Your Friday Tidbit: From Baby Steps to a Master Hunter
My first dog Toddy I had trained by a professional for the Fetch process. My second dog by the name of Bella was the first dog that I would take from a 8 week old puppy to a MH. Bella taught me a lot because I was being mentored on old school hard force methods at the time. The dog either got it or they didn’t, there was no in between. Bella got stuck in different areas of training where high pressure didn’t work for her. I was forced to research, develop and figure out on my own different methods that would teach a better way to understand the subject rather than force her. Next came Winnie and all the kinks that I went through with Bella I knew how to avoid with Winnie. Bella and Winnie ended up getting their MH titles together.
Fast forward to where I’m at now and my résumé consists of close to 50 Master Hunters, even more Senior and Junior Hunters along with Derby and Qualifying placements. Not even mentioning all the Upland Champions l’ve made, but that’s for another time. I’m not saying this as some bragging comment. I saying this from a different standpoint. Each and every dog taught me something along the way. My early Master Hunters all taught me valuable lessons that would lead to making better Master Hunters in the future.
Every dog I have campaigned has its own story line of how they achieved their title. Going 6 for 6 in Master Tests is very rare especially at a young age. Usually some kinks will show along the way. You’ll have to learn how to fix those and how to move forward towards the title. Some dogs pushed every once of knowledge and patience I had, while others made it easy on me.
Developing the Wingmasters online training system is pushing me in a different way. For me it’s natural now to grab a dog and just start training them. I can recognize things before they even happen because of all my past experiences. When Alec Kysely started working at my kennel I could see
Your Friday Tidbit: Growing Up With A Hunting Dog
My childhood neighbor by the name of Ol’ Ralph Hempher, was an overall wearin’, whiskey drinkin’, tobacco chewin, sailer mouthin’ hellava good guy. He lived across the road from us and i’d often ride my bike over there for a visit to listen to hunting as well as life stories. He’d talk about running hounds on coyotes, bear and coon. The thrill of the chase he’d always tell me. One story was a little bit different… He told me about a rabbit hound, a beagle that he shot many cottontail and snow hare over. He said it was the funnest hound hunting he’d done in his younger days. His beagle would run the rabbit in a circle mainly 40 to 80 acres. Being the fact that I was 12 years old I thought, “a beagle would be perfect as i’m not able to drive at my age.” I begged my parents for a pup. Finally they gave in and I got my first beagle. Back then there was no internet. So really the only way you learned anything about beagles was reading books or magazine articles. I read everything I could find. If you wanted information on a beagle they’d have to send you the pedigree’s in the mail. I had a folder of pedigree’s that I studied and kept for my genetic knowledge of the breed.
What I learned from growing up with a hunting dog was priceless. The list is too long, but it taught me many life lessons I carry with me today. What Ol’ Ralph knew was, if I can get this kid a dog, get him to respect wildlife and the outdoors, I can keep this high energy kid from getting into trouble. He was dead on! I got into beagle field trials from age 13 to 20. As a teenager I had no interest in drugs or alcohol. All I cared about was traveling with my beagles on Hunting Trips and to Field Trials to compete. It’s funny now how traveling to Upland Bird Dog Tournaments and Hunt Tests gives me that same feeling of when I ran beagles as a kid.
“A puppy makes you ageless, they have a way to turn you into a kid i
Your Friday Tidbit: AKC Senior Hunt Test Components
A couple weeks ago I started this Friday Tidbit series explaining the general understanding of AKC Junior Hunt Tests. Today i’m going to explain the components of a AKC Senior Hunt Test. Next week I’ll explain how all the components essentially work together. There is a big jump from Junior to Senior but then a smaller jump from Senior to Master in some sense.
Double Marks:
There is two series like Junior, a Land series and a water series. Except now each series requires you to pick up a double instead of two singles like a Junior. One of the two birds, typically in the first series, will be a live flyer. The dog must remain steady, off lead while two birds get launched until the Judge releases you to pick them up.
Controlled Break- Your Mullligan!
Here is an important thing you need to know at the Senior Level. In one of the two series, not both, if the dog goes to break and you can stop them at a reasonable distance, you can still continue the test. Some judges will let your release the dog from where he stopped, others require you to reheel the dog before sending them.
