In today's off-season episode, we talk about the elements necessary to run blind retrieves successfully. Dogs aren't robots that should 'go straight' and 'take every cast'. They are living creatures basically having an ongoing conversation with you on their way to get the retrieve they didn't see. A program that builds their trust in what you are t…

In today's episode, we break down the elements that go into having and training a dog in its optimal state: healthy, willing, understood and living the life it was bred to live. A dog that can't always fit into the round hole we want it to, but if we learn about the nature of our dogs, we can just adjust the hole to fit them.…

Blake Haddock, pro trainer from Greenville NC is running for the first time for the Board of Directors. Having had a good deal of success and experience in the pointing Lab world, he talks about who he is and why he is running.By Julianne Knutson

Another in the series of interviews for APLA Board of Directors Candidates. This time it is a candidate for the VP position. Dr. Lo had held a few positions on the board, and been involved in most of the changes the organization has undergone. It is an interesting thing to hear about. Please listen in.....…

As promised, any candidate wishing to have their ideas and positions extended to the PL public, here is my first of several interviews. Julie Moore is current APLA VP and is running for a board position, leaving her VP position. Today she explains how she got involved with these dogs, what her successes have been, things she's done for the organiza…

In this episode, written expressly for Spicy Bill, Link, Sally, Roscoe and a few others, we talk about how to train through the winter off season to come back out next spring and be ready for running with the Big Dogs. How to convert the T and Swim-by into mastery of running blinds with marks or without. There are ways to do this without much press…

In this episode of the ongoing puppy series, we talk about passivity in dog ownership. Very often, people attribute unacceptable or irritating behavior to the dog 'just being a puppy.' When youngsters are allowed to do certain things with no intervention, they are learning that those things are perfectly acceptable. Then later, it often takes more …

In today's trainer/handler-oriented episode, I share a little personal philosophy about where you are in your dog experience, and why it's likely just where you want it to be. There is no big secret about how to be successful. But the willingness to do what that takes is most often the main issue. It isn't easy to excel at anything. And those who d…

In this third of the new puppy series, we discuss beginning to "read" your dog. How do you learn the inner workings of your new partner? How to you optimize your training program to fit this new little one? How to you learn to adjust what you do to fit this particular dog? It is a fascinating topic if you're willing to think objectively...…

Second episode of the Puppy Series, a discussion about what 'love' actually is when it comes to our dogs, and how to develop a dog that is a full team player and excels in its job with you.By Julianne Knutson

In today's episode, we talk about bringing that new puppy home. Do you have a plan? Do you know what bad habits you want to avoid, and which ones you want to develop? If you back-engineer this from what you want this dog to be as an adult in your life, it can help in your approach to creating that dog. Above all, teaching your dog how love learning…

In today's episode, we break down the real purpose of the word "no" used in so much dog training. It really breaks down to how you view the training process and what your real responsibility is. It is often more a reflection of your thinking, and not so much your dogs'.By Julianne Knutson

Freshly back from judging the 2024 Triple Crown in Freeman SD, we go over how the Labor Day Weekend went. Setups, upland fields, people, young dogs, old dogs and why this process can be so important on a personal level. It was an amazing experience, and as always, a real privilege to watch the best pointing Labs in the galaxy do their thing. If the…

In today's episode, we break down what it actually takes to master this dog training business, and effectively teach your dog what you'd like it to know, as opposed to instructing it as to what actions it must take. Listen in....By Julianne Knutson

For my TC folks who have spent the last year getting ready for this Labor Day Event. It's a long one, but here are some ideas to get ready these next 4 weeks, for the biggest American Pointing Labrador Association National ever held!By Julianne Knutson

Introducing the new Gripe Minute and Applause Minute, in which I discuss things I witness I do not understand, and good things I see that should be passed on. After that, we continue on moving from two piles to a back pile, and the beginnings of the force. It's critically important for your success and your dog's attitude toward training in general…

As promised, following the force fetch process, there is a substantial process through which a dog is taken which results in an enthusiastic and effective handling dog. They can run blind retrieves or be handled successfully on marks, when they really understand what you are asking, and you have their full buy-in. This episode begins with the first…

