EP 51: Clark Kennington and One of the Toughest Dogs You’ll Ever Hear About

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with pro trainer Clark Kennington during pre-Grand training in Paducah to talk about one of the biggest events in the retriever world—the Crown.Clark breaks down the tests, the strategy behind running blinds under pressure, and what it’s really like walking to the line when everything is on the line. They dive deep into how the Crown is judged, the challenge of separating elite dogs, and how a single cast can decide a championship.The conversation also turns to one of the most incredible comeback stories in recent retriever competition history—Daisy’s return after nearly dying from a rare fungal infection. From a feeding tube and months of uncertainty to nearly winning the Crown, her story is a reminder of just how tough these dogs really are.If you’re interested in high-level retriever strategy, competition mindset, and the stories behind the dogs we run, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.