Sioux Falls show to feature some of the nation’s top dog trainers
By Casey Sill
The Bird Dog Stage at this year’s National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic will boast hundreds of years of collective training experience, brought together in one place to help you and your favorite hunting companion find more birds next fall!
As Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever fans flock to Sioux Falls this March 1-3, so too will the nation’s top gun dog trainers. For DIY handlers, whether you are dreaming of your first bird dog or settling in for your fifteenth, there’s not a more valuable gathering of dog training professionals in the country.
The three-day schedule is packed with seminars and training sessions to help you hone the skills of your working dog. Longtime pros Ronnie Smith, Mike Wieben and more will cover pointers, flushers and retrievers alike. These presenters and more will cover everything from how to be a good leader for your dog, to shed hunting training, to tips for developing new puppies.
Dr. Seth Bynum and Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos, the catalysts behind Pheasants Forever’s ongoing “Ask A Vet” series, will join in. Bynum and Lobos will cover sporting dog nutrition, as well as what to carry in your first aid kit and how to use it. They will also be answering questions during live “Ask a Vet” seminars each day.
Jump to Stage Schedule
Here is a rundown of top presenters on the stage.
» Dr. Seth Bynum
An Idaho-based veterinarian, avid wingshooter and former journalist, DVM Seth Bynum (@birddogvet) specializes in canine reproduction and serves as adjunct faculty at Washington State University. Fond of using both shotgun and camera in the uplands behind his German shorthairs, Dr. Bynum is also a contributing writer and photographer for MeatEater’s "Ask A Vet" series.
» Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos
Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos (@VetLobos), DVM CCRT CCVAT, currently serves as a senior veterinarian for Nestle’ Purina PetCare, dedicating her career to helping advance the science of nutrition for pets to live better, longer lives. Residing in Boulder, Colorado, she spends her evenings and weekends practicing as a relief veterinarian. Outside of work, Dr. Lobos enjoys fly-fishing, working with sporting dogs, and upland bird hunting. She graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos, Dr. Seth Bynum
» Ronnie and Susanna Smith
Ronnie Smith's life has revolved around bird dogs and the family business of raising and training some of the best bird dogs in the country at Ronnie Smith Kennels LLC, located in northeastern Oklahoma. Susanna is a bird dog lover and renowned trainer in her own right. Since 1982, Smith has been giving seminars across the country, helping people to better understand their dogs and how to interact with each individual breed, building his distinction as a premier dog trainer.
» Rick Smith
Rick Smith is a renowned field trialer and trainer, Brittany Hall of Fame inductee, and a Smith Training Seminar instructor. Cousin to Ronnie Smith and the son of legendary dog trainer Delmar Smith, Rick conducts seminars on an international scale and continues to raise his outstanding line of Brittany bird dogs. Rick’s training techniques work across the spectrum of bird bogs out there. From puppyhood to finished bird dogs, Smith is at the top of his class as a trainer.
» Mike Wieben
Pro trainer Mike Wieben is one of the Midwest's premier dog trainers for shed hunting, upland hunting and waterfowling, focusing on hunting techniques as well as all-around obedience for gun dogs. Wieben is the head dog trainer with 20 years of experience at Dokken's Oak Ridge Kennels, Inc. located near Northfield, Minnesota, and is a certified NASHDA master judge.
Ronnie & Susanna Smith, Rick Smith, Mike Wieben
Seminar Schedule
2024 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic:
Bird Dog Stage Seminar Lineup
| Time |
Topic |
Speaker(s) |
| Friday |
1:00 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Weiben |
| 1:30 |
How to Help Your Dog Find More Birds |
Mike Wieben |
| 2:00 |
Puppy Prepping |
Rick Smith |
| 2:30 |
Ask-a-Vet: What’s in a Vet Kit and How to Use It |
Dr. Seth Bynum & Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 3:00 |
Developing a Bird Dog Puppy |
Ronnie and Susana Smith |
| 3:30 |
Advanced Training for Hunting Dogs |
Mike Weiben |
| 4:00 |
Strategies to Keep Your Dog Healthy While Afield |
Mike Weiben |
| 4:30 |
Puppy Prepping |
Rick Smith |
| 5:00 |
Core Bird Dog Behaviors and Mindsets |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 5:30 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel |
| Saturday |
10:00 |
Developing a Bird Dog Puppy |
Ronnie and Susana Smith |
| 10:30 |
How to Help Your Dog Find More Birds |
Mike Weiben |
| 11:00 |
When Should I Spay or Neuter My Hunting Dog |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 11:30 |
Puppy Prepping |
Rick Smith |
| 12:00 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Weiben |
| 12:30 |
Ask-a-Vet: Get Your Questions Answered |
Dr. Seth Bynum & Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 1:00 |
Core Bird Dog Behaviors and Mindsets |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 1:30 |
Advanced Training for Hunting Dogs |
Mike Weiben |
| 2:00 |
Strategies to Keep Your Dog Healthy While Afield |
Mike Weiben |
| 2:30 |
Puppy Prepping |
Rick Smith |
| 3:00 |
Fueling Success - Maximizing Nutrition for your Hunting Dog |
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 3:30 |
A More Natural Way to Steady Your Dog |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 4:00 |
How to Help Your Dog Find More Birds |
Mike Weiben |
| 4:30 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Weiben |
| 5:00 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel |
| Sunday |
10:00 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Weiben |
| 10:30 |
Core Bird Dog Behaviors and Mindsets |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 11:00 |
How to Help Your Dog Find More Birds |
Mike Weiben |
| 11:30 |
Ask-a-Vet: Get Your Questions Answered |
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos & Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 12:00 |
Puppy Prepping |
Rick Smith |
| 12:30 |
Strategies to Keep Your Dog Healthy While Afield |
Mike Weiben |
| 1:00 |
A More Natural Way to Steady Your Dog |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 1:30 |
Advanced Training for Hunting Dogs |
Mike Weiben |
| 2:00 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel |
The 2024 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will take place at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls on March 1-3. Tickets and more information can be found at: PheasantFest.org.