Best For Forcefree Gundog Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 139 - Q&A bits and pieces 49:10

Play Pause

6d ago49:10

49:10

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This episode is a little bit of everything. It is a buffet of an episode. Not sure if it's all you can eat, but it is a heck of a lot.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 138 - PUPPIES 8-12 weeks 1:01:45

21d ago1:01:45

1:01:45

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Here I waffle randomly about what I'm doing with puppies in this age range. It doesn't really involve much gundog-specific stuff, because it's about helping pups to feel safe in the world.By Jo Laurens

51
Episode 137 - the value of picking up and some thoughts about docking 45:17

1M ago45:17

45:17

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk here about the advantages of picking up, especially for HPR breeds (spaniels would also benefit for similar reasons) - and also offer some thoughts about docking after our experiences with our recent litter of Weim pups.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 136 - THE NEW BOOK IS OUT! 10:51

3M ago10:51

10:51

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Yes, finally, it's here. The long-awaited sequel to *The Fundamentals*, the new book is called *Force-Free Gundog Training: Precision and Progression" and it's available in Amazons everywhere. Whoop whoop!By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 135 - The New Book is Nearly Ready! 36:23

4M ago36:23

36:23

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Amazingly, my new book (Force-Free Gundog Training: Precision and Progression) is nearly ready. WHOOP!! It should be out in a few weeks....By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 134 - the come-in whistle, ticks and canine pregnancy 21:10

5M ago21:10

21:10

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This is a ramble of an episode (both subject-wise and literally) covering ticks, the come-in whistle on retrieves and early canine pregnancy.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 133 - Trying to time a breeding (aka the right stuff, in the right place, at the right time) 35:36

6M ago35:36

35:36

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I recount our incredibly stressful race against the clock to get the right stuff, in the right place, at the right time. Phew.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 132 - working tests (the good, the bad, the ugly) 16:31

6M ago16:31

16:31

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 What are the pros and cons of working tests?By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 131 - marking vs steadiness and moving recalls off the long-line 28:31

6M ago28:31

28:31

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This episode is an outdoor ramble (verbally and physically!)....By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 130 - tips for advancing water work 27:22

7M ago27:22

27:22

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Here are some useful tips for moving onto marks and then blinds across water.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 129 - uncontrolled behaviour in the yard & training multiple dogs 37:51

8M ago37:51

37:51

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This is a slight bonanza of a wandering episode, where I waffle about prepping for our upcoming litter, woes around tick products, why it's a useful training opportunity to have a dog which is highly aroused... in your yard and how to train many dogs at once. It's a bit all over the place and it's got something for…

1
Episode 128 - enjoying the journey and structuring your training on blinds 30:37

9M ago30:37

30:37

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk about prioritising your enjoyment of the actual activity of working your dog in the field, separate to any achievements, goals or objectives. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. I also talk about the importance of splitting your training and structuring your work with blinds. Be a lumper …

1
Episode 127 - using launchers and control at the flush 44:23

9M ago44:23

44:23

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode I waffle in response to a listener's question about using bird launchers and control at the flush of game.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 126 - ticks, unfixable things and plans for the future 32:25

9M ago32:25

32:25

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This episode is an assortment of amazingly interesting things. It's like a box of Quality Street, only with a lot of The Purple Ones.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 125 - a dog which is under control in training, but not in trials? 28:28

10M ago28:28

28:28

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 A quah episode (question and answer) about a dog who is under good control in training scenarios - but out of control, in trials.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 124 - Lining 41:41

10M ago41:41

41:41

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about the skill and concept which is 'lining'. I introduce my new course (creatively called 'Lining') - which you can get a discount on using code Lining30By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 123 - force-free gundog training isn't about training 'gundog skills' 43:00

10M ago43:00

43:00

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Why we need to ensure a split doesn't develop (hopefully this intrigues you enough to listen to more!)By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 122 - What to train puppies to do - and when 43:05

11M ago43:05

43:05

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This episode is not necessarily going to provide the structure some of you really want - because I don't think that's helpful, for puppies. But it will give you some broad pointers...By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 121 - canine brucellosis, recalls, steadiness to flush and more 48:00