Walking to the Line:
At Senior level a dog must now walk to the line, at heel, OFF Lead, with NO collar. Completely opposite of what I talked about in Junior. The lead since there can be no collar on the dog must be some type of “slip” lead. Secondly you must carry a gun with you to the line. The judges ask for your number, you answer, they say “Guns Up”, then say “dog to the line.” At this time you as the handler remove the lead and pocket it, grab your gun and start walking towards the line.
Walk Up
Now at Senior level one of your two series will have a “Walk Up.” This means that you don’t just walk your dog up and sit it down. Instead, on your way up to the line, they will launch a bird at a certain area you are instructed to walk to. When the bird is launched the dog must either sit verbally or sit to the wh
Join us tomorrow for episode #2 of the Wingmasters Podcast “Truth Be Told”! This episode will be sure to keep you entertained as we dive into genetics, dogs, training, hilarious moments as well as as some sentimental moments when talking about Winnie! Be sure to tune in on YouTube and Spotify! Our Wingmasters FB page is up! Please head over to our official Wingmasters FB page and be sure to give us a “like” and “follow”! Let’s keep it Rockin! Alec Kysely #WINGMASTERS #wingmasterspodcast #truthbetold #foxredlabrador #foxredpuppy #foxredlab #HilariousMoments #takethejourneywithus
We’d like to show our gratitude to everyone who reached out to us regarding our first podcast episode! Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us as we build the brand of Wingmasters. Our goal is to take you on the journey with us as we film the online training curriculum and build the Wingmasters website. The website will offer online training courses in dog training for Retriever and Pointing Dog breeds, dog handling and Gunmanship with your shotgun!If you missed the first episode, be sure to watch it on YouTube or listen on Spotify! Please “like” and “subscribe” to show your support 🙏 Episode #2 being released this Friday 01/12/24 Let’s keep it Rockin! #WINGMASTERS #wingmasterspodcast #truthbetold #retrievertraining #retrievereducation #pointingdogs #gundogtraining #gundogs #birddoggin
You’re Friday Tidbit: Finding Your New Song
I’m always intrigued by musicians as they grow their careers. They’ll have some break out song that gets them to the next level. A musicians biggest fear is to be a “one hit wonder.” The good musicians grow and take their music fans on journey with them. Each album is a set of new songs of expressing themselves for what they are living in the present moment. The album will usually have some type of title that expresses the new journey they are on.
Think about all the things you’ve been through in life. If I asked you to lump different years together in life and title it, it wouldn’t be that hard. Your teenage years might be “My Free Years” as a album or “Growing Pains” if they weren’t that good. Your 18-25, 25-30, 30-35 etc could easily be summed up with your own album cover titles. Now if you were a musician you’d go back to each album and sing the classic songs everyone wants hear. That song reminds people of something they went through in life good or bad and how that song made them feel. For the musician that song represents a certain time in their life on each album. Each musician is always “seeking the new” best song that they can grab onto in the moment while playing their songs that treasure the past. What a beautiful gift they give themselves. I always enjoy listening to musicians tell the history of their songs years after that song became hit, what they learned from it and what propelled them forward.
Think about your favorite story that your grandparents, parents, friends or mentors have told you. A story someone told you that taught you a lesson that you’ll never forget. That’s as profound as any song. You’ll hear that person tell that same story many times and you enjoy it more and more each time you hear it! Just like when you hear an old song.
Now think about when a new song comes out that you start listening to. If your like me, when I hear a new song, I listen t
Your Friday Tidbit: Running Birds
I got in a great discussion with a client of mine who was having a problem with his dog on running birds. He said, “Mike this dog has too good of nose I can’t keep up with him.” He brought up a great point that I believe a lot of people struggle with. It’s important that you understand what you need to do in this situation in order to be able to harvest more birds. Let me break this down as easily as possible.
- The dog winds the bird out of range
The dog smells the bird from 40 yards which is way out of range to harvest the bird. Therefore you have 3 options
1. Hustle behind the dog to make the shot
2. Recognize he’s winding a bird- call him off the bird to circle back to you and then proceed to that bird together- sending him back in the direction of the bird
3. Whistle sit him- move up on him and proceed to the bird together.
Since most people don’t have their dog trained to whistle sit on a bird in the field your best option is the “come around” command. The dog starts winding the bird out of range- you use the “come around” command- which means for the dog to circle back to you and then you both head in the direction of the bird together rather than him proceeding with out you.
