don't even hunt, but they want to be involved in it because of they see uh now a social media post with the dogs training. You know, social media we we all have our opinions of it, but it's been great for the dog world, and and it brings people together and they see that, and you know, you you gotta make sure when those folks come in that are that are not hunters that you incorporate them in. This is what this dog is bred to do. It's what we're training and enhancing their natural abilities is to go hunting, you know, and and with with the retriever, you can waterfowl hunt, you can dove hunt, you yeah, I mean, you can then turn around and go and upland hunt the dogs and you know just have do whatever you want to do. There's there's uh labs now that that are the American Pointing Lab Association, which is a great organization, that that are developing traits in dogs that that point, you know, and and there's a dog that can do it all, you know. So it's it's really incredible, but it's that meeting that person, that that phone call to that club president or that club member and showing up at a training day or a club event, and someone meeting you and hooking you. And when they do, it's it's like this is my family now, you know. This you've got them from coast to coast, from Alaska to Key West Florida, you know. It's they're everywhere. I was in Maine this summer, and you know, it's one of my favorite regions to go up there. And you know, I have friendships now that are 20 years old that have been up there, and and that that's what it means to me. And and when you get involved at the level that I've been graced with, that's that's what keeps you going, is those folks that and just the grand committee members, the HRC members, the club members. You know, it's it's just all walks of life, and and it's it's a lifestyle and an addiction.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes, it's incredible. I I I I definitely can can relate to what you just said, and and I I appreciate you telling that because you know, I my goal here, Tracy, is it's simple. I I want to unite people together that like want to watch a well trained dog do what it's bread do. And I have coontown people on here, you know. Uh I'm hoping to get somebody out of your neck of the woods to talk about uh, you know, ranch dogs in Florida, which do everything. You know, I I just love to see a dog work, and I've been that way my whole life.
SPEAKER_00:You know, i a well-trained dog, I don't care what breed it is, is is an incredible animal. There's a there's a fellow that used to run uh in the east coast over here, Johnny Kohane. He was down and didn't have didn't have a good retriever. We force-fetched his beagle and hunted doves with her, you know, and she liked to retrieve, you know, that that's the incredible stuff that the dog community is. And uh as my background now here, I I've semi-retired and we've moved here to Alabama. And uh I I have a uh a quail hunting preserve and we do some deer deer hunt guiding, but I I've gotten into the bird dogs where I live here is the the bird dog capital of the state of Alabama here in Union Springs, the Hall of Fame uh statutes in the middle of town, and some of the the greatest legends plantations are here, horseback trials, and so it's really incredible learning all of that and getting involved with those types of dogs, and now they have a kennel full of those. So no, no, Tracy, what part of the state of Al in is that in Alabama? What it's southeast Alabama, so it's east of southeast of Montgomery, about uh 30 miles, 40 miles.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I just bought a property from Ralph Lamely in Houston County, southeast of Dothan, or actually east of Dothan.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, Dothan's about uh hour and 45 minutes south of us. So if you come up 231 and keep coming north, it'll be we'll be uh towards Troy University, Troy, the city of Troy and Troy University. That's that's the area we're in right here.
unknown:That's the area we're in.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Um now I know this is a little off subject, but not too much. What can where is it in Alabama that they have the coondog cemetery? I don't know that, but I will find out. Yeah, I I apparently, and I'm pretty sure I'm right on the state. It's the and I think, matter of fact, I think it's in the the movie three Reese Witherspoon, Sweet Home, Alabama. I think that's actually a scene in it, but there is a big deal. It's a coondog cemetery in Alabama, and I think it's way down in the southern part of the state, but gotcha. But I didn't know, I didn't realize it was that bird dog heavy there. Uh that's good to know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there's some of the some of the the legends in the bird dog industry, you know, L Hugh Kennels and Gunsmoke and uh Sedgefield Plantation, Keneca Station. I mean, they're just great places for that hold a lot of uh bird dog field trials. Okay. And and you run hunts there. Yes. Yeah, we we do a put and take here and and do uh and I use versatiles. I I like the German short hairs and the German wire hairs. They work good better for us because we have a smaller operation, but it's this is English pointer and territory.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that's what you know. I've got a friend, I've he's we've become friends. I had him on the podcast, but he's the Landon poppin'. He'll be at the gram with his own.
