Episode 056: The Urban Uplander w/Melinda Benbow

Melinda Benbow, the owner and operator of Urban Uplander Pet Care in Indianapolis, joins us to discuss training bird dogs in the city, and how the force free training approach has worked for her. Melinda also shares her experience as a novice running her English Setter, Suge, in her first AKC Hunt Test. This story is a must listen whether you’re a novice or experienced trainer or handler. I also strongly urge judges, and potential judges of dog events to have a listen to this one, because as the stewards of the sporting events, it’s important to understand how the feedback you give, especially to a novice, can affect them. For many of us, it’s these testing venues that are a bridge to turning us into hunters. So let’s all do what we can to make these training and testing events a welcoming, positive experience.   The Bird Dog Babe Podcast is Presented By: Purina Pro Plan Boss Shotshel 6:30 Urban Uplander 7:55 Upland training in Indianapolis 10:15 How Melinda Got Started 13:00 Why an English Setter 14:30 Training bird dogs in the city 23:40 Training for steadiness 25:00 Water work 28:55 Force free training 52:40 First AKC Hunt Test 55:00 Testing events turning handlers into hunters 58:10 Preparing for your first hunt test 1:18:00 Best advice for some testing for the first time Connect with Melinda Website: https://urbanuplanderllc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urban.uplander/   --------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our Partners: Dakota283 Kennels (promo code birddogbabe for 10% discount) Syren: Shotguns for Women Support this podcast on Patreon Connect with Courtney Follow Bird Dog Babe: Instagram Facebook YouTube -------------------------------------------------