What if you could get some, or maybe even ALL, of your dog food paid for? 🐕💰

And no, we're not just talking about landing a big sponsorship deal or having thousands of followers on social media!

Whether you own one dog or fifteen, feeding dogs can become a pretty expensive responsibility. But what if there were opportunities right in front of you that could help reduce those expenses?

In this week's episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, we're exploring 7 creative ways to potentially get some of your dog food paid for, from simple discounts people overlook to building relationships and creating opportunities you may have never considered.

🐾 Here's what we're getting into:

1. Coupons: Are you overlooking money-saving opportunities every time you purchase dog food?
2. Dog Food Buying Co-ops: What if you teamed up with other dog owners to negotiate better prices?
3. Brand Ambassadors & Sponsorships: Exploring opportunities with dog food companies, including smaller brands.
4. Content Creation & Affiliate Marketing: Using photos, videos, and referrals to potentially earn money or products.
5. Rewards & Hidden Discounts: Loyalty programs, cashback, rebates, and other ways to save.
6. Building Relationships: Why getting to know local feed store owners and managers could open doors to discounts and special purchasing opportunities.
7. Making Your Dog Food Pay for Itself: Creative ways to offset your feeding expenses without depending on one big sponsorship.

Sometimes saving money isn't about making more money. It's about recognizing opportunities, asking better questions, and thinking differently about expenses you're already paying.

You might not get every bag of dog food for free, but what if you could save enough throughout the year to cover several bags?

That's worth exploring!

🎙️ QUESTION FOR YOU:

What's the most creative way you've ever saved money on dog food? Have you ever received free bags, negotiated a discount, or worked with a company?

I'd love to hear your experiences!

🐾 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER

A community for new and beginning hunting dog handlers to learn, ask questions, and share experiences.

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📘 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG — STARTER BUNDLE

Get the book plus 3 bonus audios to help you get started with your future rabbit dog.

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

📗 PRODUCING A FUTURE TREE DOG

A beginner-friendly guide to raising, understanding, and developing your future squirrel or coon dog.

https://bawlinoutkennels.com/products/producing-a-future-tree-dog

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay houndy.

#ThoughtsOfADogMan #BawlinOutKennels #DogFood #DogFoodSavings #DogFoodSponsorship #DogOwners #DogCare #SaveMoney #DogTraining #HuntingDogs #RabbitDogs #TreeDogs #DogManInsider #PetCare #DogFoodDeals

THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER... BUT WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO TEACH THEM?

How can we expect somebody to know something they've never been taught?

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, we're talking about something I believe deserves more attention in the hunting dog community: the expectations we place on new and beginning handlers.

It's easy to look at somebody's decisions and say, "They should know better." But have we ever stopped to ask where they were supposed to learn those things in the first place?

Whether it's understanding bloodlines, evaluating a young dog, recognizing progress, or simply knowing what questions to ask, there's a lot that comes with learning the art of hunting dogs.

And sometimes, what seems like common knowledge to an experienced dog man is completely new information to somebody just getting started.

We're discussing the importance of mentorship, sharing knowledge, asking questions, and creating an environment where beginners can learn without feeling embarrassed about what they don't know.

We'll also look at the responsibility we have as experienced handlers and how the way we respond to beginners can influence more than just the person asking the question.

Because if we want the next generation of dog men and women to succeed, we have to consider how they're learning in the first place.

Here's my question for you:

Who helped teach you what you know about hunting dogs today? And what's something you wish somebody had explained to you when you first started?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

🐕 DOG MAN INSIDER — JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Connect with other hunting dog handlers, ask questions, share experiences, and continue learning.

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📖 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG — BOOK + 3 BONUS AUDIOS

A practical resource to help new and beginning rabbit dog handlers get started in the right direction.

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

📗 PRODUCING A FUTURE TREE DOG

Helping new handlers build a foundation for developing their future tree dogs.

https://bawlinoutkennels.com/products/producing-a-future-tree-dog

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay houndy.

#ThoughtsOfADogMan #HuntingDogs #HuntingDogTraining #DogManInsider #BawlinOutKennels #RabbitDogs #TreeDogs #Mentorship

Some of the most valuable lessons aren't always the ones that jump out at you during a conversation. Sometimes, you've got to go back, listen again, and dig a little deeper.

Welcome to Hidden Gems — Part 1 on Thoughts of a Dog Man!

Recently, I sat down with Mr. Donald Savoy, a dog man with over 40 years of hunting experience, and his mentee, Chris, for a conversation about hunting dogs, mentorship, and the knowledge gained through years of experience.