SPEAKER_00:Sure, yeah, Landon's a good friend of mine.
SPEAKER_01:Hopefully to get a title. Uh yes, he needs that second pass. Um, but yes, uh yeah, and I'm kind of I don't discriminate. I I in my kennel, I have an English pointer, a Britney, a cocker, and labs. There you go. I've got it bad. Um tell me about Trace, let's talk a little bit about your comp your competing and stuff. What all what all did you do when you when you first started training? When did you start trying to title your own dogs? Hey, it's Kenneth Whipp, the Gun Dog Nation podcast, and I'm very proud to have as a new sponsor Cable Gangs. That's built G-A-N-G-Z. Brendan Landry at Cable Gangs has developed, in my opinion, and I have, and I'm a customer, the best timeout systems on the market. They're easy to pack, easy to store. They can cool up just like an extension cord. They use premium galvanized steel cable coated with durable, UV resistant PVC coating. The branding can make custom products, anything you want that's related to a dog timeout system or a cable system or a way to safe and secure your dog. They've even made a system that works with a bicycle so you can go and exercise your bicycles and have your dog running along with you. It's it would be impossible for me to describe you all the different custom applications they have, so just go to their website at cable games.com and check it out. They make dog timeouts, a way to safe and secure your dog. If you're in a field trial, hunt test, cut down competition, whatever that might be. These guys make the best product on the market. Check it out for yourself, cablegangs.com.
SPEAKER_00:Um, I got that that pup. Um, I I bought a dog for hunting, and that that's really I I I saw old South and Marcus and them guys, and I found a trainer that had a dog, a well-started dog, and uh I bought her, and she was trained, and he kind of showed me some things to keep her going, but I felt like I wasn't doing her right. But I hunted that dog like crazy. It was it was incredible, and I developed some really bad habits with her that did not matter while hunting because she was going to get every bird that we killed. And uh, you know, so that we her name was Jenny. She was a lean Mac daughter, you know, which which was as crazy as the history of Ebstar Lean Mac, you know. But it's I I hunted that dog all over. She she was with that, was my dog. And uh, when I got the puppy, I wanted to train him and develop him and start competing. And uh, so I I did a lot of stuff on my own and got, as most amateurs do that that don't have a big training group, is I had some holes. And I got involved with a pro trainer um up in Alabama here, uh named Brian Ortman at Teal Run Retrievers. He's retired from the dog training, and uh, but him and I are best friends, and uh I started I took a year off from trying to run dogs and just came and trained with him and some other guys and and uh you know just learned how to train. Yes, and you know, and some of the friendships that I've developed over the years, you know, there's a lot of weekends I just load up dogs and go to somebody's house and we just train all weekend. But you know, that's I've built hunting tribute champions and master hunters and you know, those kinds of dogs. I've never never had my own grand dog. I've been a lot involved, but it's I've been that close a lot of times, and that's that's part of the adventure.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:You know, I we just enjoy that whole part of it.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah, uh hey, that's no easy task. Uh I'm I'm a way off from even being there yet, but that one that's that's like every man's gotta have goals, right? You know, gotta be. That's right. Uh so Tracy, what all kind of dogs do you have at your household right now, hunting dogs?