In today's midsummer episode, we discuss what 'fitness' actually means in our dogs, and how to assure the demands you make on your dog will do not do any damage and can be met efficiently. There is a science to creating an animal fully prepared for challenging physical demand, but it takes some awareness, thought and understanding how important fit…

In today's special episode, we break down all the elements of running the American Pointing Lab National event: The 2024 Triple Crown. What does it require? What type of things should you practice, what will a day look like? Join in a practical discussion about what you will be asked to do, important rules and things to get yourself as ready as pos…

In today's fairly personal episode, the discussion covers how all our canines, in their performances and behavior, reflect back what they receive from their partners. They are like the Divine Mechanism helping us to see ourselves. When their performance and behavior is evaluated on this basis, it is both humbling and powerful in reaching the improv…

In today's episode, we discuss a couple different approaches to training a dog. There is the 'teaching the right motions', the 'make them do it right', the 'repeat it until they get it' and then the one I like, teach them to give their best effort and reward that response. Probably the last one is the hardest, because you have to pay attention the …

In today's episode, we discuss the success of localized pointing Lab clubs and how we need to form more of these to help in educating more people about these dogs. Where do you get a good pup, how do you train them with both retrieving and pointing aspects? What should you do with a new pup? How can you meet people to train with, what equipment do …

Poor behaviors, new training problems, confusing troubles, generally stem from the dog being in a situation it cannot manage, is confused or is disheartened or distrustful. But very few of us look at things this way. Understanding the inner nature of your dog can often be quite useful in problem solving.…

Today's episode is just a couple stories. Stories of things that happened with dogs, not because of the training principles used, not because of any expert advice, but because the individuals really wanted it with their dog. And when done with sincerity and belief, they did it. Hugely inspirational to me over the years..…

For those who test their dogs in any venue, we've all had the day when we were prepared, paid the entry, drove the distance, only to have our dog do something it has never done before. We are dejected and mystified. Here are a few ideas that might help in preventing the unexplainable.By Julianne Knutson

In today's "Tests are happening now" episode, we talk about how to best prepare your student for success. I have found it isn't by practicing game day setups to get ready for gameday, but by understanding your pupil's psychology, behavior, fitness and ability to grasp the necessary concepts. Then work with these to prepare them to handle whatever t…

Today we move past the obedience and moving hold and teach the dog to fetch the bumper with the single command. In doing this part humanely and with thought, the dog is taught that it controls the training pressure, and that by responding, there is no pressure at all. A critical part of the force fetch process, particularly if handling is part of t…

Following the previous podcast, this episode takes us from teaching 'hold' in a stationary and calm position, to teaching 'hold' while moving and carrying out basic obedience exercises. This is the next logical step to ultimately getting your dog to deliver all retrieves calmly to hand and prepare for advanced handling work. Always more easily done…

Lots of horror stories about this process which teaches good bird handling and is the first step of teaching the handling process. If you've seen it done in a hard way, it would scare you away. Many of us are afraid or insecure about undertaking this step in dog training, but these feelings come primarily from not understanding what's really going …

In today's early spring episode, we talk not about the dogs, but about you. The human factor IS the limiting factor in our dog training. Who we are and how we see and interpret things determines the outcomes. We can require our canines come into our human arena, or we can ask more of ourselves and go into theirs.... it's a choice.…

In today's episode, we break down the difference between "making noise" and useful and clear communication with your dog. To effectively teach a dog anything, you must first establish a relationship in which the dog respects you and actually wants to be taught some new things. This is most easily accomplished when you communicate in a way natural t…

In this episode, we discuss the approach to training a dog that is fearful of things it encounters in training and daily life, and the same for the dog that has a mild interest in the work for which you got it. It can often be accomplished, but it isn't a quick fix and takes an understanding and commitment on our part in training them.…

In this episode, which is continued discussion of the important elements in puppy upbringing, we breakdown how to teach a dog to be its own best problem solver. After clearly teaching them a concept, it is important to know how to transfer accountability for response from you to your dog. Doing this effectively makes all advanced training far easie…

