Shows / The Ugly Dog Podcast
The Ugly Dog Podcast
The Ugly Dog Podcast celebrates bird dog training, hunting wild places, habitat conservation, and the journeys that bring all three together. Brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co.
Episodes
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
94. Ashley Smith - How A Bird Dog Prompted a Move to North Dakota
Ashley Smith, a North Dakota upland hunter and bird-dog enthusiast, joins the show to discuss her path that took her from Ohio to chasing wild birds on the…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
93. Debbie Petersen - All Things Woodcock and A Dedication to Gordons
Debbie Peterson shares her extensive experience with Gordon Setters, woodcock research, and bird hunting strategies. If you're looking to learn more about…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
92. Robb Moore - Falling in Love With Grouse and Becoming a Maine Registered Hunting Guide
Robb Moore shares his journey from higher education to becoming a Maine registered guide, exploring the rich history of Maine's outdoor traditions, and the…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
91. Finger Lakes NAVHDA - Hosting the 2027 NAVHDA Annual Meeting
In this episode, we explore the rich history of the Finger Lakes Chapter of NAVHDA, the upcoming annual meeting in Niagara in January, and practical insights…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
90. Jacob Perry - Guiding Grouse, Gordons, and a Montana Opener Recap
Jacob Perry from Superior Upland joins the show this week to share his journey into bird dog training, guiding, and the nuances of hunting sharptail and ruffed…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
89. Katie Willis - Following Your Own Path and Why Wirehairs Aren't For Everyone
Katie Willis finally joins the show where she shares her insights on hunting, dog training, and planning trips, emphasizing safety, flexibility, and the…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
88. Kate Hall - Drawing and Journaling Her Way Through the Uplands
In this episode, Kate Hall shares her journey from art student to celebrated wildlife artist and bird hunter. We explore her creative process, her experiences…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
87. Blaine Peetso - Falling in Love with Anarchy, The Journey Of a Self-Made Bird Hunter.
In this episode, Blaine Peetso shares his journey into bird hunting, the challenges of training pointing dogs, and dives into what it's like hunting close to…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
86. Tom Reed - The Intersection of Writing, Conservation, and Bird Hunting
Tom Reed joins the show this week to share his journey into bird hunting, the importance of public lands, and the deep connection between hunting…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
85. Jordan Horak - Backyard Hunter to National Champion and now Cato Outdoors
In this episode, Jordan shares his journey from a young hunter in Iowa to a top-tier dog trainer and field trial competitor. We explore dog training…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
84. Grayson Guyer - The Art of Developing a Well Rounded Gun Dog
In this episode, Grayson Guyer shares insights on dog training, breed variation, and building strong relationships with hunting dogs. Discover practical tips…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
83. Cackle Clothing Company - The Origins of Family Friendly Pheasant Gear
Brooks and Skyler from Cackle Clothing Company share their journey from bird hunting enthusiasts to apparel entrepreneurs. They discuss starting a business…
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82. Reid Bryant - On Becoming an Upland Hunter, Writing, and Navigating an Aging Bird Dog
Reid Bryant shares his journey from childhood in Massachusetts to becoming a passionate outdoor enthusiast and bird hunter. We explore the influence of…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
81. Melody Ward, DVM - Understanding and Combatting Heat Stress in Bird Dogs
In this episode, veterinarian Melody Ward shares expert insights on managing heat stroke in dogs, emergency veterinary care, and best practices for keeping…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
80. Nate Kennedy - Falling in Love With Grouse Dogs, Conservation, and Keeping the Family Log Book Going
Nate Kennedy shares his journey from a deer hunter to a passionate bird dog owner and conservation advocate. He gives insights on habitat diversity, the impact…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
79. Ford Van Fossan - Quail on the Eastern Shore to Chasing Chukar and Taking WingWorks Vests to the Next Generation
Ford Van Fossan shares his journey from the eastern shore to owner of Wingworks, a classic upland hunting vest brand. We explore the history of the brand, the…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
78. Chris Midgette - Boykin Spaniels, Wirehaired Vizslas, and Beyond
In this episode, Chris Midgette shares his journey from waterfowl hunting to upland, exploring the unique traits of Boykin spaniels and his decision to add a…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