SPEAKER_00:Uh in the retriever world, I have I have just labs. Um I I'm I I guess I'm a lab purist, but we uh we do some gun dog training, and and I I've got actually a drop dyer out of Landon's dog um in training right now. I have a wire-haired pointing graphon that I'm doing some training, doing retriever training with, and then we'll do you know quail quail training with him after he's done there. But uh I hunt the German short hairs, and I I've trained my own dogs there. And then I have one, two English pointers, and then I have an English setter that is my favorite bird dog of all, but she is a wild child, and and I I love her to death, and she will hunt all day long. So, and the dog is a couch potato in the house, and but when you take her in the field, she'll die. She just goes and goes and goes and goes. See, I love that. You got it worse than me. Yeah, we're pretty versatile, but you know, when when uh hunt season rolls around and the preserve gets going, you know, we we use a lot of dogs. It sounds like a lot of dogs, but you know, when you're running pretty hard, you know, it doesn't take much to get two or three dogs that are sore, hurt, or injured. And you know, you're you're gonna they're just no out. You know, they give you so much that you gotta rotate them. So we're pretty diversified.
SPEAKER_01:Uh Trace just wanna ask you a question, just kind of been on my mind about you know all the different uh uh organizations that that have hunt tests and trials. When you see a dog come from a strict field trial world, if you ever see that over to the grand, does is that an easy adaptation or is it just uh apples and oranges? Different, just different.
SPEAKER_00:I I think it's just different. Um we've we've had several uh dogs now that are FCs and and grand champions, you know. Um there they're it's not an easy feat because it's different training techniques. Yes. I think it's uh it's difficult for the grand dog to to step up to that the more challenging marks that are at the distance and the white coats because they're used to seeing hidden guns. You know, at the grand, you'll never see a winger station. You know, that the ducks will just come out of the bushes. And uh, you know, when you go back to the field trial, you're marking off white coats and different things like that. And uh I think that's a tougher transition. But on the other hand, is bringing that field champion and getting them to check down on these under 200 yard marks when they they run these 500, 600 yard marks, you know, it it's it's a challenge. It's not easy, it's not automatic.
SPEAKER_01:But it are you saying it and I'm not aware, but for sure, but it has happened, I guess, right?
SPEAKER_00:There are yes, I I think we have four now that that are FC, AFC, or and grand champions.
unknown:Oh wow.
SPEAKER_01:So it's it's it's not an easy feat. It can't be. I mean, that's a very low number considering that the numbers of dogs competing at today.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, when you're you're talking there's there's close to uh I want to say about eighteen hundred grand champions now in the history of HRC, and and how how many field champions have you had that that you've only got about four that are that are both.
SPEAKER_01:That's amazing. So um back to the grand, the the one that's in Nashville this year, and it's killing my soul, Tracy. I I go every year uh opening day in South Dakota and Pheasant Hunt with the Scott and E neighbor of Pheasant Ranches there. And I it's the same weekend as the grand. And uh it's I'm so torn because because of the podcast and my love, and I've never been to the grand. I want to go so bad, but I I just it's not gonna work this year. Tell because this podcast will hopefully reach people that may and may or may not have been wanting to go and just watch. What can we expect this year in Nashville? It's outside of Nashville, correct?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's in Lou Burns, Tennessee. The pool knob WMA there and uh Pierce Piercy WMA in in LaVerne. So it's uh it's it's a grounds that are that are maintained for dog events and and a lot of retriever events. There's there's several clubs that use it for their local events, and this will be our second time there as a grand. Um it's hosted by Music City HRC. Okay, and uh so they're the local host there. Uh we're looking forward to, you know, this is gonna be our largest grant ever, and we're looking forward to it. Uh, it's it's a lot of work um to get it all done, but the grounds are incredible. Tennessee wildlife does a great job. There, they've become a great partner in anything that they can do to roll out the red carpet for us, they're they're accommodating. You know, when you when you call somebody and you say, hey, we want to host the grand, they're oh, what's that? You know, what's that entitled? And then once they get there and they see what it is and the draw that it is, then the next time they're really coming, they're all in. And that's that's really cool to see that yellow.
SPEAKER_01:Now, I I assume, oh, I should know this, but y'all, it's never in the same location, right? I mean, is it move different parts of the U.S.
