#4 - Chad Leonard - The Thicket

From Tennis Courts to Bird Dogs: The Chad Leonard Story | Hill Country GundogsWhat do a burnt-out tennis pro, a Georgia quail plantation, a near-death experience, and an English Cocker Spaniel named Blaze have in common? They're all part of one of the most compelling journeys in the gun dog world.In this episode, we sit down with Chad Leonard — Texas Hill Country ranch manager turned professional gun dog trainer and co-founder of Hill Country Gundogs — for a raw, honest, and deeply inspiring conversation about dogs, faith, family, and finding your purpose.Chad shares how a single hunt on Winfield Plantation in Albany, Georgia changed the trajectory of his life, what it felt like to stare down death alone on a ranch with no cell service, and why leaving a dream ranch job to bet on himself was the scariest and best decision he ever made.In this episode:● Chad's first hunt and the moment he fell in love with English Cocker Spaniels● Life on the road — from Ohio to Georgia to New Mexico to the Texas Hill Country● A near-fatal accident and the faith that carried him through it● Why he walked away from the perfect ranch job to build Hill Country Gundogs● Field trials vs. hunting dogs — what actually matters● His friendship with Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen● What's next for Hill Country Gundogs🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📲 Follow Hill Country Gundogs on Instagram (instagram.com/hillcountrygundogs) & Facebook (facebook.com/hillcountrygundogs)🌐 hillcountrygundogs.comSponsor:This episode is brought to you by BKKPRS. BKKPRS (Bookkeepers) helps businesses with bookkeeping, accounting, accounts receivables/payables, payroll, and fractional CFO services. Learn more at: https://bkkprs.comConnect:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thicketpodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4z9NNpxM6sJqbR1bPR729vFacebook: https://facebook.com/Thicketpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethicketpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thicketpodcastX: https://x.com/thethicketpod