Gundog Nation
A show to bring together gundog enthusiasts, trainers, and handlers with discussion focused on all breeds and styles of gundogs.
Gundog Nation
Justin Smith - Can Prize Money Reshape Retriever Breeding And Competition?
#61 What if your retriever’s best work earned more than a ribbon? We sit down with pro trainer Justin Smith to introduce Hunting Retriever Trials, a master-level, scored competition with real cash payouts, clear placements, and divisions for Open, Amateur, and Youth. Think land triples with flyers, water-heavy second series, and a final water series that demands control and courage. Judges score marks, blinds, and manners on a half-point scale so performance is transparent and the best dogs rise.
Justin explains why this model matters now: rising costs, crowded titles, and limited spots at big events leave handlers craving a new target. HRT pays out 80% of entries, layers in sponsor adds, and returns a share to host clubs so they can build water, expand grounds, and attract more competitors. The goal isn’t to replace hunt tests—it’s to create a competitive ladder that rewards elite work, gives owners a path to ROI, and keeps serious trainers engaged long after the first title.
We also talk long-term vision: tracking annual and lifetime earnings, tying results to offspring, and giving breeders a stronger performance signal than pass/fail titles alone. With a youth-only lane, kids compete against peers, gain ring time, and see a place for themselves in the sport. Facilities are lining up to host, and the first event is set with judges, birds, and a format designed to be challenging, fair, and fast-moving compared to marathon championships.
If you care about better dogs, better grounds, and a healthier path for new handlers, this conversation is a must. Hit play to hear how HRT plans to elevate standards, create meaningful payouts, and put a spotlight on the dogs and people who do it right. Enjoy the show—and if it resonates, subscribe, share with a training buddy, and leave a review so more handlers find us.
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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 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 at 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 gun dognation 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 band show by Scott Vest on the Dough Bro by Jerry Douglas. Sean is a neighbor of mine. I'm from over Harden, Kentucky. I'm just crossing man in Hyde, Kentucky, and he's a super talented guy. But most of all, I 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 in a year, so 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 drew up with my daughters, 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. This is Kenneth Whipp with the Gun Dog Nation podcast. I'm actually coming to you today, not from Texas, but from Eagle River, Wisconsin. I'm up here for the Rough Grouse Society's uh grouse camp that they put on, which starts tonight and goes through the weekend. Pretty pretty pretty excited. It's my first time. But uh I've got a special guest on here. He'd reached out to me. We had a podcast, you know, concerning how the coon dog guys make money and the retriever guys don't. And uh so anyway, Justin reached out to me. I'm let I'm gonna introduce him more formally here in a second, but he reached out to me with a really neat idea. Uh we're gonna explore that, talk about that, because I think he's on to something that I'd like to promote on this podcast. But anyway, Justin, tell us who you are, where you live, and what you do for a living.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, sir. My name is Justin Smith. I live in Chandler, Oklahoma. Um I'm a professional retriever trainer here. Um mostly do hunt tests. I've dabbled in a handful of walls, and I've ran one open in my lifetime, and that was just for fun. Um I'm also a husband, a daddy, and most of all Christian. Um, so I've run cowboy country retrievers here, mostly training gun dogs and hunt test dogs.
SPEAKER_01:Nice. Now, Justin, how long have you been doing this as a pro?
SPEAKER_00:As a pro full time, about six years. Yeah, I think next spring will be full-time, six years.
SPEAKER_01:So when you gave up your day job, what was your day job?
SPEAKER_00:I was actually a milkman.
SPEAKER_01:Hey, all right. You know, it's weird. I got I get different people in here telling me what they did before the pro trainer uh hood, and uh that's really neat. How long had you done that?
SPEAKER_00:I was deliberate milk about five years. Um, I'd been in the oil field prior to that, went to college, went to the oil field, wanted to make some money, but spent some time out in Midland, and then I was ready to move back home because it was taken away from what I like to do the most and which is hunt.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you and I talk about that just now in Midland. There's no retriever clubs, no water to train retrievers, and uh it's a great place to work. I love Midland, Texas, been our 13 years, uh just now getting ready to move out, but uh it's just not real retriever friendly, is it?
SPEAKER_00:Mm-mm.
SPEAKER_01:Not much. So, Justin, let's let's get into this, man. You you had you sent to me a really great idea, and and it was a it was a response to a podcast idea with Trevor Wade, who is the I guess the director over, if that's the right word, over the coondog division of the UKC. And on that podcast, we talked about, hey, you know, uh, we've got my camera's got moved. We've got uh, you know, these guys making really generous purses in the coondog world, and here these retriever guys are spending you know lots and lots of money on training with nothing but ribbons. Now, no offense, the only people, and I've heard pro trainers say this, the only people that makes money, matter actually, it was Jimmy Rogers might have told me this. I hope I didn't misquote Jimmy Rogers. But the only person that makes money in the retriever world is a pro trainer. Now he told me the same thing, and I and and I want to make this caveat. Please don't think I'm saying that pro trainers haven't are making easy money because I've spent three days with a pro trainer, but namely Clark Kennington. And man, all you guys, if you do it right, you work. It's work, and it's hard work. Uh you can make good money, but you better be good at it and you better put in sweat equity. Wouldn't you say so?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah. I mean, I shoot, I just got the trailer unhooked and dogs unloaded and stepped right in the house to do this.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. You know, and I know you're done. And your day's not over, is it, Justin? No. Um, so and I got a hunt test tomorrow. You know, I admire pro trainers, man, because it takes, hey, it's it's it's hard work. You're all out there in all weather conditions, you gotta travel all the time. You earn your money. I know it's not cheap. I know to train a dog, it's it's costly, but you get what you pay for, you know? Right. So anyway, 100%. Justin, you you have I don't know if this idea was yours uh on your own or or how you came about it, but let's talk about that. Tell tell us what your what you've got in mind to maybe make the game a little sweeter for all of us people in the retriever world.
unknown:Right.