SPEAKER_00:it usually moves, uh, we usually don't go to a location back to back. Um, you know, it's just too much on the local club, and and it and it's rough on on the grounds, you know. You you don't want to beat the grounds up and wear your welcome out. But we have some great places with with the uh Western Kentucky WMA and uh Tim Tim Creer there. They're hosting in the spring just outside of Paducah, another incredible state facility. Um, you know, we we go to uh Bush Wildlife in St. Louis, which which is another great facility. We're going back there next fall. And uh and then we have some other opportunities that are coming up. I don't I don't want to give the spoiler alert out there, but we have we have some other opportunities that rotate it around. Um we try to keep it in the core of the program uh along the Mississippi Central Flyways, you know, here East Coast, because that's that's where the core of our program is, you know, and that that hurts our West Coast presence, but we have some diehards out there, you know, from Washington and and uh Oregon and that that participate in the grant. And I really appreciate those HRC members that that strive to come in here and achieve this title. But we we try to stay here in the main corridor of the program, up and down the Mississippi River. So Okay.
SPEAKER_01:Um what does it take logistically to set that up? I mean, you I assume you have volunteers, you have UKC members, HRC members. What does it take to set this up?
SPEAKER_00:It's it's all HRC. UKC, they're the sanctioning event, and and they send a representative. Um, but we we govern our own rules and and set up our own tests and all that. You know, they're they're supportive as the the uh breed registry, but it's it's all HRC that does it. Um we like to have a host club, and then that'll be like this going to the fall is Music City. Uh in the spring, it'll be Western Kentucky, HRC. And uh this past spring we were up at the whistle up at the Bong Recreational Area in Wisconsin. You know, so it's it's a local club, and they'll have a core group of volunteers um that that help do all the pre-work, uh, going in, prepping sites and areas and their expertise knowledge of the local area. And uh, you know, so we'll work as a national committee with them hand in hand and uh you know building it up to getting there. Our sponsors are another big issue with with all of our we have all 11 sites are sold as grand sponsors going into this event, which is incredible for us. We are so thankful uh for the national sponsors that we have, and uh, you know, we were looking forward to all that. Yes, yes. And then we show up about uh four or five days ahead of the event, and uh we come in as a kind of scaling up. There'll be four or five of us come in on five days out and keep adding to it, and then two days, three days out is when the judges and and the balance of the crew shows up, and we start giving up equipment and assigning us sites, and then we do a seminar. The judges don't know who they're judging with. We keep that a secret till the very last minute and where they're going. And uh, so we we give them a seminar to bring them in the grand standard, the consistency, because the grand has its own rules and uh it that are sanctioned, you know, the HRC board of directors have developed. So our our rules are separate than the weekend event. And uh, so we we bring give them a seminar to bring them up the speed for consistency, you know. That a lot of them it's their first time, and some some of them it's a good refresher, but uh we'll and then we take them into the field and give them their assignments and where they're gonna be and who they're gonna be with, and then let them build their test. Okay. So that's a two-day two-day deal, and then we approve it as the hunt committee, as the grand committee. We approve the test. You know, we challenge them on why they're doing the marks the way they are, why the placement of their blind, you know, where they're judging begins and ends, and you know, what they're looking for. It's not just you do whatever you want. We we want consistency throughout the event and throughout the history of the grant, and and that's our strong point.
SPEAKER_01:Hey, it's Kenneth Witt with a Gun Dog Nation podcast, and we are so proud to be partnered with the National Shoot to Retrieve Association, also known as NASTA. NASTA has a common love for producing the best bird dogs possible. It's a great community that builds and bonds everlasting friendships. I've actually got to meet a lot of the NASDAQ members who's taking me hunting and some other crowds hunting and stuff in different places. So I can honestly say I'm a member and I'm proud to be partnered with them. NASTRA hosts national and regional field trials that emphasize the working ability of bird dogs. They have been around for over 50 years. There's a reason that NASTR has been around that long. Please check them out at www.nstrate.org and belong and support your local Master Club. They do have national and regional events, and it's a good place to help learn to be a better dog trainer, a better dog owner, and to compete with your bird dog. Thank you. So each judge sets up a series, but the committee has to bless it, I guess.
