Episode #73 The Amateur's Road to a Grand Pass

About this episode

The episode discusses the journey of an amateur handler, Luke Donofrio, as he prepares for and achieves his first HRC Grand pass with his dog Cash.

Description What does it really take for an amateur handler to pass the HRC Grand? In this episode, Chris and Elliott sit down with Luke Donofrio, an Army veteran and amateur handler who recently earned his first Grand pass with his dog Cash. Luke shares his journey from buying a dog to hunt over to competing at the highest level of the HRC game. The conversation covers Grand preparation, the importance of solid fundamentals, pre-training with large groups, common mistakes amateur handlers make, and what it felt like to finally get the job done after coming up short in previous attempts. Chris also recaps one of the toughest Grands he has ever attended, discussing difficult test setups, challenging cover conditions, and the lessons learned from a demanding three weeks on the road. Whether you're chasing your first Finished title or dreaming of running the Grand someday, this episode offers an inside look at the process from both a professional trainer's and an amateur handler's perspective. Flight Day Ammunition Premium steel waterfowl loads designed around maximum payload and exceptional patterns.Use code FLK10 for 10% off. https://www.flightdayammo.com Merino Decoys Hand carved…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Jobman

Guest: Luke Donofrio

Topics covered

• HRC Grand
• amateur handler
• dog training
• hunting
• competition
• preparation
• challenges

Keywords

• HRC Grand
• amateur handler
• dog training
• hunting competition
• training mistakes
• preparation
• dog crates

Sponsors

Flight Day Ammunition, Merino Decoys, Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Flatlander Kennels

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• Episode #67 Pressure Spins, Head Swinging, and Test Day Reality · February 25, 2026 · 44 min