SPEAKER_00:So this wasn't bully on my own. I've you know, Justin Jackson and another pro friend of mine, we've kind of schemed on this for six, seven months. But with what the Masternationals came out with, I told both of them, I think it's time we go pretty hard at really developing something. And I had already had some documents made up, some ideas and that we were editing and going back and forth. But now I think we got it pretty close, if not spot on, how I think we should go forward and having our first event. So, and we're really basing this a lot off of the current hunt tests that are going on now, master hunt tests.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Now, quickly, Justin, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I'll forget to ask you this question. Do you run both AKC and HRC events?
SPEAKER_00:Yes, I do. Mostly AKC stuff, but I I've in the last two years I've done more HRC.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. One of the questions I want to ask you about, because you know more about this than I do, and and I know you're more up on this, obviously, than me. What changed in the Master National to cause people to rethink things?
SPEAKER_00:Next year the Masternational is going to Oregon. And I think if you think back to your podcast you did with Roadie Best, he talked about this year is going to be in Giddings, which is the largest entry they've ever had. Um, I think it's just under 1200 right now. So that's huge. And I yeah, it might still be the largest um sporting dog event in the country. Wow. So next year it is going to Oregon and they're limiting the number of dogs that can go and run. I don't know all the intricate details, but that's the buzz that has a lot of people upset is they're limiting dogs that qualify.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:And you know it's gonna make things tough.
SPEAKER_01:And just for y'all listening, Adam Campbell and Jimmy Rogers on the Doghouse podcast actually did a really good segment on this new Masternational Rules, and they gave their comments and stuff on it, which are really, really good. It was a great podcast to learn about that. But so yes, and I'm curious to see. I know it's it doesn't affect anything till next year, but I'm curious to see how what it will affect, what whether it will cost more people to go to HRC or maybe develop a new system. You know, the Koondog guys, they've got UKC P PRC, no? PKC. PKC.
SPEAKER_00:PKC.
SPEAKER_01:And uh and it's another, and it's a the guys I talk to, even the UKC guys at UKC, say that the PKC is a very legitimate great organization that has cash prizes that are fairly significant. So, well, let's hear about it. Man, you you got me on the edge of my seat. I I I I've never we you and I have been talking back and forth briefly, but I've never gotten to get the meat and potatoes of your plan.
SPEAKER_00:Right. So our plan is to basically have a master hunt test, a hunter dog master.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Right. So but the stakes are a little bit tougher. Um each mark will be the distances are are farther. The blind, the distances are farther. Um, and we're actually being scored like a field trial is so it's first, second, third. Um and so it's just a higher standard than what's already going on, okay, which is great. Um, we have an open division and an amateur division. Within that open and amateur division, we have classes for the dogs, age classes. So we got the all-age class, which is what it says is all ages, the intermediate class that is dogs five years and younger, and the futurity class that is dogs three years and younger. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:I like that. Now, I'm sure you've got your reason for this, and I'm just asking these questions to help me understand. Uh, because I I'm not a field trial game expert by any means. Uh why why have a harder standard? What made you all what made you think to go that route?
SPEAKER_00:Well, why not? For one, but two, um just to let the elite dog shine is a big thing. And to encourage people to train to a more elite level. There's a lot of hunt testers out there that will get their passes, get their titles, and they don't ever come back. They might run their local clubs event in the spring and fall, but they don't ever strive for anything more.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:And anything more might be the qualls or field trials or even the SRS, but some of them guys moving up to that level is so much tougher.
SPEAKER_01:Hello, this is Kenneth Whipp with Gun Dog Nation. Many people quickly become frustrated and confused when training the retriever. Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy's online courses eliminate all the guesswork by giving you a proven training system that will help you train a dog that anyone will be proud to have in their blind. Learn where to start, what to do next, and what to do when problems arise. Visit Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy.com to learn how you can train your retriever. I have used this method myself. I have been through it a couple times with different dogs. I refer back to it lots of times when I'm trying to get dogs fresh and back up for hunt test season. I highly recommend them. I have actually been a subscribe member of Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy since 2016, and I would suggest anyone use it. I highly recommend it. They have an app that you can get to on your phone. You can do it from your phone, your laptop. You can't get any more convenient than that. I I've used it, it's proven and tried, and I know literally hundreds of people that have done the same thing that I've talked to. Visit Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy.com and learn how to train your own retriever. Hello, this is Kenneth Witt, and Gun Dog Nation is proud to have one of their sponsors as Retriever Training Supply, based in Alabama. Retriever Training Supply offers fast shipping on quality gear. Your dog will love it. Visit Retriever Training Supply.com to purchase gear to help you train your retriever. Listen, they have some of the best leases I've ever found. Good stuff's made in America. Their leases are and they source them locally. They have anything you want. Fast, friendly service, fast shipping, just good people. Retriever Training Supply. Yes. Yes, I can see that. Now, um, how far have you taken this idea? I mean, have you formed a club or will you be forming a club? What's the next step?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so we've formed a name, a business name. It's called Hunting Retriever Trials. Um filed all that. Insurance, working on a website, the whole nine yards. Um we're pretty well geared, ready to have our first event. Right now, trying to work with an entry system to be able to open it up the first event and allow people to start entering.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I just want to say now, we're we're just getting started into this podcast, but anything that I can do to help promote you guys and and and spread it, I'll be glad to. That's what I'm here for. Uh you know, this is a community, man. We're helping each other uh, you know, without uh uh compensation, you know, it's it's uh but I I I I love the idea. I love I love that you know someone wants to try something different and make it work. Um do you have a start date yet? Or what's what's step two? You form the documents. I this the lawyer in me takes over now. So you form the documents. Will you now try to set up clubs throughout the United States? What's the next level?
SPEAKER_00:Not necessarily set up clubs. We're and I maybe I was naive to this, and I thought it was gonna have to be me reaching out to clubs or other trainers about hosting at their place. But last week I couldn't hardly get off the phone with different facilities calling me wanting to host at their place. I I couldn't believe it. So it has made me structure some things a little bit different to help promote these clubs, and these clubs make some money off of this deal.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:Um it's like I said, it was slightly overwhelming, and I didn't expect it. I thought it's just kind of slow go out there. Me have to call, hey, can we bring this event to your place? And it's been the other way around. People want us to come there.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I tell you this, I thought, and I'm not bragging, but I felt like I I wanted to do a story so bad with the Koondog guys because I got so many friends I got friends that do it, and I thought, man, it's time. And uh I just felt like it was a groundbreaking time to get to to bring that podcast out with Trevor Wade, and then you pop up the day I released it with you know or the plan already in place. So man, this is great. You know, and I I guess Justin, I you know, I kept thinking, I was one I had tunnel vision there for a minute thinking of the the club, you know, the traditional HRC, AKC thing, the club status, but you don't have clubs for SRS. People just go compete. So I see now you you so yeah, sounds like you're really up and running already. Right. Nice.