This becomes the same on running birds. If your dog grabs the track and starts tracking him out of range- use the “come around” command then proceed back in the direction he was tracking and let him regain the track. You may end up doing this multiple times before you are both together to let the dog flush the bird. If you’ve been at my seminars this is where the Flashlight handling drill is super important!
Bottom line is if the dog is out of range you can’t harvest the bird regardless. So you are best to keep the dog close and try to flush the bird together even if the bird escapes you and your dog. Either way you’re losing the bird if the dogs out of range. Therefore demand the dog stays tight to you for the
Your Friday Tidbit: Started Dogs
Each year I receive calls about started dogs with the multitude of questions that come along with purchasing an older dog. It seems as though many people think that if I’m selling a started dog that something must be wrong with the dog. Nothing could be further from the truth. However I must warn you that you must know what you are looking for and what set of skills you want the dog to possess. There is many scams out there that say the dog is to a certain level, only to not return your phone calls. Being a professional my reputation is on the line for handing you a dog with the set of skills you desire without lying to you. We back that up by showing you those skills in the field.
Let’s look at the benefits of a started dog over a puppy.
1. No puppy stage or house breaking
2. What you see is what you get—With a puppy you don’t know what you are getting until it’s older and you truly don’t know what you got until the pup is trained properly. With a started dog you know what you are getting by seeing their personality and their skills in the field. WARNING ⛔️ If someone is selling a started dog and won’t show you the dog perform in the field- DON’T BUY IT!! That’s a huge red flag.
3. Turn Key Hunting— When a started dog leaves our place it’s ready to go hunting, obviously based on its training level. Therefore you can buy a started dog head straight to the field and start making memories. You don’t have to wait a whole year for a pup to grow up and be trained.
4. All we got to train is you— With a dog trained properly all we got to do is teach you how to handle the dog and off you go. It’s not training the dog and yourself.
5. Knowing the dog— A honest trainer will tell you exactly what the dog is like in and out of the field. A good trainer will be able to fit the right dog to what you are looking for. When I sell a started dog I feel out the conversation. Usually by the end of the conversati
Great opportunity to own a Cowboy puppy!
12 weeks old
1. Black Male
2. Black female
3. Yellow male
I was originally going to keep them and raise them as started dogs. However with my busy schedule I think it would be best for them to enjoy some family time. They have started basic puppy training. The BONUS of these pups is they are crate trained and sleep through the night. Therefore you avoid the early stages of a puppy keeping you up all night!!!
Up to date on all shots ✅
Phenomenal pedigree ✅
28 month health guarantee ✅
Black puppy out of Cowboy ✅
Crate trained-avoid sleepless nights ✅
Great for Waterfowl or Upland or both ✅
Ready for pick up ✅
Great family companions✅
Please call or text 608 445 6149 for more info, as I don’t have time to answer FB comments. Thank you!
Your Friday Tidbit: “Wing Beat Anxiety”
It’s all to common that trap shooters and sporting clay shooters are consistently great in the box or at the line, however have a hard time transferring their skills to the field shooting live birds. ”Wing Beat Anxiety” is a real thing much like “Buck Fever” in the deer hunting world. I’ve known great marksman who can shoot phenomenally when target practicing but miss the buck of lifetime when the opportunity presents itself. Therefore you have to be taught a psychology of shooting to be able to control your mind in high pressure moments during a hunt or tournament hunting.
Learn how to do just that by getting signed up for our Shotgunning/Upland Hunting and Tournament Hunting Seminar Fri August 11th-13th. See other post for itinerary and details!
Get signed up now! https://form.jotform.com/221319053341142
#shotgun #shotgunning #wingshooting #uplandhunting #upland #uplanddog #pointer #flushingdog #pheasanthunting #pheasantshooting #phesantdog #bdctournamenthunting
Your Friday Tidbit: “A dog is a gift that keeps on giving”
Through proper training methods you will unlock the gift of each dogs genetic make up and talents. The more you advance the dog in training the more gifts you will receive. With the end result being a confident dog with knowledge of his job, in which he will do anything that is asked of him.
