Episode #64 Why Finished Dogs Still Need Hunting Reps

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges faced by hunting dogs during their first season and the importance of real-world hunting experiences for training.

On this episode of the Flatlander Kennels Podcast, Elliott and Chris catch up after a short break and end up digging into two things every waterfowler and dog owner is dealing with right now First they talk late season duck hunting and how weird weather changes everything. Tons of birds, wide open water, no urgency, and ducks that are so patterned they will fly right over the top of you and never even look. Chris breaks down what conditions finally flip the switch and why wind alone is not enough when temperatures stay warm Then the conversation turns into a big hunting dog reality check. Chris explains why even the best trained dogs in the country can struggle during their first season in a real blind. Six dozen decoys, multiple guns, low light, spinners, cripples, other dogs, and hunters calling while a dog is trying to learn is chaos you cannot truly simulate in training or hunt tests. They talk through how to set young dogs up to succeed, how many birds it can take before things start to click, why patience matters, and why a dog first mindset produces better dogs than a bird first mindset If your hunting dog has you frustrated, this is the episode that will reset your…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Jobman

Guest: Elliott

Topics covered

• duck hunting
• hunting dogs
• training dogs
• waterfowl
• hunting conditions
• dog behavior

Keywords

• finished dogs
• hunting reps
• duck hunting
• dog training
• waterfowl hunting
• hunting conditions
• dog behavior

Sponsors

Marino Decoys

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Flatlander Kennels

More episodes of The Flatlander Kennels Podcast with Chris Jobman

• Episode #73 The Amateur's Road to a Grand Pass · June 3, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Episode #72 Direct vs Indirect Pressure Explained · May 13, 2026 · 51 min
• Episode #71 Preparing for the Grand The Real Grind · April 29, 2026 · 46 min
• Episode #70 Training Progress, Dog Burnout, & Structuring Your Program · April 8, 2026 · 59 min
• Episode #69 Freddy and Jobman Answer Live Questions! · March 25, 2026 · 1h 24m
• Episode #68 Freddy King on Dog Training and the SRS Days · March 11, 2026 · 1h 26m