Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! Ethan sits down with Tessa — one of the most integral parts of the Standing Stone program — for a deep catch-up on her growth as a trainer, the dogs she's been developing, and the honest lessons she's learning along the way.In this episode:00:00 — Welcome & Introduction00:42 — Catching Up with Tessa: How She's Growing01:11 — Sky's Trained Retrieve — When a Dog Makes It Too Easy07:17 — The Nix Parallel: A Classic Trained Retrieve Trap08:03 — Walking Through the Trained Retrieve Steps12:02 — Toe Pressure vs. Collar Pressure: Where the Breakdown Happened14:00 — Training Table Rules & Funny Stories (Thunder & the Food Table)19:00 — Water Introductions: Tessa's Approach & Tips for Hesitant Dogs24:52 — Rave's Light Switch Moment27:24 — Growing as a Trainer: Removing the Helpful Hands28:43 — The Muscle Analogy — Why Stress Is Required for Growth32:37 — Healing Mechanics & Over-Accommodating Your Dog35:00 — The Danger of Teaching Cool Tricks to Hunting Dogs41:00 — NAVHDA Test Prep & What Uncle Rich Is Working Toward51:32 — Pheasant Tracking: Why We Changed Our Entire Approach54:57 — Simulating a Shot Pheasant for Tracking Development01:01:13 — Tessa's Goals Moving Forward01:02:20 — Women's Pheasant Hunt in South Dakota — Spots Available01:06:12 — Wrap UpSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! Doc, Thunder, and Onyx are preparing for NAVHDA Utility testing — and the clock is ticking. In this episode of the Standing Stone Podcast, Ethan and Charles break down exactly where each dog stands heading into the upcoming Nevada test, what training holes had to be closed, and why a wild card entry changes everything.In this video:00:00 — Intro & Single-Ingredient Chew Announcement03:33 — Overview: Doc, Thunder, Onyx & the 2027 Invitational Push04:55 — Introducing the Wild Card: Onyx07:57 — Charles Updates on Doc & Thunder's Duck Search Progress09:39 — Lining Drills & Pile Work Explained12:23 — Training Versatile Dogs vs. Retrievers: Key Differences31:54 — Shackled Ducks & Progressive Distance Work33:11 — What Are Duck Shackles? (Hint: It's Just Duct Tape)36:50 — How Often Should You Train Each Piece?43:03 — Mock Tests, NAVHDA Rules & Why You Can't Assign Scores44:57 — The Full Mock Test Day Plan49:02 — Onyx's Specific Challenges: Steadiness & Backing Up Behavior51:30 — Retrieving Issues: Mouthing, Body Movement & Going Back to the Table55:07 — Delayed Chase, Alta Tesoro, and Volume in Hunt Prep1:01:45 — The Case for Trained Retrieve on Every Dog1:05:43 — Trained Retrieve Course & Patreon Coaching1:09:22 — Wrap-Up: Nevada Test Dates & Upcoming EventsSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! It's Q&A time! Ethan dives into your YouTube comments and answers the questions dog owners are actually asking, from breeding age and health clearances to resource guarding, porcupine quills in the field, and getting your puppy to sleep through the night.In this episode:00:00 - Intro & Channel Support01:00 - Ideal Age to Breed Your Dog (OFA/CHIC Health Clearances)06:15 - Puppy Roaming the House: How Much Freedom at 8 Weeks?08:34 - Trimming Black Dog Nails: How to Find the Cut Zone10:53 - My Dog Won't Swim: Using Prey Drive to Get Them in the Water13:14 - Male vs. Female Dogs: Hormones, Spay/Neuter & Drive17:44 - Resource Guarding & Aggression at Feeding Time21:49 - Should You Stay With Your Whelping Mom? (Yes — Here's Why)25:52 - Foster Dog Surprise Litter: Whelping Timing & Puppy Tracking29:26 - E-Collar on a Person (Funniest Video Ever?)29:51 - When Will My Puppy Sleep Through the Night?33:32 - Porcupine Quills in the Field: Remove Fast or Go to the Vet?36:38 - Shoutout: GSP Owners in Canada Struggling With Training38:36 - OutroSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! In this episode of the Standing Stone podcast, Ethan breaks down a packed AKC Master Hunter test weekend with two dogs, Cass and Shock, covering what went right, what went wrong, and what it all means for your training program.Cass wraps up his Master Hunter title, going 6 for 6 on the season, a flawless performance across multiple test weekends. But on his final optional