SPEAKER_00:Is that correct? And that's the same, that's a carryover from a local HRC event. Is every local club has a committee, the hunk committee that approves the test, makes sure it's safe. Number one, that's you're not gonna get dogs hurt or get hurt. Two, it's it has the philosophy of HRC in it, and there's logistical planning to make it happen. You know, we can't have at the grand, we're on a time crunch because we're a five-day event. So barring a natural disaster or something going on, we're gonna be gone five days once it's dark. So, you know, there's a time crunch on that, and you challenge the judges to build a grand level test in that time crunch. Because you know, you you can't you can't be up there for 20 minutes, you've got to be up there for about seven minutes, or we can't finish. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:And I guess in the event of uh, you know, you talk about national in the event of weather, like severe weather conditions and stuff, does that postpone it sometimes?
SPEAKER_00:Does that happen in the past? Sure. We've had days where we've had we've not been able to do anything because of severe weather, thunderstorms all day, you know, because we're not going to get anybody hurt over it. This is a dog event. And uh, you know, so it's extended it a day or a day and a half, and you know, we we can catch up pretty quickly if once we get rolling. We're the site coordinators that travel from grand to grand work so well with the local people and the logistics of how they most of the time we re-bird the event and feed our help and get them rotated out to the bathrooms and you know, all that, and nobody knows it. You know, it just it never stops. And and that's the expertise of the site coordinators. That's an incredible incredible group of people that go grand to grand and do that. Man, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_01:I I wouldn't want that job. You guys got your hands full.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, they they are there at five o'clock in the morning long before daylight and getting stuff set up and electronics and you know, birds out, and and then when the help shows up, and you know, you you start the test at 6 30, 7 o'clock in the morning, and they work until we call it quits, and that first two days it's dark. You know, we gotta run every dog every minute.
SPEAKER_01:Um Tracy, what you know, I know that that the grand being, you know, the top of the of the HRC uh title system. What do y'all look for? What's the criteria to be a judge there? I would think it would need to be a very experienced handler, trainer, whatever that might be. What do you what's the requirements?
SPEAKER_00:In all steps, Ken, as you know, becoming a judge is you have to have owned and trained a dog at the level that that you're judging. Um that's hard to do at the grand. So we we pull our judges from the finished level judges. And and uh, you know, it and there is times that we we have judges there, and probably a majority of the time that have never run the grand or never had a grand dog, but they're good judges, their reputations, that they're consistent in their judging, they have good setups, and we're always out uh networking and and basically investigating judges when when we hear them. And and we also want a judge that's personable. You know, if you're not happy to be at that assignment, we don't want you there, you know, because that this is a national event. There is enough tension without a judge not being comfortable and and you know not forthcoming and personal, and that's a big point to me, you know. And and uh it just as long as we set that tone, it's it's a great event. You know, and and everybody's got to remember that everybody that's working is a volunteer. There's nobody getting paid at any of these events. This is the the volunteer for the betterment of the organization and the betterment of these great dogs. Yes, and and we look for those type judges, and and we bring them in, and we when we bring in a judge, it's never judged the grand. They're paired with someone that has. Okay. We get on the seminar, and and I think what we differ from other venues is that we have a grand committee person that is assigned to every site. And they're not there to tell those judges how to judge. Those judges have earned the right to be there and and they they've proved that they're good judges, but we're there to help them be consistent from dog number one to dog number 500 that they judge, you know, because they're gonna judge four flights of dogs. And and so if it was okay on day one, it's okay on day four. Because the tendency of the judge, as because it's an elimination event, is to get harder in the judge, you know, because the dogs are getting better. My my predecessor, uh Ernie, used to say he was a very strong Cajun accent, and he had always said, The cream rises could a top. And what he meant is the grand champions, every series are getting more and more visible. You know, series one, series two, we're kind of sorting out the dogs that shouldn't be there and aren't proving that consistency. Series three, you're starting to look at the grand champions, and you know, those dogs don't make a mistake, and it's very easy to for a judge to go, you know, I've been scoring all these zeros and ones day one and two, and then now I've got nothing but twos. Well, the reason is is because the dogs are better. You you've eliminated the dogs that aren't grand champions, and there's no you can't, it's a test standard, not a trial where we're pitting dog against dog. There's a standard, we set a standard on the first dog, and now it's got to be consistent as as close as we can make it on every other dog throughout the other four retriever series. And now when we go to the upland, it's all everybody's back to zero or twos. We like to say twos because you start out with a perfect score and work backwards. But when you once you clear the fourth series and you have enough points and you've you've made it to the fifth, everybody's even again. And then then you go on to the upland standard. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:That's uh I I'm I'm wanting to watch this so bad. I've got I may have to do some kind of rearranging. So I just it just fascinates me uh to see dogs at that level. I I've watched some of those dogs. I've been with pro trainers and watched them train, but it's it's something. You know, sure. What's the and you may or not know this, I don't didn't expect you to keep all this data in your head. What's the youngest dog that you're aware of, Tracy, that's achieved a grand?