77. Des Stormont - A Look Back at the NAVHDA Invitational and a Changing Perspective on What's Important.
Des Stormont is BACK on the Ugly Dog Podcast! She and Mike look back on their NAVHDA Invitational training season and test date, discuss how training and…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
76. Andrew Vavra - The Journey From Intern to VP of Marketing, Waterfowl to Upland, and Now A Proud Member of Team Wirehair
Andrew Vavra sits down with Mike this week to share how an "I need a job" internship led him to a career in marketing and communications with Pheasants…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
75. Q&A - Spring Training, Thoughts on Expanding Field Trials and Hunt Tests, and Lessons Learn Along the Way
As is tradition, every 25 episodes Mike solicits questions from listeners, social media followers, etc. In this episode he sits down to answer questions about…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
74. JP Knutson - A Journey Into Bird Dogs, Guiding, and Learning to Shoot With a Fused Arm
JP Knutson joins the show this week to share his journey into bird dogs and upland hunting, what he learned jumping into guiding early in his bird hunting…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
73. Mitch Skatter - Looking Back on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026
Mitch Skatter joins the show this week to recap his 2025 pheasant season, chat about Pheasant Fest 2026, and take a deep dive on his Garmin dog GPS questions…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
72. Grouse Camp Q&A - The Guys At Camp Answer Listener Questions
If you're looking to learn more about grouse and woodcock hunting from a bunch of seasoned vets who also relish giving each other a hard time, this episode is…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
71. Bode Springer - College Level Questions on Upland Hunting and Ruffed Grouse
Bode Springer joins the show this week to grill Mike for an upcoming college homework assignment. He is a student at UMD and studying environmental…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
70. Nate Akey - How Following a Dog Led to Hunting Places Far and Wide and Working for onX Hunt
Nate Akey from onX Hunt joins the show this week to discuss his path into bird hunting and dog training, his NAVHDA Invitational run, hunting season so far…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
69. Mitch Skatter - Creating the Upland Path, Starting on YouTube, and The Importance of Coaching and Mentoring.
Mitch Skatter joins the show this week to share more about his journey starting Upland Path, a new YouTube Channel aimed at sharing helpful tips and tricks for…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
68. Marc Musselman & Jonny Serrano - Alclair Outdoors and Why Hearing Protection Should Be a Normal Part of Your Kit
Marc Musselman and Jonny Serrano join the show this week to talk about Alclair Outdoors and the importance of high quality hearing protection. If you do any…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
67. Roy Ames - A Dive Into The NAVHDA Gun Dog Test and a Montana Recap
Roy Ames joins the show again this week to share a bit about our recent trip to Montana, the sometimes frustrating learning curve of puppies, and take a look…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
66. Waylon Lunn - Hunting the Upstate, The Art of Jump-Shooting Ducks, and Raising a Family Outdoors
Waylon Lunn joins the show this week to share his journey in bird dogs from New York City to the Upstate and now traveling across the country with his family…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
65. Marilyn Vetter - Priorities for The Habitat Organization, Planning for Hunting Season Ahead, and Keeping Up The Fight For The Birds.
Marilyn Vetter is the CEO and President of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. She joins the show this week to share some wins for the year as well as a…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
64. Charles Coulter - Learning to Not Care So Much, Falling in Love With Bird Dogs, and Becoming a Professional Bird Hunting Guide.