SPEAKER_00:And I will touch on one thing that I missed. You know, we got the open and amateur side. We also have a youth side, which I think is gonna be huge. That there is kids that run master tests, junior tests, you know, finished and started tests, but it's not that often. And there it's a lot of pressure on them kids because they're having to sit there and compete, or they're amongst the big pros, the big amateurs, so it can be a little overwhelming for a kid. Our deal is the kids are competing against the kids. And they as long as they have a qualified dog to run, they can come compete. And I anything we can do to get more kids involved in the outdoors or even the dog industry, the way this world is nowadays, we've got to try our best to do something.
SPEAKER_01:You know, I I'm so glad that you're doing that, you know, because another thing that I touched on in that podcast with Trevor, you know, the UKC has a youth world championship that's youth-only. And that's it's big prizes, you know. Matter of fact, the 2023 or 24 youth world champions, my friend's son from Hyden, Kentucky, where I'm from, you know. So uh that's that's amazing. I'm so I'm so glad that you're doing that. And anything I can do to help with that, I'm I'm for so you've got a youth plan. I love that. Um what's what's next after that?
SPEAKER_00:It's just keep getting it out there and getting some sponsors because, like I said, with these clubs, um I lost my train of thought there because I have so many thoughts on different things.
SPEAKER_01:I do that all the time.
SPEAKER_00:For these clubs to help them make some money. I've restructured our sponsorship package. So 40% of our sponsorship package is gonna go towards added money to the payout. So that's gonna help boost our payouts. People go home with more money. Everybody loves that. 40% is gonna go to help cover the event operations, the overhead of this event, paying for our judges, hotel, travel, birds, because we're using birds in our deal.
SPEAKER_01:Live shot, not not dead bird, we'll launches.
SPEAKER_00:Well, we'll have a flyer in the first series, like a master. Not every bird's gonna be a flyer.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Um so just all that overhead and what I've restructured is 20% of the sponsorship money is gonna go back to that host club. Because one of the um facilities that called me the grand is wanting to host be hosted at this place, but they said they can't right now because they don't have enough water. So they're trying to find ways to make more money for their club. That way they can host other large national events. So I was like, hmm, you know, what can we do other than you know, paying a lease like we're already planning on doing and to help these clubs build more money. So it in my mind, why don't we create good competition, fun competition between the clubs? So if this local club can fundraise for their self and build money up or added money to this event, that's more money that's gonna come back to the club. That's more people gonna want to come run at this club because there's more money to be won.
SPEAKER_01:I love it. Um what is I know you have projections. I know you've thought this out you you're you're way ahead of the game. What's your projection for the very first competition?
SPEAKER_00:So our goal, I would like to fill up about three quarters of what our maximum is. Okay, honestly, because our max is a hundred open dogs, 40 amateur dogs, and ten youth. Okay. The only reason I would like to not fill up is because our first one's in November and daylight starts getting pretty short. So I'm trying to keep this under two days.
SPEAKER_01:So you already have a date.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah, November 15th.
SPEAKER_01:And where will that be?
SPEAKER_00:That'll be at Texoma Retrievers, Justin Jackson, um, at his place, and he's in basically Lawton, Oklahoma.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Hang on a minute. Let me put this down, Justin.
SPEAKER_00:So November 15th and 16th.
SPEAKER_01:Perfect. And uh man, that that's great. Uh so I you you're way you're way ahead than what I thought. I didn't know you were this far had advanced this idea into to action that far. I'm I'm so that that's great. Uh I'm putting that on my counter. So um working you have a website up where people can go and enter already?
SPEAKER_00:Not yet. Still working on all that. But all the information basically I've been pushing on Facebook. Because I'm not very tech savvy, but I can do a little bit of Facebook, so that's what I've been pushing it there.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Um, and I guess you know, probably long term you'll have some sort of data system like Entry Express or something for you guys. Or you maybe you can piggyback on one of those. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. There's one, it's not Entry Express. There's another one that I'd like to speak with this lady and talk because the big thing that we're trying to do is I'm not sure if the coon dog industry does this, but track the yearly earnings of these dogs and so we can find who our top dogs are. But over a lifetime, as long as we can run this deal, track the money earning of these dogs, and then be able to tie in their offspring to be able to know how much money this particular dog's offspring has won. And that's the big thing is creating a separation in these dogs versus just a master honer, master honor. Why are these two ones better than another?
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:And they they're all better in their own ways, but on paper, how can we be better?
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Let me ask you this for your competition that you all designed, do you feel like a dog that is a field trial dog or dog that is a grand dog or a dog that is a masternational dog has the best chance at your at your competition? And why? Hello, this is Kenneth Witt with Gun Dog Nation, and I've got to tell you guys about something that I've gotten hooked on lately. It's Folicious. These are gourmet instant faux and ramen bowls that actually taste like the real deal. When I'm out in the field all day, and the last thing I want is a settle for bland camp food. Folicious is what I go to. It's authentic, the flavor, it's real ingredients, it's ready in just minutes. It's perfect for hunters, fismen, or anyone on the go. And you can get them over 1900 Walmarts nationwide at your local ATB here in Texas, or you can just go on hunt at Folicious.com. Trust me, once you try it, you'll keep a few stuff in your back in your pack pack or for your next adventure. I just want to say this, I'm gonna add this to this commercial because I know the owners of this company. They've hunted on my ranks. Uh Joseph, uh, he and I were actually met in Colorado on a hunting trip. Uh, that was a real adventure. They are true hunters. They hunted the race, you know, and I hunted with them. And Anna, she is just amazing. She's the one that came up with this idea. They were both on Shark Tank. They are amazing people. So it's I love seeing people like this have a business. And I just had to say that in addition to the commercial because I really believe in the product and I believe in the people that made the product. Be sure to go to foalicious.com or go to Walmart or H E B and try their product. I promise you you will like it.