SPEAKER_00:Just under two years old. I I think it's right at uh 23 months.
unknown:Wow.
SPEAKER_00:And don't ask me who it is, because it's gonna be either either winter or it's uh but I think she got surpassed. That's a good trivia question for me to find out and get back with you later.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. You know, and I wasn't doing I wasn't loading that question for you. I forgot that Winter was a young dog.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, winter was an incredible young dog, and you know, her consistency came out early.
SPEAKER_01:So that's I've got matter of fact, her her puppy sat beside of me here and asleep. Um yeah, and I wasn't asking that to to boost Winter up no more than she already needs to be, but no, that's interesting. Um so I know you I know you're under a time crunch, and and you know I'm a talker, I can keep you on here all day long. Uh is there anything that you would like to get out to the listeners about the HRC or the grant or anything upcoming news that you want to talk about?
SPEAKER_00:Uh uh I just in general is is you know, get out there with with your dog and and find an HRC club or find a retriever group if you don't have an HRC club too, and get out there and do something with your dogs. These dogs are incredible, they they become a part of your life and it becomes a passion and enjoy it. I I would have probably had a lot more money in my life if I wasn't involved with these dogs, but boy, I I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world, you know, because it's it's just the friends that you develop and and the dogs that you develop. And you know, you start that puppy uh one of one of my best friends who has a litter mate to my dog, his dog is a grand champion hall of fame dog, and mine is not, and uh, you know, but they're they're both great dogs, and we have hunted them all over the country together. You know, he's he's a very dear friend of mine, Danny Sanders. And uh we uh we talked about it, and uh when we got these dogs, Danny did the breeding, and we he had a really nice female, and and we he's like, I want to breed her to a yellow dog. You know, what do you think? And we we had I said, Well, look, I've been I've been involved with the grand here, and you know, this is the dog that I've seen. It was a dog named Hammer and Hank out of Mississippi. And I said, Uh this is the dog we want. What I asked Danny, I said, What do you want? And he said, I want grand champions. He he's a pro trainer and you know runs the grand, and all he says, I want grand champions. I said, Then we need to breed to this dog because I've judged his pups and judged this dog and seen the consistency that is developing. And we did, and and there's a thousand other uh great uh hammer and hank breedings out there, but that's going back to what do you look for and what do you want. And but long story short, Danny and I were talking. I was over a couple weeks ago when we were training, and you know, both of us have got these gray beard old dogs, and you know, they're they're 11 years old this April, and it's it's it's like, man, they're still running, they're still strong, you know. They're my my next, like he's a two-year-old, and uh, you know, it's it's you're like, man, it's almost over with them. I'm like, man, I don't want to talk about this. You know, this this is it. And then we've got you got a puppy coming, you know. You you just look for the next generation to say, these are the things that I saw out of these dogs, and I I want this out of my puppy, and let's let's go from here. So you you just enjoy that and and learn learn that going back to the listeners out there is learn that, get involved with that aspect. You know, don't just go out there and get, oh, I got the highest title bred dog. That may not be the dog for you. Go get in that group, ask some folks what's going on, look for the success of the amateur. The amateur will show you the success because he doesn't know all the tricks that the pros do. And I say that that's not a negative comment. That that pro knows how to get everything out of that dog. That's right. The amateur doesn't. We're learning, you know, and we learn every day. And so uh you go out there and look at what dogs the amateurs are running in the lines and study it. Don't make a rapid decision, make an educated decision, and then go back and talk to the pros and say, This is what I want. These guys are great, they're they're a big asset to our organization and to dog trainers in general. And there's no, I don't know one of them that if you don't pick up the phone and call them, they're gonna answer you and they're gonna help you every way they can. And if they don't call me, and I'll call them and get on. So, you know, they're just a great group of people.