-Mike Vaughn
Your Friday Tidbit: “Testing You”
“Each and every day your dog will come out to “Test” your standards. It’s your job to make sure you pass ”The Test” of requiring them to stay within those standards before it becomes a problem. As it’s much easier to nip the problem immediately instead of creating a problem you have to fix”
-Mike Vaughn
#retrievertraining #pointertraining #uplanddog #duckdog #trainemright
#offseasontraining
This ain’t no APRIL FOOLS Joke!!!!!
Thriller (Journey x Josie - Winnie Daughter) living up to being a “Thrill” to watch!
A strong reentry mark at 11 weeks old! 💪👏😁
www.theblastwsk.com
#retriever #retrieverpuppy #duckdogs #buildingachampion #buildingaduckdog #hunttestseason
You’re Friday Tidbit: “Line Manners”
(Changing Behavior, Teaching New Standards, Accountability)
Join our Louisana porch conversation as I get a chance to sit down with Mike Foley and Scott Towne discussing changing a dog who has Line Manner issues. They jump around, whine, move back n forth, tap their feet and creep forward. All behavior that leads to breaking! Creeping and breaking is a big problem across the board whether it’s in a duck blind, hunt test or at a field trial. So when Mike contacted me with this issue I was happy to help.
Once a dog develops a bad habit and it becomes a problem you must revert to the “Double I” method= Isolate and Integrate. Cruise mentioned in the video is unruly at the line. I told Mike this process can be done but you have to remember that years of bad habits takes time to correct. Many people run into this problem and what they come to realize is that the dog is not a teammate and is defying what is asked of them. However how can the dog be defying what your asking if the expectations aren’t clear? So I gave Mike a set of training drills along (setting the new standard for the
Dog) with a set of criteria (holding the dog to the standard) to get on the right path. The 3 simple criteria given:
1. Isolate: We must set the new standard of no movement at the line clearly with limited pressure
2. Hold The Standard: Mike as the handler must hold the dog to an extreme standard of absolutely no movement whatsoever regardless of how long the training session takes.
3. Integrate: Introduce the new standard back to the field and hold the dog accountable for their actions. Go back to isolation if the new standard is getting absurd in the field.
Only then will you see the results and boy have we seen the results in one weeks time, as Mike mentions in the video. Always remember when curing a problem you must enjoy the process as much and training a new subject. To see a dog’s demeanor completely change is the magic of
Your Friday Tidbit: P.A.W (Play As the Way)
It’s Puppy Season! Time to get your pup
started on the right track. Many years ago a martial arts association came out with a training system for kids called PAW- Play As the Way. Its design was to teach kids during “Play” time. The kids thought they were playing but inside each “Playtime” was a hidden lesson. This actually taught kids how to learn better in martial arts schools as they were having a “Blast” all while learning. What was the result? Kids kept wanting to come back for more! They couldn’t wait for their next “Playtime” (lesson) and begged their parents to take them to martial arts class. During that time we would circuit between Play (a game), The Lesson (teaching of technique) and using the “Lesson” inside the “Game.” We would discipline as needed. Although that didn’t happen very often because discipline meant you couldn’t play the game. So kids would rarely get out of line and loose focus. Before you know it class was over and they couldn’t wait to come back for more.
I always kept this idea in my back pocket. As I started training dogs I quickly learned it was easy to teach a dog the same way. “The Game” included: Taking a walk (spending time together), teasing them to chase something (building drive and enthusiasm) and playing with them, all while introducing simple skills. As irony as life can be, a dog training mentor of mine used the same methodology. His methodology was at first designed for puppies. Later it transformed to adults as well. Now every dog regardless of age that enters my program gets to know me by “Playing” with me. Soon they learn the time we spend together is all about having a “Blast”. We quickly form a bond as the dog learns that training is the most exciting thing in life and keeps wanting to come back for more. Of course there is exceptions to every rule. There is dogs or puppies that have low drive or excitement levels. In these
A Sunday Treat: “The Last National Dance”
Winnie’s BDC Nationals Prelim run!
For the fear of missing the “Last Dance”
with Winnie at this years Nationals, I trained with my brand new Go Pro on my head! I was afraid of the weight on my head would affect my shooting. Thankfully it didn’t!
