EP 70: Getting Ready for the Grand: Marks, Blinds & Everything In Between

In this episode of the Hunt Test Hobo Podcast, Chris Rud sits down with Tyler Brenner to talk about one of the most important parts of running the HRC Grand: how you actually prepare a dog for it.Instead of simply throwing harder and harder setups, Chris and Tyler break down the skills that can make the difference when things don't go according to plan. They talk about point-and-shoot training for marks your dog doesn't see, drag-back scent, gun swings, diversion birds, difficult blinds, handling strategy, and why confidence and communication become so important at the Grand.They also discuss how their training changes in the weeks leading up to the event, why they focus more on hunt-test scenarios, how to build a dog's confidence without taking away discipline, and the difference between training a dog to perform a picture and training a dog to deal with the gray areas that inevitably show up at the Grand. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about preparing for the “what ifs.” Because at the Grand, your dog probably isn't going to see every bird—and your ability to stay calm, make a plan, and keep your dog moving can be just as important as the training you've done beforehand.