After going back through that conversation, I realized there were several valuable points worth revisiting. Things that an experienced handler might immediately recognize, but someone newer to hunting dogs might hear without fully understanding their significance.

That's what this series is about.

In this first installment of Hidden Gems, I'm revisiting selected moments from our original conversation, breaking down the lessons behind them, and adding my own perspective to help newer handlers recognize how those ideas can apply to their own journey.

Sometimes the real value isn't just in what's being said. It's in understanding what those words mean and how to apply them.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series, so there's more to come!

Here's a question for you:

Have you ever heard advice from an experienced dog man that didn't fully make sense until you gained more experience yourself?

I'd love to hear about it.

🐕 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER

Connect with fellow hunting dog handlers, ask questions, and continue learning.

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📖 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG — BOOK + BONUS AUDIOS

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

📗 PRODUCING A FUTURE TREE DOG

https://bawlinoutkennels.com/products/producing-a-future-tree-dog

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay houndy.

#ThoughtsOfADogMan #HiddenGems #HuntingDogs #RabbitDogs #DogTraining #HuntingDogTraining #DogManInsider #BawlinOutKennels

What happens when over 40 years of hunting experience meets the next generation of dog men?

On this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I'm joined by Donald Savoy, a member of our Dog Man Insider community who brings over 40 years of hunting experience, along with his mentee Chris, who has spent the past four years learning from Mr. Donald.

We sit down for a conversation centered around something that means a lot to all of us: hunting dogs, mentorship, and the relationships built through a shared passion for the outdoors.

One of the things I appreciate about the hunting-dog community is the opportunity to learn from people who have spent decades in the woods. But just as important is having people willing to share what they've learned with those coming behind them.

That's what makes the relationship between Mr. Donald and Chris worth talking about.

Whether you're a new handler, an experienced dog man, or somebody who simply enjoys a good conversation about hunting dogs, I hope this episode gives you something to think about.

Here's a question for you:

Who was somebody who took the time to help you when you were first getting started with hunting dogs?

🐕 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER — $6/MONTH

Connect with other dog people, ask questions, and continue learning.

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📖 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG

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

📗 PRODUCING A FUTURE TREE DOG

[Insert direct Tree Dog book link]

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay houndy.

#HuntingDogs #HuntingTraditions #DogManInsider #HuntingMentorship #BawlinOutKennels #ThoughtsOfADogMan

When somebody gives you a hunting dog, or you purchase one from a breeder, what exactly are you agreeing to?

Sometimes we get caught up in the excitement of bringing a new dog home without having conversations that could save us a lot of frustration down the road.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, we're discussing the importance of clear expectations, communication, and understanding the responsibilities that come with buying, receiving, or placing a hunting dog.

From registration papers and breeding rights to friendships, mentorships, and financial responsibilities, there are plenty of situations where two people can believe they understand each other, only to discover later they weren't on the same page.

I'll also share personal experiences that have shaped how I view these situations.

Topics covered include:

• Does receiving a dog for free come with different expectations than purchasing one?
• Registration papers, ownership, and breeding restrictions.
• The difference between offering guidance and maintaining control.
• Why friendships and mentorships can complicate agreements.
• Financial responsibilities and expectations involving breeding arrangements.
• What beginners should ask before bringing a hunting dog home.
• Why upfront communication about expectations matters for both parties.

This conversation isn't about telling breeders or handlers how they must operate. It's about encouraging people to communicate clearly, understand what they're agreeing to, and make decisions that work for everyone involved.

Here's my question for you:

Have you ever had a disagreement over a hunting dog because expectations weren't clearly communicated beforehand?

What do you think should always be discussed before a dog changes hands?

Join Dog Man Insider

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

Producing a Future Rabbit Dog — Book + 3 Bonus Audios

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

Bawlin Out Kennels

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay hungry.

When is a young hunting dog actually ready to hunt alone?

Soloing young dogs is something dog men have different opinions on. Some believe it’s an important part of developing independence, while others would rather build a young dog up around experienced dogs before asking it to do everything on its own.

But maybe the better question isn’t simply, “Should I solo my dog?”

Maybe it’s: **What has this dog shown me that tells me it’s ready?**

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, Stevie Thomas talks through what he looks for before hunting a young dog alone, from confidence and experience to whether the dog is actually contributing or simply following the pack.

We also get into why you’re soloing in the first place, ways to test a young dog before completely removing the help, differences between developing beagles and tree dogs, and what you can learn about a dog when things get difficult.

