Spring is the time of year when a lot of hunting dog crosses are made and litters start hitting the ground. It’s also the time when many people who had a good season start talking about wanting a pup out of a certain dog.

But raising a litter of puppies comes with a lot more reality than most people realize.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I talk about some of the lessons and situations that come with breeding hunting dogs and raising puppies. From people who say they want a pup but disappear when it’s time to pick one up, to the responsibility that comes with producing a litter.

We talk about:

• The difference between excitement and real commitment when people say they want a puppy

• Why breeders should be prepared to keep every pup in a litter

• The shift that happens when you start breeding dogs for your own program instead of other people

• The reality that sometimes not every puppy survives after birth

• The question many breeders wrestle with — should you charge for pups or not?

Breeding dogs isn’t just about producing puppies. It’s about responsibility, honesty, and thinking about the future of the dogs you’re putting into the world.

Whether you’re thinking about making a cross, buying a puppy, or just curious about the realities behind raising a litter, this episode offers some perspective from the dog man side of things.

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Every hunting season teaches you something — if you're willing to step back and pay attention.

As the season winds down and the off-season begins, it's a good time for every dog man to take an honest look at their dogs, their pack, and their approach going forward.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I introduce a simple framework called the P.A.C.K. Method to help reflect on the season and think clearly about the off-season. Whether you're running rabbit dogs, tree dogs, bird dogs, or any kind of hunting dog, the lessons from a season in the woods always reveal something.

The P.A.C.K. Method stands for:

P – Performance Review

Taking an honest look at how your dogs performed this season.

A – Adjust Expectations

Understanding that dogs develop at different speeds and one season doesn’t define a dog.

C – Correct Weaknesses

Using the off-season to work on areas that need improvement.

K – Keep Building the Pack

Thinking long-term about the future of your kennel and how your dogs fit together as a team.

Throughout the episode I share examples from running beagles, tree dogs, and bird dogs to show how these ideas apply across different types of hunting dogs.

The end of the season isn’t really the end — it’s the beginning of preparing for the next one.

If you hunt dogs, this is the time to reflect, adjust, and keep building.

📘 Rabbit Dog Starter Bundle + 3 Bonus Audios

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Every dog man and dog woman has a beginning.

There’s always a moment — a hunt, a dog, a mentor, or a memory — that pulls someone into the world of hunting dogs and never quite lets go.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I talk about the different situations that can trigger someone into becoming a dog man. From the people who introduce us to the sport, to the first dog that changes everything, to the moments in the woods that stick with us forever.

This episode isn’t about training techniques or competition hunting. It’s about the experiences that shape people and connect them to dogs for life.

We talk about:

• The moments that pull people into hunting dogs

• The role mentors and experienced dog men play

• How one dog can change everything

• Why certain memories stay with us forever

• Situations that create dog men and women

• And a few things that don’t actually create dog men

Every handler has a story about how they got started.

So the real question is:

What moment hooked you?

📘 Rabbit Dog Starter Bundle + 3 Bonus Audios

https://bawlinoutkennels.com/products/rabbit-dog-starter-bundle-book-3-bonus-audios

👥 Dog Man Insider Community (Beginner-Friendly, No Ego)

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💳 Dog Man Insider Membership

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