Charles Coulter is a bird hunting guide, bird dog trainer, and a NAVHDA Senior Judge. He sits down with Mike to share his journey into bird hunting, what it's…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
63. Desiree Stormont - Reflections on NAVHDA Invitational Training, Mindset, and the NAVHDA Lady Gang.
Desiree Stormont joins the show for round 2 after her initial appearance on The Ugly Dog Podcast over a year ago. We recap some of our current NAVHDA…
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62. Emily Julin - From Having a Fear of Dogs to Becoming a NAHRA and NAVHDA Judge.
Emily Julin joins the show this week to share her journey from fearing dogs as a child to having a whole pack of them now. She is now both a NAVHDA and NAHRA…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
61. Ben Brettingen - The Importance of Public Lands in Bird Hunting, Transitioning from Drahthaars to Cover Dogs and Building a Career in the Hunting Industry.
Ben Brettingen from onX Maps joins the show this week to cover the current movement in the Senate to sell public lands (speaking of, have you called your…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
60. Your Public Lands Are For Sale - Are You Really Going To Let That Happen Without Speaking Up?
Your public lands could be for sale soon if your Senator doesn't help torpedo a specific part of the budget reconciliation bill. Call them and let them know…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
59. Mike Neiduski - Planning a Long Distance Bird Hunting Trip
This episode is the audio of a presentation Mike did at the 2025 NAVHDA Annual Meeting in Montana. He covers his tips and tricks to plan and execute a long…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
58. Tanya Caram - Her Journey With Wirehaired Vizlas and Attacking Goals Tenaciously
Tanya Caram joins the show this week to share how she fell in love with Wirehaired Vizlas, her journey to having the first VC WHV, spending extended time in…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
57. Matt Sather and Jason Rice - Bird Hunting and Dog Training from a Track Chair
Matt Sather and Jason Rice join the show this week to share Matt's journey into NAVHDA and hunting with a versatile dog. Jason discusses connecting Matt with…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
56. Ted Wentink - The Beauty and Function of the Spinone, Walking Along in European Hunt Tests, and The Importance of Taking Things Slow
Ted Wentink joins the show this week to share his never-ending love for Spinoni Italiani. He shares candidly about his journey with dogs throughout the years…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
55. Ellen Neiduski - Lessons Learned On The Journey to A Well-Trained Companion
For a little something different this week Mike sits down with his mother, Ellen, on Mother's Day to discuss their family history in pets. Ellen shares her…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
54. Christy Langston - Fighting Imposter Syndrome, Solo Hunting Shenanigans, and Lessons from a Failed Breeding
Christy Langston joins the show this week while Mike visited the Missouri Uplands NAVHDA chapter to judge. She shares candidly about fighting imposter…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
53. Carey Killion - Marathons to Bird Dogs, Facing Failure Head On, and Building Better a Weimaraner
Carey Killion joins the show this week to share how marathons brought her to bird dogs, facing failure head on, and how she is committed to bettering the breed…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
52. Yia Vang - Hunting and Fishing as a Way of Life, The Power of Food, Conservation, and Community, and Bringing Hmong Food to the Mainstream
Yia Vang joins the show this week to discuss his award winning restaurant and how growing up in the Hmong community presented hunting and fishing as a way of…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
51. Bailey Petersen - Falling in Love with Ruffed Grouse, Her Gaggle of Setters, and Pro-Tips for Navigating Grouse Cover
Bailey Petersen joins the show this week to talk all things Northwoods, Ruffed Grouse, and her pack of setters (and one microphone loving Munsterlander). She…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
50. Q&A with Mike - NAVHDA Invitational Prep, DD vs GWP, and The Day Everything Changed
This week's episode features Mike answering questions submitted on our Facebook and Instagram pages. He covers his mindset heading toward the NAVHDA…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
49. Nick Dulas - Being the Young Guy in a PF Chapter, Driving All Night To Get a Setter, and Making The Choice To Go
Nick Dulas joins the show this week where he recounts his pre-COVID journey to joining the Rice County PF chapter and why he's stayed involved since. He also…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
48. Nikki Flander - Loving Dogs So Much She Snuck One Home, Her Love of English Setters, and Diving Into The Industry and Creating Spaces for Women.
