You finally brought home a started dog. Now what?

For many new handlers, the excitement of getting a new dog leads to one of the biggest mistakes they can make—taking that dog hunting before it's had time to settle into its new home.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast, we discuss why the first few days and weeks after bringing home a started dog are so important. From building trust and learning the dog's language to transitioning dog food, managing expectations, and using electronic collars responsibly, we'll explore how a little patience on the front end can lead to a much better hunting partner down the road.

• Giving a started dog time to settle in

• Building trust before asking the dog to perform

• Why dog food transitions matter

• Learning the dog's commands and language

• Common e-collar mistakes with new dogs

• Managing expectations during the transition

• Why patience often leads to better results

Sometimes the best hunt you'll have with a new started dog... begins by not hunting it right away.

🎙️ Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast

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In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast, I'm answering eight of the most common questions I hear from new and beginner hunting dog handlers. From choosing a puppy and understanding bloodlines to knowing when to hunt a young dog and avoiding common mistakes, this episode is designed to give you practical advice and a better way to think about your dogs.

Topics include:

• How to recognize potential in a puppy

• When to start hunting a young dog

• Puppy vs. started dog

• What makes a good bloodline?

• The biggest mistakes beginners make

• How long to give a dog before making a decision

• Do you need a big kennel?

• One piece of advice for every new handler

Whether you're just getting started or looking for a different perspective, I hope these answers help point you in the right direction.

🎙️ Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast

📘 Rabbit Dog Starter Bundle + 3 Bonus Audios:

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

🐾 Join the Dog Man Insider Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562828264897293

💳 Become a Dog Man Insider:

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#ThoughtsOfADogMan #BawlinOutKennels #Beagles #RabbitDogs #HuntingDogs #DogTraining #DogPodcast

What's the hardest part of dogs?

Most people might say training, breeding, finding good dogs, or dealing with setbacks. But the more I've thought about it, the more I've started to wonder if the hardest part might be something else entirely.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast, I explore the role patience plays in every stage of the journey—from puppies and development to training, breeding decisions, and long-term goals. We discuss the challenges of waiting for dogs to mature, waiting for results, and knowing when patience is helping versus when action is needed.

Topics include:

• Waiting on puppies to develop

• Early starters vs late bloomers

• Training and delayed results

• Breeding decisions and long-term outcomes

• The dangers of impatience

• Knowing when to wait and when to act

• Lessons dogs teach us about patience and life

Sometimes the work isn't the hardest part. Sometimes it's having the patience to let the work actually work.

🎙 Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast

📘 Rabbit Dog Starter Bundle + 3 Bonus Audios:

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

🐾 Dog Man Insider Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562828264897293

💳 Join Dog Man Insider:

https://buy.stripe.com/7sYcMYdym52b4Sq8Aj7bW02

#ThoughtsOfADogMan #BawlinOutKennels #Beagles #RabbitDogs #HuntingDogs #DogTraining #DogPodcast #WorkingDogs #DogMan