SPEAKER_00:I would say that grand dog probably has the best chance. I mean, they're a grand hunt and retriever champion for a reason. They're designed to be able to go anywhere in the world and perform at the highest level. But the way I've described it to people, even if they have a field trial dog, these people with elite dogs are smart enough, they're gonna train for our event. And no different than Connor McGregor going to fight Floyd Mayweather. He's not gonna focus on kickboxing whenever he's gonna go fight a boxer.
SPEAKER_01:That's right. I liked it. Uh you have to excuse me, I got distracted here. My puppy Dallas, my new lab puppy is snoring.
SPEAKER_00:As long as you can hear her, that's a good thing. If you can't hear her, something bad's going on.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, it's it's hilarious. She's just a little over eight weeks old, but anyway. So uh, so you guys are gonna be moved. I mean, we're we're you're you're we're under 60 days now. Right. So good. So y'all, do you have everybody in place set up to control the event, you know, like helpers, volunteers, bird throwers, whatever that might be.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's why we're having it here locally. That's easy for Justin. You know, we got a bunch of guys, you know, under our wing that we can get a hold of. The main thing is judges and Justin's working on that. Justin Jackson.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Um, and he he knows a lot more of those guys and he knows the good ones.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:Um, so and that's what we want. We want high integrity, good people that know good dogs and good dog work.
SPEAKER_01:And I'm sure you being a competitor yourself, you've made sure that this November 15th date doesn't conflict with other competitions that might hurt your outcome or attend it to the state.
SPEAKER_00:It's the weekend after the Master National. So the grand is over, the SRS Crown is over, everybody's kind of decompressing. Let's go have some fun and win some serious money.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Can you reveal yet what your prize will be?
SPEAKER_00:As far as the prize money. Yes. Well, it all depends on how many entries we get. Okay. And you I mean, if we if we fill up, get the hundred dogs, or let's just say this. My all age category is capped at fifty dogs, and it's gonna pay ten placings. First place is gonna be like fifty four hundred. Okay. Tenth place is I think the numbers, it was like eight hundred bucks, somewhere around there.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. I like that. Um do you have your sponsors in place yet? I might know a guy.
SPEAKER_00:Right now we have Zoom Dog Supplements is a part of it. Okay. Um a big dog food company has taken this to their headquarters, and they're having some meetings about it right now.
SPEAKER_01:Good, good, good.
SPEAKER_00:Some good guys.
SPEAKER_01:So well, nice man. Uh I love it. I I love it's I've actually had some podcasts have been released yet of guys that are like you. Different, different thing, but ideas that they've you know sought into fruition and and and made it a reality, and I love that. I I think that's that's the American spirit, right?
SPEAKER_00:Uh that's all it is. Yeah, hard work and getting after it.
SPEAKER_01:No, man, you've you've I had no idea when we when we talked that you were this far into it. I that I'm so impressed, man. Um so can't do you have time or can you walk me through this this this test?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So the first test, every dog running the same test, regardless of age. So series one is just like a masterwork. It's gonna be a land series. Triple with a flyer, double blind, but we are gonna have a diversion bird. Somewhere in there in our first two series, you're gonna have a diversion bird. Okay. Second series, land, water triple or single blind. At least half of the test has to be water, and the other half is land.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Third series, water triple, water blind. Each element of the test has to be water. And then, you know, the judges will score each mark one through ten on a half point scale. Um, they score that mark, dog gets the next mark, and so on. Um, and then we'll have an overall control score, steadiness, walking to the line, walking off the line, delivering of the birds, um, just everything to that that judge thinks is control. He's gonna score it.
SPEAKER_01:Nice. Okay. And then um, so in in case I launched that, how many series will there be? Four, three series. Okay, three. Okay. So uh it it's not like you know, like that's I guess the grand has like six series, right? Five. Okay, and it goes on for four or five days.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. This five days.
SPEAKER_01:This won't be that extensive, time consuming. Uh no. Okay, I like that.
SPEAKER_00:Um yeah, the Masternational is yeah, it used to be six series over about ten days. Now it's five series over about nine or ten days.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Um and uh I I guess to move that many dogs through, you guys are used to that, man. I mean, you you you go to those tests all the time, and I'm sure Justin's probably hosted stuff like that before. Right. Mm-hmm. Good. So so you we've got experienced guys on your staff, you you've got people that know what they're doing, ready to set this up. It's not gonna be a learning curve.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, we've all done this before. It's gonna take a little more time, just the distances and the complexity might be a little bit. But these are actual elite dogs versus your weekend test that you might have that young dog, that little weaker dog. You know, they're not quite as good. So they might put on a 15, 20 second haunt per bird and just add some time. Um, so I it'll run smooth. I mean, just like anything, you gotta keep things moving and clean.
SPEAKER_01:Well, be sure to anything that you want me to share on my social media on all the platforms, I'll be glad to, man. And uh, I'm on it every day, seven days a week. And I'll do all I can to help, you know, make awareness of this. And uh course, you know, the thing is, y'all don't really need me that much. I mean, you guys know all these trainers, you know all these competitors, amateurs and pros. Uh you probably send out a text and a phone call and have a pretty good list.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and there's some people that might not be a big fan of this right now because of the money. Um, and that's fine. But anything in this my problem with the hunt test deal, I ain't gonna lie, is it's not that competitive. You know, I I like training the dogs, I like getting the passes, but for me in my stage of my career, it's so hard to get a young hunter, say early 20s, young family, it's hard to be like, hey, you got a nice dog here, why don't we take this to the next level, senior hunter, master hunter, and try to get them there, and they're not that interested. Once they start adding up what that's gonna cost, or their wife starts adding up what that's gonna cost, they kind of shut that down in a quick.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So this deal, if we can add the competitive factor, because most most men are competitive, especially in this industry, plus put the money on there to where your very nice dog can win back this large investment that you already have in this sucker, it it makes things better for them to want to do it.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes. Uh well, no, I I I love this idea. And then will this be a competition that's only held annually, or will you have a bi-annual? What's your plan there?