Nikki Flander joins the show this week to share her journey to working with the Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club, how she fell in love with English Setters, that…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
47. Hannah & Kyle Peterson - A Match Made Over Bird Dogs, Diving Into Cover Dog Trials, and Wanting An Assertive Female Setter.
Hannah & Kyle Peterson are a match made with a shared love of dog training, and then bird dogs in grouse country. In this episode they share their journey into…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
46. John Zeman - Letting a Dog Fill Up The Country, The Power of Helping Others Train Their Dogs, and Ensuring Others Have Access to Dog Training Areas
John Zeman got his first German Shorthair in 1978 and has had various types of bird dogs ever since. Through mentors he found field trials and training methods…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
45. Greg Blair - An Education in Field Trials and Landing a Dream Job with Purina.
Greg Blair joins the show this week to share his origins in bird dogs, NSTRA, and ultimately field trials. He shares how he landed his dream job at Purina…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
44. Ray Esboldt - Finding NAHRA, Kelly Farms, and Keeping Keystone Woods WMA Open to Train Bird Dogs
Ray Esboldt is a member of the Four Points Retriever Club and an avid NAHRA enthusiast. Mike & Ray sat down to discuss his experience going from a meat dog to…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
43. Jacob Walter - Transitioning from Labs to Shorthairs, Going All-In on Bird Dogs, and Why Physical Fitness Is An Underrated Component for Bird Hunting
Jacob Walter joins the show this week to share his journey of upland bird hunting from growing up with Labrador Retrievers to raising a young family with…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
42. Luc Ramthun - Loving Large Munsterlanders and a National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic Preview!
Luc Ramthun from Pheasants Forever joins the show this week to give a preview of the upcoming Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic being held in Kansas City (see…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
41. Dr. RuthAnn Lobos - On When and How To Feed Your Hunting Dog, Choosing a Puppy Food, and Coming to Hunting Later in Life
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos is the Senior Veterinarian for Purina. She joins the show this week to share her journey with bird dogs and give some incredible, research…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
40. Sam Tillman - A Lifelong Desire for Bird Dogs, The Importance of Going at Her Own Pace, and Making Sure to have Fun.
Sam Tillman joins the show this week where she shares her lifelong love of bird dogs and that love has only deepened over time. She also takes a dive into…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
39. Matt Kucharski - The Importance of Curiosity, Dogs of Opportunity, and The Power of Habitat
Matt Kucharski joins the show this week to discuss his "dogs of opportunity" and now having to raise a puppy, how an ad for a used truck landed him on the…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
38. Jake Faas - Marrying Into Grouse Hunting, The Importance of Managing Your Dogs, and His Journey From Bite Dogs to Bird Dogs.
Jake Faas of True Loyalty Dog Training joins the show this week to share how he fell in love with dogs doing bite sports and training working dogs and then…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
Bonus Episode: Scent Work and Birds Dogs with the Road to Detection Podcast
This special bonus episode is a pod-share between Road to Detection, The Ugly Dog Podcast, and The Accidental Bird Dog. This episode dives into Scent Work and…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
36. Corey Hendrickson & Colton Strauss - A Conversation While Goose Hunting, Why Meat Dog Is A Derogatory Term, And Pillars For Making a Good Bird Dog
Corey Hendrickson and Colton Strauss join Mike on this week's podcast from layout blinds as they wait for geese on a recent hunt. They cover a bit of their…
- The Ugly Dog Podcast
37. Luke Koch - Marrying A Passion for Video, Dogs, and Waterfowl Hunting, Getting Serious About Shotgun Loads, and Why Labs Aren't for Mike
Luke Koch runs Black Dog Marketing Company and joins the show this week to share how he fell in love with waterfowl hunting, his passion for video work, and…