Free Range Dogs is a podcast hosted by Web Parton. He owns a dog training business of the same name. Web is an expert in his field. He has specialist knowledge of training dogs to hunt for birds. He began by self-training bird dogs as a teenager.
In the 1990s, Web wrote two books on bird hunting in Arizona. In 2008, he published his third book Bond of Passion: Living with and Training your Hunting Dog. Through the podcast, Web seeks to share his years of dog training wisdom with a broad audience.
Many episodes of Free Range Dogs are about aversion training. This is one of the services his business offers. The training teaches dogs to avoid dangerous creatures like snakes and toads. In one episode, Web speaks with Kelly Kirby, owner of LunaRita Outfitters. It's a quail-hunting business in Patagonia, Arizona.
Web explains how to "jump start" a dog's scenting abilities, which can be helpful for both aversion training and bird dog training. In another episode, Web describes how owners can help their dogs avoid the Sonoran Desert Toad. It's a breed of poisonous toad that's common in Arizona and is dangerous to dogs.
Other episodes feature owners talking to Web about their dogs. Some owners and dogs are graduates of Web's training programs. There are also episodes about particular breeds of dogs. Web shares his insights on training German Shorthaired Pointers and French Bulldogs.
He shares advice on specific dog-training topics and techniques too. He discusses off-leash hiking, swimming, and using a rope to free a trapped dog. Web also explains the best way to welcome a new dog into the home.
Free Range Dogs might appeal to dog owners or those interested in canine training. The podcast concluded in December 2023 when Web and his wife moved to the Pacific Northwest.
Episodes