brace, a skipped pre-run routine revealed just how much structure and consistency actually matter. Ethan breaks down what that looked like in real time, and why your warm-up routine is more than just a habit.Shock turns in a massive rebound weekend, going 3 for 4 after a tough 1 for 4 start in her first testing experience. Ethan digs into what changed, including brace mate energy, stop-to-flush situations, handling under pressure, cold callback preparation, and the one fail she had and why it was still an "okay fail." She now sits at 4 for 8 on the season with 2 passes still needed for her Master Hunter title.In this episode you'll learn:00:00 — Intro & Weekend Overview00:30 — Cass Finishes His Master Hunter Title: Season Recap01:25 — Shock's Season Stats & Splash Update02:16 — Why Brace Mate Energy Changes Everything03:12 — Shock's First Brace: The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon05:15 — Navigating the Course: Back Course Birds & Bird Field Setup06:28 — Going Birdless in the Bird Field & Callback for Honor09:20 — Cold Callbacks vs. In-Field Callbacks: Why You Must Practice Both12:10 — Shock's Second Brace: The Field Trial Dog Energy Disaster13:34 — Stop-to-Flush Situations: What They Are & Why They're Hard to Train16:25 — The Bird Flushes in Her Face: The Gray Area Fail19:35 — When a Fail Is Still an "Okay Fail": Handling Under Pressure21:28 — Sunday Morning: Shock Rebounds with Back-to-Back Passes24:45 — What Test Readiness Really Means Before You Enter28:12 — Training for the Unexpected: Healing Away from Birds29:30 — Shock's Final Stats & Outlook for Spring Testing31:11 — Dog Age, Mental Demands & Master Hunter Expectations32:51 — Senior Hunter vs. Master Hunter: How to Prepare Either Way33:56 — Moving Into Cass: 6 for 6, Clean Runs, Safeties & Long Retrieves36:30 — Callback Preparation: Do These After Every Single Training Day39:05 — The 50-70 Yard Retrieve That Got Applause from the Judge41:48 — Cass Becomes a Master Hunter: The Final Brace42:26 — The Optional Brace: No Routine, Different Dog45:06 — The Proof: How Structure & Routine Drive Performance47:34 — What's Next: Utility Prep, Spring Testing, Upcoming SeminarSplash is sidelined temporarily due to coming into heat. Look for Shock, Splash, Dual, and Pocket to begin testing again in the spring, with utility attempts on the horizon for Dual and Pocket as well.Send Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

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Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! We just wrapped up a double-double AKC hunt test at the Three Trails Gun Dog Club in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and we're breaking down every single run, every pass, and every fail across Cass, Shock, and Splash.We went 6 for 10 on the weekend, and in this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what happened, why dogs passed, why dogs failed, and what we're training heading into our next event at the Sunflower GSP Club.Topics covered in this episode:0:00 Introduction & Weekend Overview2:35 Results Summary — 6 for 10 on the Weekend3:24 Splash — Saturday Run 1 (Pass)6:50 Bird Field Strategy & Wind Management8:00 Stop to Flush Breakdown & Forward Progress Explained11:47 Callback for Honor — What It Is and Why It Matters13:36 Shock — Saturday Morning Run (Fail)15:02 Shock — Saturday Afternoon Run (Pass)17:11 Cass — Saturday Run 1 Overview19:32 Callback for Retrieve vs. Callback for Honor — Order Matters22:34 Cass — Saturday Afternoon Run (Pass)24:45 Moving Into Sunday — Weather Changes Everything25:05 Cass — Sunday Morning Run (Pass)26:38 Cass — Sunday Afternoon Run (Pass) — Judges Take Notice29:18 Splash — Sunday Run (Fail) Forward Progress Disqualification32:36 Shock — Sunday Morning Run (Fail)34:09 Shock — Sunday Afternoon Run & Honor Callback Fail37:34 What We're Training Next & Upcoming Events39:22 Final ThoughtsWhether you're running NAVHDA, AKC, or just working toward your first hunt test, these real-world examples give you a clear look at what separates a pass from a fail at the highest levels of versatile dog testing.Send Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! We