Training to a Standard, Not Trophies | Hunting Dog & Obedience Truths

Many dog trainers chase trophies.
Nate Czarnota trains to a standard, and explains why capability matters more than ribbons, hype, or trends.

If you care about real obedience, impulse control, and reliability in high-drive dogs, this conversation cuts through the noise.

In this episode, Nate sits down with Nate Czarnota of Iron Oak Dog Company to break down what training to a standard actually means, and why it produces more reliable dogs than chasing titles or aesthetics.

They dive deep into gundog training, obedience under pressure, impulse control in high-arousal environments, and how the same principles apply to both hunting dogs and everyday companion dogs.

This is a systems-level conversation about:
• Building dogs that work with or without tools
• Why obedience doesn’t kill drive when done correctly
• How clear standards eliminate confusion for dogs and owners
• The difference between performance, capability, and appearance

Whether you train hunting dogs, sport dogs, or pet dogs, the principles here translate.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
• Why training to a defined standard outperforms trophy-based training
• How to build impulse control without suppressing drive
• Using obedience as a communication system, not just control
• Reward-based strategies that hold up under real-world pressure
• Why many dogs become “collar-smart”, and how to prevent it
• How companion gundogs can thrive as both family dogs and field dogs

DOG TRAINING COURSEs:
From Novice To Pro: The Ultimate Guide To Dog Training
https://sitstaylearn.com/collections/...

I highly recommend this course by Michael Ellis. I’ve watched it twice and studied it in depth. If you want my full take on it, check out this article I wrote breaking down the course: https://nateschoemer.com/dog-training...

Dog Training Decoded by Michael Ellis: https://sitstaylearn.com/collections/...

UPCOMING SEMINARS:

Corpus Christi, Texas — January 23–25, 2026
Hosted by Harley & Sergio Dog Training (SK9)
Friday: Private lessons (application only)
Saturday–Sunday: Workshop (8:00 AM – 5:30 PM)
Working Spot: $350
Audit Spot: $250
Get Tickets: https://harleyandsergio.academy/workshop

Peoria, Arizona — February 21–22, 2026
Hosted by Kinected K-9 AZ Dog Training
Location: The Pitbull Store, Peoria AZ
Working Spot: $350 (Sold Out)
Audit Spot: $250
Get Tickets: https://square.link/u/fUpcbPtG

North Bend, Oregon — March 13–14, 2026
Hosted by Campbell K9 University & Daycare
Working Spot: https://9ce05e2d-70ad-4316-a25c-0e836...
Audit Spot: https://9ce05e2d-70ad-4316-a25c-0e836...

San Marcos, Texas — September 26–27, 2026
Hosted by Pets and Moore, K9 Waterworld
Tickets coming soon

WHY THIS SEMINAR IS DIFFERENT:
This isn’t a massive, anonymous event.
It’s real training, coached live, so you can see how one system adapts to different dogs, genetics, drives, and challenges.
Same framework. Different dogs. Real environments.

🐕 FOLLOW NATE SCHOEMER

Website: https://NateSchoemer.com
YouTube:    / nateschoemer  
Instagram:   / nateschoemer  
TikTok:   / nateschoemer  
Facebook:   / nateschoemer  
X (Twitter): https://x.com/NateSchoemer
Podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1804414647

GUEST: NATE CZARNOTA
Website: https://www.ironoakdogs.com

Instagram:   / ironoakdogs  

YouTube:    / @ironoakdogs  

Facebook:   / ironoakdogs  

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

This episode covers hunting dog training, gundog obedience, impulse control, reward-based systems, and training to objective standards — with real examples from field work, companion dogs, and high-drive cases where reliability matters most.