12M ago48:00

48:00

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This is a slightly jam-packed episode which leaps around various different subjects!By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 120 - my dog has developed a phobia around competing and around birds 34:45

1y ago34:45

34:45

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I respond to an email from a listener about a dog which became worried about specific (unknown) elements of competition.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 119 - the implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives 37:20

1y ago37:20

37:20

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about feeding raw on a budget. And about the ethics and implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives. (Thereby circumventing the banning of certain 'tools'.)By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 118 - (field) trials - and tribulations 45:50

1y ago45:50

45:50

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I waffle about trials as a form of assessment.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 117 - what is going on with the cost of vet care and insurance? 23:52

1y ago23:52

23:52

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Roche just cut her foreleg on (we think) barbed wire. The quote for sedation and stitching was astronomical. I ramble about what is going on, systemically, and about various societal factors from poverty to capitalism in a failed attempt to make sense of any of this...…

1
Episode 116 - help, my dog won't pick game! 34:41

1y ago34:41

34:41

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about how to help dogs make the transition to picking up game.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 115 - is your dog ready for a shoot? 33:52

1y ago33:52

33:52

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 How do you find a shoot? Is your dog ready to work on a shoot? What is required from them? What different kinds of shoots are there? What are the roles on a shoot? This is all things shoots 101.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 114 - the recent 'chasing' research paper (e-collar vs food reinforcers) 54:00

1y ago54:00

54:00

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I look at a recent research paper called 'Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs' by Johnson & Wynne https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 113 - the current dog training controversies and listener questions 38:07

1+ y ago38:07

38:07

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about why the best way forwards is for us all to advance together - instead of fostering division and us/them splitting.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 112 - mouthing or chomping the dummy 31:07

1+ y ago31:07

31:07

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk about how to stop mouthing or rolling of the dummy (it's the clicker retrieve again, this time the part of it called 'proofing the hold against food').By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 111 - don't let shot get attached to retrieves!! (and listener questions...) 43:19

1+ y ago43:19

43:19

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode I answer a few listener questions and then waffle about why we need to keep shot unattached to a retrieve for as long as possible. Shot means 'sit'. Like the sit whistle means 'sit'.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 110 - working with the AWOL dog 53:23

1+ y ago53:23

53:23

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I focus on how to weave yourself and the environment together - rather than thinking about yourself as being in 'opposition' to the environment. All those juicy reinforcers out there are not a threat to your ongoing control of your dog. They are simply more reinforcers you can use to train your dog…

1
Episode 109 - our experience with immunotherapy and canine allergies 36:51

1+ y ago36:51

36:51

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk here about my experience with immunotherapy for Ren's extreme allergies. Whilst there seem to be so many people around with itchy dogs, it seems that not many have explored immunotherapy and there isn't much information about it out there....By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 108 - interview with Collette May (another one!) 1:05:26

1+ y ago1:05:26

1:05:26

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I last spoke with Collette back in 2019, pre-Covid. Her life has changed in so many ways over the last 5 years, I wanted to catch up with her again and hear about her new ventures. If you want to connect with Collette, check out her websites midwalesholidays.com and completelygundogs.co.uk - and, if you're looking …

1
Episode 107 - dropping water deliveries & straight line vs hunt it up blinds 33:19

1+ y ago33:19

33:19

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I describe the way that one part of the Clicker Retrieve process ("Proofing the Hold Against Food") is a powerful tool for teaching a dog not to drop on exiting water. And I help a listener who wants to train both straight line blinds AND 'hunt it up' blinds.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 106 - working with 'distractions' and reinforcers 44:00

1+ y ago44:00

44:00

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Check out as well episodes: Episode 86 - getting focus from your dog outdoors Episode 78 - behavioural trilogy (part 3), the super-drive, hunting crazy dog Episode 72 - behavioural trilogy (part 2), food motivation, allergies, body sensitivity and focus Episode 58 - developing reinforcers before contact with game E…