have three dogs, Thunder, Doc, and Trix, running NAVHDA Utility Tests this season, and we're breaking down the exact training plan for each one over the next ten weeks.Thunder is a Utility Prize 1 dog qualified for this year's Invitational. His main issue is duck search confidence. He pops, checks in, and runs the shore instead of expanding independently. We're using lining drills, duck launchers, and heavy salting to build his independence before his September run.Doc has a similar confidence hang-up in the duck search. His prep mirrors Thunder's, with an emphasis on challenging field work and duck work twice a week. He's targeting a Prize 1 at the June test.Trix is a titled Master Hunter who has never run Utility, and for good reason. Her issue is unique: she finds ducks, but won't retrieve them independently when we can't influence her. The plan is high-volume marking drills with dead ducks to condition the same retrieve expectation she has with every other bird.We also cover: how to structure weekly training schedules, when to run mock test days, the "train hard, test easy" principle and where it gets misconstrued, why ducks and quail cause the most retrieving problems, and how much field work experienced dogs actually need.If you're prepping a dog for their first utility test or trying to requalify, this episode gives you a real-world blueprint.Chapters0:00 Intro — Three Dogs, One Test Season1:28 Meet Thunder, Doc, and Trix3:12 Thunder's Duck Search Hang-Up: Popping and Checking In7:48 How Thunder's Invitational Prep Affects His Utility Training12:31 Building Independent Duck Search Confidence15:21 Using Duck Launchers to Build Confidence in the Water17:42 Heavy Salting — What It Is and When to Use It19:21 Reviewing the Training Pond and Setup28:21 Thunder's Weekly Training Schedule Breakdown35:39 Field Work: Quality Over Quantity38:51 Train Hard, Test Easy — and Where It Gets Misconstrued43:29 Running Mock Test Days: How and When45:44 Doc — His Hang-Ups and Training Approach54:08 Doc's Plan: Similar Path, Slightly Different Wrinkles58:59 Trix — Her Story and the Duck Retrieve Problem1:00:06 Trix's Ten-Week Plan: High-Volume Duck Marking Drills1:05:15 Conditioning the Right Response When You Can't See Your Dog1:09:04 What Makes Trix Special in the Field1:11:56 Wrapping Up — Three Dogs, Three Plans, One GoalSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! In this episode, we break down the most recent NAVHDA Utility Test held at Alta Soul Ranch, running three dogs (Doc, Thunder, and East) through every phase of the scorecard. East made history with a Utility Prize I and completed his Master Hunter title in Texas the same weekend. Thunder posted a near-perfect 200 Prize II with fours across the board, held back only by duck search. Doc had one of his most unusual testing days on record.We walk through the full utility scorecard structure, including duck search indexing, multipliers, field search, steadiness phases, remain by blind, drag, and water work, and we explain what each score means for prize eligibility. We also get into the practical training lessons: the marble theory of handling at tests, how time and distance erode control, why duck search independence is the hardest skill to build, and how handler decisions in the moment can be the difference between a Prize I and a Prize II.If you're training for NAVHDA Utility or just want to understand what it takes to compete at the highest level, this episode is packed with real field insight from a trainer who has put dogs over 200 points in Utility.Chapters0:00 Intro & East's Big Announcement1:40 Breaking Down the Utility Scorecard8:20 Doc's Test Recap — Duck Search Score & Weird Day29:00 Remain by Blind Explained & Doc's Handling Situation33:00 The Marble Theory — Time, Distance & Eroding Control45:00 Thunder's Test Recap — 200 Prize II With One Issue55:00 East's Test Recap — Utility Prize I & 201 Score57:00 Duck Retrieve Decision-Making in the Moment1:01:00 Training Plans Going Forward & Closing ThoughtsSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content, we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW