Hold the Line

THE podcast for force-free gundog training! Hold the Line is committed to helping you to train your dog to an advanced level, using motivational methods and without the use of fear. Or pain. Or anything else nasty.

Episode 130 - tips for advancing water work
May 3, 2025 – 27:22
Episode 129 - uncontrolled behaviour in the yard & training multiple dogs
Apr 6, 2025 – 37:51
Episode 128 - enjoying the journey and structuring your training on blinds
Mar 26, 2025 – 30:37
Episode 127 - using launchers and control at the flush
Mar 9, 2025 – 44:23
Episode 126 - ticks, unfixable things and plans for the future
Feb 28, 2025 – 32:25
Episode 125 - a dog which is under control in training, but not in trials?
Feb 19, 2025 – 28:28
Episode 124 - Lining
Feb 11, 2025 – 41:41
Episode 123 - force-free gundog training isn't about training 'gundog skills'
Jan 28, 2025 – 43:00
Episode 122 - What to train puppies to do - and when
Dec 30, 2024 – 43:05
Episode 121 - canine brucellosis, recalls, steadiness to flush and more
Dec 17, 2024 – 48:01
Episode 120 - my dog has developed a phobia around competing and around birds
Dec 3, 2024 – 34:45
Episode 119 - the implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives
Nov 19, 2024 – 37:20
Episode 118 - (field) trials - and tribulations
Nov 12, 2024 – 45:51
Episode 117 - what is going on with the cost of vet care and insurance?
Nov 1, 2024 – 23:52
Episode 116 - help, my dog won't pick game!
Oct 24, 2024 – 34:41
Episode 115 - is your dog ready for a shoot?
Sep 25, 2024 – 33:52
Episode 114 - the recent 'chasing' research paper (e-collar vs food reinforcers)
Sep 19, 2024 – 54:00
Episode 113 - the current dog training controversies and listener questions
Sep 5, 2024 – 38:07
Episode 112 - mouthing or chomping the dummy
Aug 26, 2024 – 31:07
Episode 111 - don't let shot get attached to retrieves!! (and listener questions...)
Aug 8, 2024 – 43:20
Episode 110 - working with the AWOL dog
Jul 31, 2024 – 53:23
Episode 109 - our experience with immunotherapy and canine allergies
Jul 18, 2024 – 36:51
Episode 108 - interview with Collette May (another one!)
Jul 5, 2024 – 01:05:26
Episode 107 - dropping water deliveries & straight line vs hunt it up blinds
Jun 25, 2024 – 33:19
Episode 106 - working with 'distractions' and reinforcers
Jun 19, 2024 – 44:01
Episode 105 - should we outright condemn aversives?
Jun 7, 2024 – 34:12
Episode 104 - retrieving problems and the importance of basics
May 17, 2024 – 34:20
Episode 103 - the UK's approach to blind retrieves for HPRs
Mar 18, 2024 – 44:22
Episode 102 - aversives and listener questions
Feb 22, 2024 – 56:57
Episode 101 - in 15mins "my dog pulls on the leash"
Jan 1, 2024 – 17:30
Episode 100 - in 15mins "my dog has problems with blind retrieves"
Dec 31, 2023 – 17:28
Episode 99 - in 15mins "my dog doesn't recall in certain situations"
Dec 30, 2023 – 17:48
Episode 98 - in 15mins 'my dog hunts too far' or 'my dog doesn't hunt far enough'
Dec 29, 2023 – 13:51
Episode 97 - in 15mins 'my dog gets over-excited'
Dec 28, 2023 – 17:50
Episode 96 - in 15mins 'my dog won't deliver to hand'
Dec 27, 2023 – 20:40
Episode 95 - in 15mins 'my dog chases game'
Dec 26, 2023 – 17:39
Episode 94 - in 15 minutes: 'my dog doesn't give me focus or attention outdoors'
Dec 25, 2023 – 19:22
Episode 93 - NEW Marking course
Nov 17, 2023 – 28:54
Episode 92 - the future of gundog stuff, hard mouth, switching from aversives and daily routines
Oct 4, 2023 – 48:38
Episode 91 - many diverse listener questions!
Aug 30, 2023 – 49:27
Episode 90 - behind the scenes of training and water deliveries
Aug 2, 2023 – 37:24
Episode 89 - 'cigar'-ing bumpers, Recall to Flush and training multiple dogs
Jul 3, 2023 – 37:33
Episode 88 - free-running, marking and lining
Jun 4, 2023 – 30:10
Episode 87 - Recall to Flush
May 17, 2023 – 16:13
Episode 86 - getting focus from your dog, outdoors
Apr 15, 2023 – 33:40
Episode 85 - the T-Drill, accessing birds, distracted dogs
Mar 29, 2023 – 29:57
Episode 84 - birds as reinforcers, puppy food motivation and joint problems
Mar 20, 2023 – 36:14
Episode 83 - cold game and questions about aversives
Feb 7, 2023 – 28:08
Episode 82 - the unedited one, mostly clicker retrieve and recall questions
Jan 15, 2023 – 24:51
Episode 81 - the one with holiday gift ideas and product recommendations
Nov 30, 2022 – 01:07:39

Recent Reviews

ladyyas123

Excellent podcast!

I’m really loving Jo’s books, courses and now podcast, as I delve into the world of gun dogs. Jo is brilliant at explaining complex topics in simple ways, and is a breadth of knowledge. I’ll be recommending her podcast to many friends and colleagues!
CarryingMoonbeams

BPA bumpers

Hi Jo, As always, your latest episode is great. Just wanted to mention Lucky Dog brand bumpers are also BPA free. For those on a budget, they are useful bumpers and almost half the price of Airflow bumpers.
Mountaindogs TT&S

Brilliant podcast for gundogs

Loving this gun dog training podcast. Keep it going, please!
Leslie Kupkowski

Love this podcast!

Jo is bringing a much-needed look at positive gundog training for those of us here in the USA! So happy to have found this excellent podcast, with interesting interviews and tutorials and discussions of topics related to force-free gundog training. Would also highly recommend the Clicker Retrieve course she refrences in the podcast - absolutely excellent!