SPEAKER_00:No, we're gonna have the the goal is to have 10 in the spring.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:And I I'll send it to you offline, but I have a finals designed that's gonna drop some Jaws. I ain't I ain't gonna lie. It's nothing like the retriever world, and I don't even think the coondog industry does.
SPEAKER_01:Will it be like a tournament system kind of?
SPEAKER_00:Uh or no, you'll I'll I'll have to explain it to you offline because I don't want to release all that just yet.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Good deal.
SPEAKER_00:It it's very interesting. Because I I maybe I told you on the phone, I come from the performance equine world.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, I wrote you rodeoed.
SPEAKER_00:I rodeoed, yeah. So I based a lot of this off of that program. Sorry, I keep stuttering the I don't know if it's the headphones or what. It I get a what an echo basically.
SPEAKER_01:Let me see. Well, oh gosh, mine's got an echo cancellation, and I should have hit that to see here. But it won't let me while we're recording.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, it's all right. I I can get it together.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, sorry.
SPEAKER_00:Uh but and that's what's made this designing it so easy. I've seen it done for 20 plus years in the horse industry. First rodeoing, just team roping jackpots, even the show horse industry that they do. This is the dog industry mirrors the horse world. We're just so far behind the equine industry, it's not even funny.
SPEAKER_01:Hey, it's Kenneth Whip, the Gun Dog Nation podcast, and I'm very proud to have as a new sponsor Cable Games that's built G-A-N-G-Z. Brendan Landry at Cable Gaines has developed, in my opinion, and I have, and I'm a customer, the best tile systems on the market. They're easy to pack, easy to store. They can pull up just like an extension cord. They use premium galvanized steel cable coated with durable, UV resistant PVC coating. Brandon can make custom products, anything you want that's related to a dog tile system or a cable system for a way to safely 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 would be impossible for me to describe you all the different custom applications they have. So just go to their website at cablegangs.com and check it out. They make dog titles, a way to safely secure your dogs. If you're at a field trial, a hunt test, cutting hound competition, whatever that might be, these guys make the best product on the market. Check it out for yourself, cablegangs.com. So I like that. So, Justin, you took what you learned in competitive rodeo, and now you're a pro trainer, and you're you've incorporated those ideas and come up, you know, that's part of your background of coming up with this system. I love it.
SPEAKER_00:Uh yeah, I just didn't pull it out of thin air. Yeah, you know, yeah. That's what's why I've been able to go so fast with this. It's just easy to do.
SPEAKER_01:You know, the only thing, and you please correct me if I'm wrong, because I don't ever get on here and act like I know everything about the dog world. I I learn just like everybody else, but the in in the retriever game, the only monetary awards are in the SRS. Is that right? Right. And it's not I'm not not a discredit to SRS, it's a great competition. It's not a big award, is it?
SPEAKER_00:Or or not, not like we're doing.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Uh and it's only one person. Three. Okay.
SPEAKER_00:They pay first through third.
SPEAKER_01:Didn't know that. At their events. Okay. Do you know what that amount is or does it vary?
SPEAKER_00:It's 25% of the entry fees. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Interesting. So no man.
SPEAKER_00:We're doing 80%.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Big difference. And I assume, and and and if you don't, if it's if you don't want to tell me you don't have to, that your fees will be higher than your normal hunt test fees. It has to be, right?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's 500 bucks an entry fee.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. And isn't that just go ahead. Well, sorry, Justin. Isn't that typically what the coondog world is? It's around that. I know they vary too. Okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I've seen a couple of them or a thousand, fifteen hundred.
SPEAKER_01:You know what? Ten thousand an entry. I, if I'm not mistaken, I was looking at automo stuff and it may have been a thousand. I hope I'm not misstating that. But anyway, and and that's you know, that's part of it though, right? I mean you you want to have a big purse.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and and why not have a big entry fee with the most elite dogs? Um most of these guys, they got the money. You know, if if they've spent here's a good example. The UKC put out a um a sheet that showed the average age of a hunt test dog to get their first pass, and then for the title, I'd have to pull it up in my phones. Basically, and this is an average, most professionally trained dogs, it's gonna be done a little faster. But I believe at the finished level, the first pass was 31 months old. And then the I believe the title was like 38 months old, so something like that on average. So attack a a thousand bucks a month onto that, you know, and zero return. What business does that make sense? We all love our dogs, but I mean, like tons of my clients say, I can they'll pick as long as they pick up dogs for me, I'm happy. So they just want the basic program and they move on, and that's fine.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. But you're right, it is so expensive. I mean, I've always sat and thought about just seeing a whole kennel full of a bunch of SRS dogs once and their ages, and thought about how much money it took to make an SRS dog with a pro trainer. It's uh you can buy you can go buy a brand new diesel truck, you know, for that. Yeah, it's insane.
SPEAKER_00:Or probably two of them.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, that's right, exactly right. Um well, it's it's I hope that this I mean, you know, it's to me it's for the betterment of the sport and to help it grow.
SPEAKER_00:And I think technically the breed.
SPEAKER_01:The breed, yes. And explain your thoughts on that. I I like what you were telling me when we were talking before. Explain why you say that.
SPEAKER_00:In my opinion, I it's probably controversial for me to even say it. And even just because it's events I run, but the master title, there's so many dogs running right now, and so many dogs titling. The prestige of these master titles or finished titles, I feel like are getting watered down. COVID, in my opinion, helped this industry explode. It helped me become a professional trainer. Not gonna lie. You know, more people were buying puppies, more people were wanting to get them trained, and also there's more people at a home training them themselves. So, what else do they have to do? Let's go run these hunt tests. You know, the government's giving us 700 bucks a month or whatever it was, so we got a little extra money. Um, so it got people in, and now that what was COVID, we're five years from that when it kicked off, a lot of those dogs are aged out, too. So with the breeding, and I may have mentioned it earlier, you take this normal guy's master hunter, and this person's master hunter, and pair them together today. Without this, those are fifteen hundred dollar puppies, eighteen hundred dollar puppies, depending on what's behind that pedigree. A lot of these dogs that are master hunters, kind of like what you got, are out of multi-time grand champions, grand champion females, or a FC AFC bred to a grand champion female. I mean, that's what everybody wants, right? That's what everybody wants. So why not turn this into a guy that has a master hunter and a master hunter, but the sire has call it in the last three years, has won 70,000 and the female in the last three years has won forty thousand. Pair those together, and now you can see the difference in elite dogs. They've compete against all the other elites. Just like in the SRS, but we're just not putting a title on it. Yeah, it was putting money beside the dogs. Is and these dogs just keep building money forever. And that's what they do in the field trial industry. They build points forever until they quit running. But they don't well, I say that. Some of the owners um they probably look back and see the offspring's derby points they've and then the all-age points, and they and that's what helps them sell semen and stuff down the road. Huntest people can't do that. You know, oh, they had the puppies had however many master passes, but whoopy do. Kinda. That's not necessarily the nice thing to say, but it's just hard nowadays the way the master game has gotten. It's it's crazy.