And we tackle another question worth thinking about:

**Are we sometimes setting dogs up for failure by expecting every dog to possess every skill needed to do everything alone?**

Not every dog is going to be the best jump dog, check dog, track dog, or most independent dog in the pack. So how should that affect the way we develop and evaluate them?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The goal is to learn how to read the dog in front of you and understand what you’re actually trying to accomplish.

🎧 Listen in and let me know: **When do YOU believe a young dog is ready to hunt alone?**

🐾 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER

Go deeper on hunting dogs, training, and conversations like this with other dog people:

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📘 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG

A practical guide built for new and beginning rabbit-dog handlers:

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

🐕 ALCBA ONLINE REGISTRATION

https://forms.gle/ZzTbuJkBXsf6Rec97

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay houndy.

Buying a hunting dog can get expensive fast—especially when you get the dog home and realize it isn’t anything like what you thought you were buying.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I’m talking directly to new and beginner handlers about some of the questions I think you should ask BEFORE money changes hands.

This episode came from a real conversation I recently had with someone who has been trying to build his beagle pack. After buying a few dogs that didn’t quite fit what he was actually looking for, one thing kept coming up:

“I wish I would’ve known what questions to ask.” So that’s what we’re getting into.

Before you start asking the seller questions, what do YOU actually need?

What does that seller mean when they say a dog is “started”? Has the dog only been worked in a starting pen, or has it actually been hunted on wild game?

When somebody describes a dog as fast, medium-speed, hard hunting, close-working, or a good check dog—what are they comparing it to?

We also talk about asking the question a lot of buyers forget: “What DON’T you like about this dog?”

If possible, go watch the dog yourself. Bring your own dogs or dogs you’re familiar with so you have something to compare against. Pay attention to what you actually see—not just what you were told before you got there.

And most importantly, be willing to walk away.

You don’t owe somebody a purchase because you drove three hours, used their time, or feel bad leaving without the dog.

The goal isn’t necessarily to find a perfect dog.

The goal is to gather enough information to decide whether that particular dog actually fits YOU.

🐾 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER:

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📘 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG — BOOK + 3 BONUS AUDIOS:

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

🐆 ALCBA ONLINE REGISTRATION:

https://forms.gle/ZzTbuJkBXsf6Rec97

🐆 ALCBA REBUILD / PERMANENT REGISTRATION PAYMENT:

https://buy.stripe.com/8x228kcui1PZ5Wu2bV7bW04

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS:

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

🎙️ Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast

One question to remember before you hand over the money:

If you hadn’t driven all this way and spent all this time looking at the dog… would you still buy it?

There are a lot of little things I do when training hunting dogs that probably wouldn’t sound like “secrets” to everybody—but they’re techniques I’ve picked up over the years that have helped me get more out of my dogs.

In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, I break down five of those little training techniques and explain how I actually use them.

We talk about teaching a hunting dog to hit the ground running so that when you cut that dog loose, it already understands that it’s time to GO HUNT. I explain how I work toward that with beagles and how I use a similar idea with tree dogs.

We also get into using tracking bells, knowing when to stop a training session while the dog is still at its most excited, and why I believe young dogs need opportunities around enough game to learn that putting in the effort can actually lead to success.

None of this is magic, and none of it guarantees that every dog will turn out the same way.

These are simply small things I’ve used over the years to increase the chances of developing the habits, confidence, excitement, and hunting desire I want to see.

Sometimes getting more out of a hunting dog isn’t about finding some complicated training system.

Sometimes it’s about paying attention to the little things.

🐾 JOIN DOG MAN INSIDER:

https://www.skool.com/dog-man-insider-5478

📘 PRODUCING A FUTURE RABBIT DOG — BOOK + 3 BONUS AUDIOS:

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

🔔 COASTAL PET PRODUCTS — MY AFFILIATE LINK:

https://s.creatorcommerce.club/1dbbc452

🔔 WATER & WOODS TRACKING BELL:

https://www.coastalpet.com/products/detail/?id=WWCB1

I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through my Coastal Pet Products affiliate link.

🐆 ALCBA ONLINE REGISTRATION:

https://forms.gle/ZzTbuJkBXsf6Rec97

🐆 ALCBA REBUILD / PERMANENT REGISTRATION PAYMENT:

https://buy.stripe.com/8x228kcui1PZ5Wu2bV7bW04

🌐 BAWLIN OUT KENNELS:

https://bawlinoutkennels.com

🎙️ Thoughts of a Dog Man Podcast

What’s one little training technique you use that has made a difference with your dogs?