Creatures of Habit — Are Your Training Habits Helping or Hurting Your Dog?

In this episode of the Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy Podcast, we explore a simple truth that shapes every training journey: both you and your dog are creatures of habit.

After a memorable hunting experience — and a timely reminder from a CGA member — we dive into how unnoticed patterns can either accelerate progress or quietly hold you back.

You’ll learn how to evaluate your training approach, recognize when frustration is pointing to a needed adjustment, and make small but powerful changes that can dramatically improve your results.

We cover:

• Why following a proven process matters
• How consistency builds reliable retrievers
• When to stay the course — and when to adapt
• The power of subtle training adjustments
• Why great trainers learn to think from different angles

If you want a calm, confident, capable retriever, it starts with taking ownership of your habits and training with intention.

Stop guessing. Start progressing.

✅ Subscribe for more weekly retriever training tips and proven methods from Cornerstone Gundog Academy — your guide to training a hunting retriever you can be proud of!

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the Cornerstone Gundog Academy Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

Train a Hunt-Ready Retriever by Next Season (Start Now)

If you’re listening as this episode drops in February 2026, you’re in a prime window to build a hunt-ready retriever by next hunting season—as long as you start now and train with a plan.

In this episode, we break down what “hunt-ready” actually means (hint: it’s not about age—it’s about skill level and consistency under real-world pressure). You’ll learn the foundational skills your dog must have before stepping into the blind, why rushing the timeline can backfire, and how to create a training path that holds up when it’s cold, chaotic, and exciting.

We cover:

• The #1 decision you must make: don’t hunt the dog before it’s truly ready
• The core hunt-ready skills: steadiness, delivery to hand, marking, lining
• Why “my dog can do it in training” isn’t the same as “my dog can do it on opening day”
• A simple weekly schedule to stay consistent (4 days/week, ~20 minutes)
• How community + coaching keeps you from spiraling when problems pop up

If you want a calm, confident, capable retriever by next season, this episode gives you the roadmap—and the standards—to get there.

✅ Subscribe for more weekly retriever training tips and proven methods from Cornerstone Gundog Academy — your guide to training a hunting retriever you can be proud of!

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the Cornerstone Gundog Academy Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.

When should you start training a duck dog?
Most people think of dog training as a project — something you start, finish, and move on from.

That mindset is exactly what causes problems later.

In this episode, we break down why duck dog training is a lifelong journey, not a checklist, and why the best time to start is earlier than most people realize.

You’ll learn:

• Why waiting to train “until later” quietly creates bad habits
• The ideal age to start training — and what to do if your dog is already older
• Why great duck dogs aren’t built through pressure, but through connection
• The difference between a “finished dog” and a dog that truly wants to please
• How early routines and small wins shape calm, confident behavior in the blind

Whether you’re bringing home an 8-week-old puppy or starting with an older dog, this episode will help you understand where to begin, how to progress, and what really matters long-term.

Because the best duck dogs don’t come from rushing the process —
they come from building it right, from day one.

✅ Subscribe for more weekly retriever training tips and proven methods from Cornerstone Gundog Academy — your guide to training a hunting retriever you can be proud of!

Want to learn how to train your hunting dog with confidence?

Visit: Cornerstone Gundog Academy

Need gear for training your retriever, like collars, dog training dummies, and more?

Visit: Retriever Training Supply

Interested in sponsoring the Cornerstone Gundog Academy Podcast?

Fill out this form and tell us more about promoting your product, service, or brand.