Today's episode is about dealing with the best training habits for you and your young pupil to develop. Not creating any bad habits is almost as important as the things you are teaching the little one. We talk about bird introduction, retrieving and puppy obedience. These are the keys to the bright future you can build with your dog.…

In today's episode, a topic I dearly love. I was asked if it was possible to have a dog that came when called, walked well on a leash and off, and could be trusted while loose - without using an electric collar. The answer is yes, but it takes some understanding. We'll talk through this subject in detail. Batesworks.net…

As with any of us in pursuit of something we are doing, a dog should enjoy what they are working on, look forward to it and share in the feeling of mastery of what they do. There are a number of ideas and approaches in training dogs, some very harsh and demanding, some very passive, and then there is the way that actually reaches the heart and soul…

In this episode, I answer the question from a listener on the topic of daily training. How do you know how much is enough, too often, too hard, too easy? It's a great question, one I have encountered in my years of training dogs. Listen in as we break down the components of a well-designed training program.…

Based on a good question received on running blinds, we break down what happens when you call a dog back on a blind, and further discussion about requiring the dog do the work instead of you having to do it for them. Join in on an interesting topic... Julie www.Batesworks.netBy Julianne Knutson

In this episode, we break down the ways to raise a pup which is based more on never creating problems to be fixed later on. Noise, destruction, jumping, not returning on retrieves, not listening, "stubbornness" can all be prevented by a well thought out and caring approach to upbringing. Additionally, stimulating different parts of the developing c…

In today's Troubleshooting episode, we discuss the problem of a young dog that doesn't always return or doesn't directly return on a retrieve. As with many problems, this is a symptom of a larger problem, and often as simple as the dog was never taught the expectation. This will show up in different places, but is solved in the same manner.. Julie …

In this episode, I take a question about "How do I get my dog to quit pulling on the leash?" and break down addressing what appears to be a single problem. Most of the time, these behaviors are symptoms of a more systemic problem, and in correctly diagnosing the problem, the problem can be addressed, in all the places it occurs. Join in on the disc…

In the first episode of 2024, we talk about how much you and your dog can advance when you quit directing their every move and turn responsibility for the work - over to them. Constant commands, cues, reminders are often more nagging than instructing. And constant instructing teaches your animal to tune you out more than listen. Here's some food fo…

As a continuation of episode 284, starting to run blind retrieves, this describes how much actual teaching needs to be done before a dog is good at running blinds. There is much more to it in the dogs' mind, than we are often aware.By Julianne Knutson

In today's episode, we breakdown the approach to teaching a dog with the appropriate fundamentals of going when sent and stopping when whistled - how to confidently learn to run any cold blind. It is less drill and trick-oriented, but more just time and work intensive. Join in....By Julianne Knutson

In response to a number of trouble-shooting questions, I compile an answer to many by discussing how to keep from creating training problems and how to address some before they become big problems in your program.By Julianne Knutson

In this holiday season trouble shooting series, we talk about things to think about when you bring your trained dog home for the hunting season, holiday season or because they've completed their work. If you've spent money on dog training, you certainly do not want to undo it when they come home and relax...…

2nd in the series of questions and problems, I address the question of developing confidence in a canine, performance or pet. It's a pretty straightforward recipe, but it requires understanding your dog's fundamental programming and providing opportunities for the two of you to work on the project together.…

In this second in the Problem Series, we talk about what to do when the young PL hasn't shown point. The upbringing of these little guys is important, birds are important, and maybe most of all, keeping the right balance between the control part of the brain and the 'Do the work yourself" part of the brain. What you do in training should be determi…

This episode's question is about choosing the best video, book, YouTube channel, to acquire your dog training information. Heaven knows there is a ton of 'stuff' out there. Which is best? How do you choose? It's a good question, but before getting the how-to's from someone, make sure you have the best teacher and a very prepared student before star…

In today's episode, I ask for input on topics and material for the new book I'm doing on Pointing Labs, and also need help on a new "Problem Solving" set of podcasts I'd like to do. Meanwhile, today's topic is about getting a dog that has shown point to be able to point at a reasonable distance, with confidence and style, and do the right thing wit…