Minneapolis show will 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 over 200 years of collective training experience.
As crowds flock to Minneapolis this February 20-22, so too will the nation's top gun dog trainers. For DIY handlers new and old, 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 Tom Dokken, Jordan Horak, Ronnie Smith, Mike Wieben and more will cover pointers, flushers and retrievers alike. They'll discuss everything from gun introduction for puppies, to shed hunting and developing a performance mindset for your dog.
Jump to Stage Schedule
They'll be joined by Dr. Seth Bynum and Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos, two of the nation's top gun dog veterinarians. Bynum and Lobos will cover managing extreme weather with your dog, how to take better photos of them in the field and the all important topic of how to keep your bird dog out of the vet clinic.
The stage will be rounded out this year by Dr. Cartrell Cooper, a nationally renowned trainer and dog expert who has been working with gun dogs since the late 1970s. Cooper is the founder of the National Dog Trainers Association, and will host a seminar about the urban bird dog — covering fitness, diet, mental health, field training and hunting.
2026 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic:
Bird Dog Stage Seminar Lineup
| Time |
Topic |
Speaker(s) |
| Friday |
1:00 |
Introducing Your Dog to Bird and Gun |
Mike Wieben and Tom Dokken |
| 1:30 |
How to Keep Your Dog Out of the Veterinary Clinic |
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 2:00 |
The Making of a Pointer |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 2:30 |
The Urban Bird Dog: Fitness, Diet, Mental Health, Field Training and Hunting |
Dr. Cartrell Cooper |
| 3:00 |
Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork - Cultivating the Right Relationship with Your Flushing Dog |
Jordan Horak |
| 3:30 |
Managing Weather Extremes in Your Hunting Dog |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 4:00 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Wieben |
| 4:30 |
Performance Mindset for the Bird Dog |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 5:00 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel Discussion |
| Saturday |
10:00 |
Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork - Cultivating the Right Relationship with Your Flushing Dog |
Jordan Horak |
| 10:30 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Wieben |
| 11:00 |
7 Tips to Take Better Bird Dog Hunting Photos |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 11:30 |
Performance Mindset for the Bird Dog |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 12:00 |
How to Keep Your Dog Out of the Veterinary Clinic |
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 12:30 |
The Urban Bird Dog: Fitness, Diet, Mental Health, Field Training and Hunting |
Dr. Cartrell Cooper |
| 1:00 |
Setting Up Your Puppy for Years of Success and Enjoyment |
Jordan Horak |
| 1:30 |
Managing Weather Extremes in Your Hunting Dog |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 2:00 |
Introducing Your Dog to Bird and Gun |
Mike Wieben and Tom Dokken |
| 2:30 |
The Making of a Pointer |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 3:00 |
The Urban Bird Dog: Fitness, Diet, Mental Health, Field Training and Hunting |
Dr. Cartrell Cooper |
| 3:30 |
7 Tips to Take Better Bird Dog Hunting Photos |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 4:00 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel Discussion |
| Sunday |
10:00 |
Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork - Cultivating the Right Relationship with Your Flushing Dog |
Jordan Horak |
| 10:30 |
Training Your Dog to Find Shed Antlers |
Mike Wieben |
| 11:00 |
How to Keep Your Dog Out of the Veterinary Clinic |
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos |
| 11:30 |
The Making of a Pointer |
Ronnie and Susanna Smith |
| 12:00 |
Managing Weather Extremes in Your Hunting Dog |
Dr. Seth Bynum |
| 12:30 |
The Urban Bird Dog: Fitness, Diet, Mental Health, Field Training and Hunting |
Dr. Cartrell Cooper |
| 1:00 |
Setting Up Your Puppy for Years of Success and Enjoyment |
Jordan Horak |
| 1:30 |
Introducing Your Dog to Bird and Gun |
Mike Wieben and Tom Dokken |
| 2:00 |
Ask the Experts - Over 200 years of Dog Training Experience |
Panel Discussion |
Featured Speakers
Tom Dokken
The inventor of the DeadFowl Trainer, Tom has more than 40 years of training experience. He owns Dokken's Oak Ridge Kennels, the largest gun dog training kennel in the upper half of the U.S., and Dokken Dog Supply. He is the author of Retriever Training: The Complete Guide to Developing Your Hunting Dog, the leading innovator in shed antler hunting with dogs, and Senior ProStaff member for SportDOG Brand® and Purina.
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, and writes and co-hosts PF & QF's "Ask a Vet" series in partnership with Purina.
Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos
RuthAnn Lobos (@petvetruthann), DVM CCRT CCVAT, currently serves as a senior veterinarian for Nestlé Purina PetCare, dedicating her career to helping advance the science of nutrition for pets to live better, longer lives. Residing in Colorado, she spends her evenings and weekends practicing as a relief veterinarian. Outside of work, she enjoys flyfishing, working with sporting dogs and upland bird hunting, and co-hosts PF & QF's "Ask a Vet" series in partnership with Purina.
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 LILC, located in northeastern Oklahoma. 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.
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.
Jordan Horak
Jordan Horak is the owner of Juggernaut Gundogs and Cato Outdoors. He has trained countless spaniels over the last two decades. While hunting ruffed grouse and pheasants are probably his favorite dog-related activities, he's also had success in field trials, most notably winning the 2018 Cocker Open National Championship and the 2018 Amateur National Championship with different dogs.
Dr. Cartrell Cooper
Dr. Cartrell Cooper has been a trailblazer in the canine world since the late 1970s, shaping how we train, understand and care for our beloved bird dogs. From training competitive field dogs in his intercity yards to training Dual Champions, Dr. Cooper's journey has earned him global recognition as a respected authority among dog owners, hunters and trainers alike. Dr. Cooper is the founder of Big D's Dog Training and the National Dog Trainers Association.
Casey Sill is Senior Public Relations Specialist for Pheasants Forever.