SPEAKER_01:One thing I want to pick your brain about before I let you go, Tracy, is you know, I I've just got to apprentice judge a little bit and stuff, but I've talked to judges that were helping me, and you've judged a lot. Judges tell me that they learn so much sitting in that judge's seat. So, you with all your experiences sitting in that seat, what traits do you say or advice do you give that makes the best handler? Purina Proplan. Here at Gundog Nation, we use Purina Proplan for our dogs. We actually use the Sport Performance Edition, which is 30% protein and 20% fat, the beef and bison. It contains glucosamine, omega-3s for their joints. It also contains uh amino acids for muscles and antioxidants. It also has probiotics that's guaranteed to have live probiotics and eat serving. There's no artificial colors or flavors. We see the difference in our dogs, we see the difference in their coat, their performance, their endurance, and also in recovery. Be sure to use Puri Pro Plan Dog Food. The reputation speaks for itself. There's a reason Purim has been around for such a long time. We suggest that you use it, and we are so proud to be sponsored by Purina Dog Food. When you get ready on your next hunting trip, make sure you pack the most efficient and reliable ammunition on the market. Myra Ammunition brings you the most diverse loads on the market. Myra's patented stack load technology is the epitome of efficiency. Two shot sizes stack together to create the most diverse and efficient line of shot shields in the industry. It doesn't matter what flyaway, what state, or what the weather, the standard remains the same. At Migra, reliable loads that perform in any condition every single time. We're proud to have Migra Ammunition as a sponsor for Gun Dog Nation.
SPEAKER_00:Slow down and enjoy the ride. And run the dog when the dog is ready. Don't run the the human beings have the biggest egos in the world. And we want to have that youngest dog, and we want to do this, and you know, I want to be the first out of the litter or the first out of my group to do this. Run the dog when it's solid and ready. Spend the extra time that you're going to run those events training. Get in a training group. Call these guys up, call these superstars up and say, hey man, can I come and train with you a day? You know, or look for that amateur group and get involved in that. But slow down and enjoy the ride. It's a dog and it's part of your life, and enjoy every minute because it's that 10-year time frame. And you think, oh, 10 years is a long time. It is a blink of an eye. And you know, this is this is about my fourth generation of dogs that you know in that sound in 20 years because they age out. And I've still got several of the older ones around here laying on the couch. But uh, you know, there's only a certain amount of time they can be competitive and active, and it's that's a very, very short window. Yes, it is. Yes.
SPEAKER_01:No, that's great. I I like that. Um because you know I'm a guy, you know, I'm in the military, I've practiced law, I'm a pretty confident person, and I'm pretty it's real hard to get me right. But I've got up at the line and been a nervous wreck. So bad that an AKC judge, a lady, got me off the side and told me to breathe. And she was exactly right. And I thought, I'm too tough. I ain't gonna get nervous, but yes, you will.
SPEAKER_00:Uh yeah, in my position, I get to deal with the top trainers and handlers in the country. Yeah. And the one that tells you he's not nervous, he's lying to you. Yeah. They're as terrified as all the rest of us. They're just able to keep calmer and cooler and collector. You know, they they they know how to handle it. But it we talked about it, it's it's 18 hours of boredom at the grand for five minutes of sheer terror and excitement. And you know, and and that's that's the adrenaline rush of it and the competitiveness that keeps everybody going.
