EP 36: Building Great Dogs One Decision at a Time with Bill Hillman

In Part 2 of our conversation with legendary trainer Bill Hillman, we dive deeper into the philosophy and technical wisdom behind creating confident, decision-making retrievers. Bill discusses his approach to handling on marks—especially water cheats—and the importance of letting dogs commit to a mistake before correcting it. We explore topics like building experience through repetition, why orange bumpers can teach better than white, and how great dogs are made by helping them make great choices.

I also reflect on what I learned from our time together and how Hillman’s mindset as a student of the game continues to influence my own training journey. Whether you're an amateur with big goals or a seasoned pro looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with clarity, humility, and actionable insight.