SPEAKER_01:That that's a very interesting outlook. Uh you yeah, you made me think about that a lot. Uh so what? Um is there I know you got some stuff that's under wrap pre-competition. Is there anything that you'd like to announce on here? Uh nothing today.
SPEAKER_00:Okay that I can think of. I feel like uh everything that I know, everybody else knows right now.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Um, we are working with some media outlets that we're gonna promote these dogs and this events different than any other dog sport does. So I think that's gonna be a huge game changer. And you know, not just we're not just supporting our events with the media, but these dogs. Because we want people to see and and want oh a Dallas. Whenever Dallas is won X amount of money in this event, you know, and we're focusing on Dallas or whoever else's dogs, you got to put it out to the masses and promote these trainers. Um shoot, call it eight years ago, I would have never known who Roadie Best is. You know, if I would have been, you know, who's the best dog trainer in the country? Wouldn't have had a clue. Yep. You know what I mean? So why not promote our people to the waterfowl industry, the outdoor industry? You know, whenever these guys are the best of the best, how come nobody knows about them? Everybody knows Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady. You know, they're the best of the best in their industry, you know, especially in sports. Why not here?
SPEAKER_01:That's right. There is no way to really Google. I mean, I there might I guess there's reviews online and stuff, but yeah. Yeah. So um, will you or do you guys have a vision to make these winnings a title on either UKC or AK registration, or is that not even a worry?
SPEAKER_00:Not even really a worry.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:You know, if somebody from the UKC wanted to approach us or AKC, I I I mean, we could entertain anything right now.
SPEAKER_01:Sure.
SPEAKER_00:But stuff just has to make sense with our vision.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Hey, it's Kenneth Witt with the Gun Dog Nation podcast, and we are so proud to be partnered with the National Shoot to Retrieve Association, also known as Nastra. Nastra 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 that's taking me hunting and hunting and stuff in different places. So I can honestly say I'm a member and I'm proud to be partnered within NASTRA hosts, national and regional field trials that emphasize the capability of bird dogs. They have been around for over 50 years. There's a reason that Master's been around that long. Please check them out at www.nstra.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. Yeah, and and do you foresee you all maybe through this competition that you that you're developing, creating your own registration organization?
SPEAKER_00:Maybe I haven't thought it through that far. I've had a coon dog industry um registration. I can't remember what you would call it, asking about partnering with this. And I told them, you know, we can talk, but I'm staying focused on our event, the dogs, and promoting that.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Um, because you know how it is, uh the money and the winnings are great to track, and that's going to be highly important. But people also like those titles, they like them certificates, you know, and on their um but but and maybe you can have some kind of hybrid.
SPEAKER_00:If they want to put them certificates on their wall, they can just copy these checks and put those on the wall.
SPEAKER_01:That's a lot better, yeah. And cash it. Uh-huh. I like that. Well, no, no, I'm just sitting here thinking, man. It's it's a this is kind of a groundbreaking deal. I I'm really excited to to have you on here and talk about this. Uh man, we definitely got to get this episode out before uh before November. And heck, maybe we need to edit in a tag on this podcast. If you know, you know, if you've got more information available, you know, throw it on here somehow before it's released. Because these podcasts mine are now that I do two a week, uh, they come out faster. Used to, I'd have podcasts be in the hopper for like two months to longer. Now it's not that way. They're coming out quicker. Even though I do a lot of podcasts, I keep anyway. So maybe we can try to time it out where it it comes out in time to be beneficial to your to your date, your start date, gives people time to enter. Uh, do you have an entry deadline yet for folks? Not yet. Okay.
SPEAKER_00:I I'm waiting to hear back from the folks from Hunt's secretary before I decide on that.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Now, important information here, Justin. If people want to enter this event, how can they do it at this stage?
SPEAKER_00:But basically, I've thought about treating it the same way the PRCA does, the Pre Professional Rodeo Association. I believe it's every Tuesday night, it's call-in entries. Uh, from they might enter four rodeos in one night. But and then they just collect their credit card over the phone and um it's paid then, and you're entered.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:And uh they've done that for 80 years.
SPEAKER_01:Nice.
SPEAKER_00:You know, and it works for them.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. I like that. So it can people officially enter yet?
SPEAKER_00:No, not yet. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:No.
SPEAKER_00:Um, no, not yet. I thought I had something there, but no.
SPEAKER_01:Well, as soon as that happens, let me know and I'll post on everything so and I'll point them, guide them to you or whoever is going to accept those entries and try to facilitate that as best I can.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Yeah. We and we we hope so many people show up because with what I have in this pipeline, like I said, they're going to be happy to be at the first one. It's going to be a ton of fun. Hopefully, everybody, not not everybody can, but hopefully everybody can get a piece of the money. And I don't know if I mentioned it, but that say that I said the 50 dogs, it's uh 10 placings, is what we're paying out. That last hole is at least your entry fees back plus some. So that's through all categories. So I wanted everybody to at least be able to get a piece.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. No, I like that.
SPEAKER_00:Come back for more.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that's right. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it's like a drug addict, right? Just give them a taste and get them to come back. Yeah, that's probably a bad analogy. We'll have to edit that off. Uh yeah. No, man, seriously. That I um well, let me ask you, let's get let's let's get on you personally here. What kind of dogs you got in the kennel that you're training right now? Is it all retrievers?