For all you Winnie fans, we appreciate you! I get asked all the time what it’s like on a BDC Upland Tournament Hunting run! Now you can see a inside view of Winnie and I working as a team. After this run I got extremely emotional as I realize this maybe our “Last Dance” at the Nationals ever! Only time will tell! Take a ride with Winnie and I and enjoy your “Sunday Treat” 😁
www.theblastwsk.com
Day 6 BDC Bird Dog Nationals: Doubles and Singles finals day!
I can remember a decade ago what it felt like to just make the finals. How proud I was to be among “the best.” After the semi finals day is complete they Calcutta all the finals dogs in each division with a auctioneer. It’s a BDC tradition I’ve loved since the beginning. It makes you so proud as you bid on your dog. Reality sets in on how much you believe you can win? As the bid goes higher and higher you have to literally believe more and more. It’s a fun piece of tradition. Some people bid on their dogs, some don’t. I always do!
It’s been a crazy week. Yesterday Ol’ Winnie just caught a bad break and didn’t make it to the finals. However it’s like a whole new decade is starting over. As Winnie’s daughter Whisper has made the finals. Carrying on the winning ways of her mom and her dad Cowboy. It’s been a crazy week and I’m super proud of her! Tim got mother/daughter in the singles finals his Ol’ girl Brie (11 years old) and her daughter Avery. We rock with these dogs today. We rock in the doubles finals as well today with Tim’s Mother/Daughter Raven/Storm and my boy Cowboy.
Puppy finals: Reezen and Patriot had good runs but not fast enough for placements. It was their first Nationals so I’m super proud!
Congrats to my friend Justin Hoffman for winning the Puppy National Championship yesterday with his dog Trixie! (Cowboy x Avery) Congrats to my friend Craig Anderson for taking 4th his dog Penny! (Winnie’s great granddaughter) Great job guys!
Eddie Dallman on the week of his 13th birthday won the Hunter Pointer Division With Magic Mike! I couldn’t be more proud of them both! Proud of Randi Hoffman for taking Magic Mike in the ladies division and placing 3rd!
It’s been one crazy week! One I will tell more about in the future! But for now it’s time to get Rockin at Godspeed!!
www.theblastwsk.com
Your Friday Tidbit: Give yourself a “Pat On The Back”
(Watch Cowboy in this Video make you and I smile)
Well i’m nearing the end of what was the most phenomenal fall I’ve ever had in my life. Without explaining it all, let’s just say I took a two month sabbatical that was well deserved after 18 hour days of training dogs from January to mid October. For those two months I was free as a bird. I did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Since I’m not a beach guy, that meant I was traveling the country hunting pheasants in multiple states, competing in Upland Bird Dog Tournaments, Grouse and Deer Hunting in WI, hanging out with friends and family, doing a little partying and working on the next phase of my business. During this time off it felt so good to be free of dates, schedules, pressure, timelines and anything else that wears you down. I recentered myself for the three new business projects I’m about to tackle in 2023’.
What made me the most proud this fall was doing what I truly love! Actually taking my personal dogs hunting and watching my young dogs grow and my seasoned dogs make me “smile to tears”. If you talk to many professional trainers they don’t get the luxury of hunting in the fall. They keep their kennel full all year and soon they forget why they got into this profession in the first place. That was me in years past. But this fall I made a promise to myself to take some time for myself and to hunt my personal dogs as much as possible.
Early November after attending the Ringneck Festival in Huron, SD I stayed a few extra days in South Dakota and joined up with Bernie Birkenholz Maverick Birkenholz Both high end Upland Tournament Hunters that are as crazy about chasing Wild Roosters as I am. The 2nd day of our hunt we are down to the last hour of shooting, two birds shy of our limit. The wind is whipping 30-40 mph which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as we are able to get closer to roosters hunkering down. We are coming aro
2x BDC National Champion/ 2x BDC World Champion/ BDC SMW x10 THE BLAST’s Magic “Mike” doing some clean up work The Rush of the Flush Hunt Club on a guide job yesterday.. It’s always fun to hear someone ask, ”can I hunt behind that Mike dog”! 😁
We Be Rockin!
www.theblastwsk.com
www.therushhuntclub.com