1
Episode 105 - should we outright condemn aversives? 34:12

1+ y ago34:12

34:12

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 This episode was inspired by the debate between Zak George and Denise Fenzi on Instagram recently. Check out their Stories there if you want to hear what they had to say in their own words.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 104 - retrieving problems and the importance of basics 34:20

1+ y ago34:20

34:20

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer a listener question about dogs trying to bring back multiple dummies. I also talk about the importance of having a rigorous training system which begins with the basics and doesn't just want to jump in with the sexy stuff...By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 103 - the UK's approach to blind retrieves for HPRs 44:22

1+ y ago44:22

44:22

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Did you know that HPRs in the UK are expected to handle? That means: To hold straight lines. To be cast left, right and back. Essentially, to 'be' Retrievers. Some of you might thing that sounds insane....By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 102 - aversives and listener questions 56:57

2y ago56:57

56:57

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer listener questions about in-a-row blinds, dealing with frustration in blinds and the use of aversives.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 101 - in 15mins "my dog pulls on the leash" 17:30

2y ago17:30

17:30

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Check out episodes 16, 17 And take a look at my online course, Heel.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 100 - in 15mins "my dog has problems with blind retrieves" 17:28

2y ago17:28

17:28

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Episodes to check out are: 30, 33, 34, 36, 41, 47, 48, 62, 64, 66, 85, 88 Online courses covering blind retrieves are: Blind Retrieves Remote Stop First Steps in 3HC Training the T DrillBy Jo Laurens

1
Episode 99 - in 15mins "my dog doesn't recall in certain situations" 17:48

2y ago17:48

17:48

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 For more help on this one, check out episodes: 82, 87 See the Reliable Recall course, on my website forcefreegundog.com Or check out the chapter on the Reliable Recall in my book, Force-Free Gundog Training: The Fundamentals for Success, available from Amazons everywhere…

1
Episode 98 - in 15mins 'my dog hunts too far' or 'my dog doesn't hunt far enough' 13:51

2y ago13:51

13:51

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Check out podcast episodes: 57, 58, 78By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 97 - in 15mins 'my dog gets over-excited' 17:50

2y ago17:50

17:50

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 8, 33, 78 And online courses: Marking Focus and AttentionBy Jo Laurens

1
Episode 96 - in 15mins 'my dog won't deliver to hand' 20:40

2y ago20:40

20:40

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 23, 26 For an online course, see the Clicker Retrieve courseBy Jo Laurens

1
Episode 95 - in 15mins 'my dog chases game' 17:39

2y ago17:39

17:39

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 5, 23, 49, 51, 57, 58, 62, 76, 87, 89 And check out my online courses: Remote Stop Steady In brief: Build an alternative reinforcer Teach the dog to recall off game before stopping/sitting Teach the dog to stop/sit to flush Teach the dog that access to the game i…

1
Episode 94 - in 15 minutes: 'my dog doesn't give me focus or attention outdoors' 19:22

2y ago19:22

19:22

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 61, 85, 86 and 88 For food motivation help, see episodes 54 and 72By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 93 - NEW Marking course 28:54

2y ago28:54

28:54

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode I talk about Marking, as my new Marking course is now available! I also talk about some differences with blind retrieves when it comes to working vs competing with a dog.By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 92 - the future of gundog stuff, hard mouth, switching from aversives and daily routines 48:37

2y ago48:37

48:37

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode I talk about: the future of gundog training and breeding in today's world hard mouth - what causes it, what to do about it, whether you can assess for it switching from the use of aversives daily routinesBy Jo Laurens

1
Episode 91 - many diverse listener questions! 49:26

2+ y ago49:26

49:26

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Answering many super-interesting listener questions :)By Jo Laurens

1
Episode 90 - behind the scenes of training and water deliveries 37:24

2+ y ago37:24

37:24

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I cover a few bits and pieces related not to training itself (how to train a specific behaviour) but how to conceive of various training-related issues in a broader way. Does that sound vague? Well, you'll just have to give it a go. PS I also cover water deliveries.By Jo Laurens