SPEAKER_00:It's all retrievers, thankfully. Um couple gold retrievers, mostly all black labs. Wow, got one chessy in here right now, and two yellow males. Knock on wood, it's been a while since I've had a chocolate in, but I think next week I got one coming in. No, no.
SPEAKER_01:I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_00:There's breeds I do charge extra for, but yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Those those chesies are a little different, aren't they?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, they're not too much. Well, it depends on the chessie. The big thing is you just can't let them suckers win against you in a way. You know, once they figure out how to get you, um, they're just knuckleheads for a while. This dude I got right now is shoot, he's probably 90 pounds and eight months old. But he he's just like a lab. He's he's so cool, he's been so easy.
SPEAKER_01:You know, I I talked with a guy a couple weeks ago in Montana, uh, I think it's Brad Davis. I talked to so many people during the day, it's insane, but uh has some really, really well-bred chesties and uh gossip, they're beautiful dogs. Uh I just never have been around one to know the differences in just a lab other than what people have told me.
SPEAKER_00:They got some sure enough personalities. One of my buddies, I'm gonna have dinner with him tonight, who's helped me with this deal, Ryan Madow. He I think he's taken four or five chesies to the national this year.
unknown:Wow.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, he has great success with them.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, they're a neat dog. And you know, one of the things the Montana guy was telling me is like, you know, hey, I hunt up here on the Canadian border. We're in harsh conditions, and these chesies can take the cold, you know, better, even better than a lab. So it makes sense. Um that's what they were designed for. Now, are you gonna be will you be at the grand this year?
SPEAKER_00:No, no, I send my dogs um with other pros. I have so many um gun dogs and waterfowl season fixing to come up. I can't take away my time from these young dogs to go run that. So I'll send my big dogs with other guys.
SPEAKER_01:Now, being a pro trainer, Justin, you get to hunt much?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah. That's I mean, that's why I train dogs. You know, I mean, I mean, my passion is hunting, so I'm not gonna let something take away from that passion. I still have work to do, you know, during waterfowl season, but I'm gonna go out and get them too.
SPEAKER_01:Uh no, are you strictly a waterfowl hunter? Do you do any upland?
SPEAKER_00:No, shoot, I could well, I wish I did more upland. I that's what I grew up doing. My dad had a kennel of shoot, it seemed like 50 pointers. It was probably five whenever I was having to feed them all.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:But um, we did a ton of upland hunting in northern Oklahoma, pheasant and quail, and that was my dad's deal. But the numbers of quail just you know dwindled down in northern Oklahoma and even here in our area. So he got a lab and we started duck hunting.
SPEAKER_01:Well, since you've been in Oklahoma and knowing porners, did you know Adrian Jackson I had on my podcast?
SPEAKER_00:I don't know him. I mean, I was young back then. I don't, you know, the Ronnie Smith and Delmar Smith is who I knew because I grew up rodeoing with uh Delmar's grandson.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Nice.
SPEAKER_00:And he's big into horses now, not dogs.
SPEAKER_01:Now, is he is that who's his father? I can't remember which one's his daddy. Um yeah, I I've never met Rick yet. Talked to him on the phone.
SPEAKER_00:It might be Rick.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. It's not Ron. Yeah, because his kids are their kids are young, fairly young. Um good folks, though, man. They they got some good dogs. Up, you know, I'm traveling right now with a Britney from Ronnie and Susanna and uh hunted all last week, hunted six days out of seven for uh grouse, uh sharp tail and Hungarian partridge. And man, it's he's really starting to come about, you know. And I've got a new English pointer.
SPEAKER_00:Uh oh yeah, I love them English pointers.
SPEAKER_01:I'll be rough grouse hunting here to tomorrow in Wisconsin Sunday, but it's with that club though, or the the the camp. But no, uh man, I we'll have to try to hook up waterfowl hunt sometime. You have to take me up there in Oklahoma.
SPEAKER_00:You'd love it here. Basically, well, well, I had a guy teal hunt it last night right out my front door. That's what he thinks it's right out my front door, but it's three miles down the road. We can ride the buggy right to a marsh I got, you know, we plant it and flood it and do all that stuff too. It's pretty good.
SPEAKER_01:Nice. Yeah, I may have to come up there and poach on you a little bit.
SPEAKER_00:And it's easy.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Uh well, let's see. You know, I I I would really love to do some little something, some kind of segment on you when you all get ready to open and have entries and stuff, even if it's just a maybe we can do a little short commercial for you, but keep me posted, Justin. I want to I want to see you all succeed. I hope this is a huge success for you. Uh I hope it just blows up, man. And I I believe it will. I think you've got the enthusiasm, the knowledge. Seems like you've got the right people with you to make that happen. Purina Pro Plan. Here at Gundog Nation, we use Purina Pro Plan for our dogs. We actually use the Sport Performance Edition, which is 30% protein and 20% fat, beef, and bison. It contains glucosamine, omega-3s for their joints. It also contains uh amino acids for muscles and antioxidants. It also has probotics. It's guaranteed to have a lot of probiotics in each circuit. There's no artificial colors or flavors. We see the difference in our dogs, we see the difference in their code, their performance, their endurance, and also in recovery. Be sure to use period of propane dog food. The reputation speaks for yourself. There's a reason period has been ready for such a long time. We suggest that you use it in we are so relatively sponsored by period. When you get ready to go on your next cutting trip, make sure you pack the most efficient and reliable ammunition on the market. Micro ammunition brings you the most diverse loads on the market. Micro 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:Yeah. Well, and we're all kind of ready for a change.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:You know, so it just takes somebody going after it, and that's what I've always been good at. You know, just see a vision and let's go for it.
SPEAKER_01:No, and you said it best. You just said that, you know, doing this podcast, I get to hear everybody's opinions and stuff from the dog world. And just recently, and maybe some of the changes in the in the other agencies, but I I think there's lots of people that feel the way you just said. People are ready for a change or something new. So that's neat. I'm glad you're doing that. And I'm not criticizing any of the other, you know, registrations. My dogs are dual registered, UKC AKC. Mine too. Yeah. And uh I plan to do hunt tests on both of them, but I I I'm not good enough to have a dog in your at your all-test yet or your all-field trial, but one day you might. Yeah, one day that might be a that's uh that would be a goal, especially if I can win money. That's a motivator.