SPEAKER_01:On that note, Tracy, how many dogs is one trainer handler allowed to compete with at the grand?
SPEAKER_00:At the grand, it's unlimited. Oh, wow. They can bring as many dogs as as they that are HRC qualified.
SPEAKER_01:What's the most you've ever seen a handler enter? 34. Oh my god. Yes.
SPEAKER_00:How in the world? They he brought a team to help him, and he was exhausted at the end of it. So I can't remember. We have several several handlers that have in the high 20s, you know, 28, 29, and and 30. I think 30 is the max or the highest, highest that we have at this grand. But uh 34 was the highest. So and and that's he had a staff with him to take care of the dogs.
SPEAKER_01:What's the most you recall of uh of one trainer most passes at the grand? I think 12.
SPEAKER_00:Jeez. So it's it's still, you know, just because you bring more doesn't mean your pass rate goes up. You know, because there's the mental exhaustion of that. You know, you talk to some of the the greatest greatest pros that we have, and you know, they bring those big numbers and they do it, and they're like, man, I'm I'm not doing that again because I'm so mentally exhausted, I made mistakes. Yeah, you know, and that's costing them time and money.
SPEAKER_01:You know, those guys just and you and I know a lot of them. Uh those guys, I I mean, they're a different level of people. I I don't know how they do that. I I'm a nervous wreck. I've tried two dogs, you know, tested two dogs at a time, and it it's it was exhausting. I can't imagine.
SPEAKER_00:It's a I I had I had a string of eight dogs that I was trialing with some friends. You know, I was able to go to the trials and they weren't, and I had an eight-hole dog trailer, so we got filled up every weekend, and that was an exhausting weekend with eight. So I can't imagine having 20 plus dogs. It's uh and kudos to them, and you know, they do a great job of maintaining the health of those dogs. And you know, some of these bigger level pros, they're gonna leave the grand and go straight to pre-training for the master national. So these dogs are on the road for well over a month, you know, and these they and they're keep them in great condition and keep their spirits up. You know, that's it's a testament to their ability to train dogs.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that's right. Because I was talking to one of our mutual friends that put us together here yesterday, and he was he has the grand, the SRS, and uh and the master national in the same month. I don't, I mean, that's just amazing to me.
SPEAKER_00:Yep, you know, and then uh you'll you'll roll off the the right after that into the national open, you know. So I don't know how many of our guys compete at all of that, but it there's a lot of retriever national events goes on in the next eight weeks.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Oh man.
SPEAKER_01:Uh exciting time. Well, Tracy, it's been a it's been a real pleasure. I I've I've learned so much with you. Uh I do this podcast because I like to learn from people, but you have educated me greatly here. Uh in closing, is there anything else, uh any websites that you want to give out, any information that you'd like to give out to the listeners?
SPEAKER_00:Sure. Any uh follow us on our social page, uh Facebook social media and Instagram pages for the for the grand. Um it's the HRC International Grand. And uh you just just pop that in your search bar and it'll pop right up for you. And then any information that you want about the hunting retriever club in general is HRCdogs.com. And then you can also go to the United Kennel Club and uh UKCdogs.com and there's a link there to bring us all back in there. But but get out and uh get out and enjoy the dogs and enjoy this great country we have.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you, Tracy. It's been a real pleasure and thank you for taking time at this busy time of year for you and being on here. Absolutely, Ken. Call me anytime. All right, thank you, sir. Hello, this is Kenneth Witt with Gun Dog Nation. I'd like to encourage all you listeners and viewers on our YouTube channel to check out patreon.com forward slash gun dognation. For$10 a month, you can become a member of our community and we'll have access to lots of stuff. Mainly we'll do a monthly forum, an open forum where you can ask me anything gun dog related and we'll learn from each other in the community. Should be a lot of fun each month. We will do that. So check it out. Patreon.com forward slash gun dognation.