SPEAKER_00:Um money's a big motivator. Yes, it is, especially you know, we got that's kind of like I said, these a lot of these guys that get their title, and what's their motivation now?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you know, you're right. If you don't breed, it's just the title, right? I mean, I do it for fun. I I'm not a breeder and really don't want to be a breeder, you know. It's just I'd rather just compete and work with my dogs. But it is fun. I love I do like hunt tests. I've met so many nice people that way. It's uh I almost kind of hooked on it, you know. Like I can't wait for hunt test seasons. It's almost like hunting season now. I look forward to that. Uh but yeah, I spent all last spring and ran all the HRC AKC tests in Texas. Uh I didn't go outside the state. But you don't have to in Texas, you know, there's every weekend there's one.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and anymore, unless if it's farther than four hours from my house, I ain't going.
SPEAKER_01:It's tough. So see, think about living in West Texas, you know that. Midland, I'm I'm four hours from I'm five hours from everywhere.
SPEAKER_00:From the grocery store.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so yeah, I uh I had to travel a lot last spring. Uh, which I'm moving to Gallatin, Tennessee, but I'm still, and I know it's gonna be a tough drive. I'm still gonna do hunt tests in Texas. Um just because I've got too many friends there, man, and um it's gonna be a drive, but you know what? Uh it's it's you only live once, I'm gonna do it. That's right. That's right. I mean, it'll be it'll be real fun. Hopefully we'll get to meet in person some of this stuff.
SPEAKER_00:I think so. I told Chris Rudd on his podcast, you and him need to come down and do like a post-game interview with these guys. I think that'd be so cool.
SPEAKER_01:I I think it actually might work for me. Uh that's why I put that on my calendar because I think I'm open. I right now I'm open that weekend, I'm pretty sure, and I'm gonna I put it down. So I'd love to get there and be part of that, especially the first one, man. Uh, even though that might not be your biggest one, that'd be the smallest one you'll probably ever have. I want to see the it to me, it's groundbreaking history, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Right.
SPEAKER_01:Uh right. So if I can get there, I won't promise until, but I'll promise. I'll I'll let you know something really quick. I'll be there if I can. Yeah. That'd be great.
SPEAKER_00:We'd love to have you.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, love to cover it. I'd have a ball. I think it'd be exciting to cover for me. I it'd be a privilege for me to get to cover that. Right.
SPEAKER_00:I'd it'd be it'd be fun. It's different than any other event that we have for the dogs right now.
SPEAKER_01:Well, Justin, anything else you want to tell the listeners about what if if they're interested in this, how they can get in touch with you? Anything you want to say, go ahead.
SPEAKER_00:Uh, if anybody wants to ask me questions, they can shoot me a message on Facebook, whether the uh the page Hunting Retriever Trials, my personal page, Justin Smith, or give me a phone call 405-240-7759. And I really just hope that with this event, with anything in all of our lives, could you know this this country's gone kind of so bad. I just really hope that we can start making a change and just be a lot better people to everybody.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I do too. And people, if there's anyone out there that's not in this community, it's listening, and you've ever thought about getting in the dog world, the the hunt dog community, it's it's a family, and uh there's a lot of good people in this in this community.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there ain't especially me and you probably know, there ain't many spots in this country that I can drive and blow a tire and not have a spare that I can't call somebody and within an hour they're probably gonna be there.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. You know, I I just had a guy text me this morning from North Dakota. I hunted with him this past weekend. He's like, man, you'll never have to pay to hunt in North Dakota or Montana again. I was like, what a nice thing, you know? Yeah. And and I I just I love it. Uh, but that's what kind of community this is. And anybody listening, if you're interested in dogs, training dogs, hunting with dogs, hey, do it. There's no better time than your kids want to do it. Amen. Yes.
SPEAKER_00:Just like the livestock industry, get your kid a dog and send them out with a pro. You know, let them go work for them, throw birds, and let that pro help your kid.
SPEAKER_01:I will say one last thing on that note. Um uh uh just tagging on what you just said, Justin. So I've got a podcast that'll probably be out here maybe next week uh with Gordon Lee High School in Georgia. It's Walker County, Georgia. Man, uh I hope this spreads like I hope it goes viral. I hope that other schools do the same thing these kids are doing and has a gun dog team and competes with their dogs. Uh it's a great thing. And it it's got kids, it's gotten kids off the couch away from video games from non-hunting homes and competing with hunting dogs, and that they're training and working themselves. Now, some of these dogs are training, they're just handling them, but they're also learning to handle them. That's fine. Yeah, that's right. That's still being a handler is not easy. It's nerve-wracking. And these kids are winning titles. Uh it's you all see, when you get to that podcast comes out, it's worth listening to the kids are actually on it. I've got the principal, coach. Uh yeah. So I hope in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, all the states follow suit with this.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it would be so cool. Just like there's archery teams, um, FFA kids. I mean, when I grew up in the FFA, I mean, there was a ton of kids that lived in an apartment, but we had built them a school farm. They got them a goat or a hog, you know, or the the booster club was able to buy them a hog. And like you said, it got them off the couch and off the video games, or at least out of their situation. That's right. And got them around good people.
SPEAKER_01:That's right. And that's another thing the coach talks about, you know, it's just these kids uh, even some kids that are not on the team want to come down and and play with the dogs. And these are high school kids, you know, like it's elementary. These are high school kids. Everybody loves a dog. That's right. Uh well, man, Justin, I know you and I could talk for for days, uh, and especially me. But anyway, man, um, I know you got to get back to it. I've got a bunch of dogs with me, too. I've got to go work.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Uh, and it finally quit raining here, so I'm gonna go take advantage of it. But man, thank you so much for letting me uh give me the privilege to do this with you, and I hope that I can do more to promote it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, thank you for the opportunity. All right, this is gonna be a big deal.
SPEAKER_01:All right, hey, thank you so much. Thank you. Hello, this is Kenneth Witt with Gun Dog Nation, and 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.