The DogFather
The DogFather is hosted by Charlie Thorburn, a dog trainer with 25 years of experience. Each episode features conversations with people from different countries and backgrounds about the ways dogs have shaped their lives and work. The show explores personal stories and the impact dogs can have on businesses and everyday life. New episodes are released weekly.
Episodes
Holland & Holland: Keeping The Heritage Alive - John Henderson
Charlie is joined by John Henderson, General Manager of Holland & Holland.Holland & Holland Limited is a British gunmaker and clothing retailer based in London, England, which sells handmade rifles and shotguns. The company holds two royal warrants. Find out more here: https://www.hollandandholland.com/
The Man Who INSPIRED Mordor Gundogs
Charlie is joined by his old friend, Ollie Routledge, whose early shooting trips with Blaze the Cocker helped spark Charlie's passion for dogs and, ultimately, led to the creation of Mordor Gundogs.Join them as they take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about their university days, their first dogs, and the shooting trips that started it all.0:00 - Introduction 0:43 - University Days17:43
Running The Most FAMOUS Shoot In The World
Charlie is joined by John Duncan who owns Newlands estate in Dumfries, and along with Roxtons Sporting which runs the shooting at Drumlanrig Castle.0:00 - Introduction 0:49 - Newlands House History10:20 - Evolution of Shooting17:54 - Taking on Drumlanrig24:30 - Impact on Community 31:00 - Roxtons Sporting Agency34:39 - John’s Dogs
Charlie Gets POLITICAL! Shooting Critics, Habitat & Breeding Ethics
Charlie is featured on the American Hunting Dog Podcast - "Go Flush Yourself". They talk about a host of topic across the shooting spectrum from habitat management, temperament vs ability, and how to choose the right breeder.Listen to the original episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZiWbiaKkArutsFlB1poEK 0:00 - Introduction 0:34 - Do U.K. Dogs Adapt To US? 6:29 - Habita
Novice To The British Championships In A Few Years - Kim Stewart
Charlie sits down with Kim Stewart who in a few short years went from novice to the British Championships. Local to Charlie, they met recently on a shoot and sit down to talk about Kim’s background, common mistakes with dogs, the perils of training other people, and how to encourage the next generation to get into Gundogs. 0:00 - Introduction3:25 - Getting Into Dogs11:11 - Getting Into Trialling22
Germany Banned Working Cockers? Buying A Puppy From Mordor & Breeding Standards — Charlie Gets Quizzed
Charlie is interviewed by Veronica of the Gundog Congress, and then delve into a host of different topics. 0:00 - Introduction0:49 - What Has Charlie Been Up To?7:30 - The Dog Ranch 14:05 - Fixing A Dog’s Lack of Enthusiasm 27:30 - German Cocker Spaniels 32:49 - Buying A Puppy From Mordor39:45 - What Charlie Looks For In Breeding
“Springers Are Spaniels, But Cockers Are Little People” — Charlie vs. Edward Martin
Charlie is joined by Edward Martin of Sealpin Gundogs for part two of their conversation. They discuss how the two met, how Edward filmed his early training videos, and go on to debate Springers vs. Cockers, as well as how a Labrador should look.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - How Charlie & Edward Met10:20 - Working Dogs vs. Trailling Dogs19:40 - Patience In A Dog22:25 - Edward’s Training Videos32:2
The Original DogFather? Edward Martin's 6 Decades Training Dogs
Charlie sits down with his original mentor, Edward Martin of Sealpin Gundogs. Edward created a training "masterclass" series on VHS - later released on DVD - which a young, impressionable Charlie watched on repeat.They later met and became friends, and now, two decades into that friendship, they sit down for a conversation.This first episode explores Edward’s early life and how he got in
Charlie Gets Grilled: E-Collars, Forced Fetch, Long Lines & Grouse Shooting
Charlie is interviewed by Ron of the Hunting Dog Podcast. Listen to the original podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zjCGIgi1EEEpQPgAapXQ5?si=QkLQTD7MSG-io3qkbxEOow Check out their website: http://www.thehuntingdogpodcast.com
How Shooting Transformed This Local Community: Primrose Hill
Charlie is joined by James Robson who runs Primrosehill shoot in the Scottish Borders. What started as a passion, Primrosehill grew into an ecosystem of businesses which all service one another and the community at large. James shares the journey of buying the farm, starting a shoot, refurbishing the local pub, opening a pizzeria, and how fieldsports as a whole has a positive impact on the local c
Why I Started YouTube (And What’s Coming Next)
Charlie and Joe are back to discuss the next instalment of Charlie’s journey. We pick up where we left off in the mid-2010s, exploring the growth of the business, navigating lockdown, and why Charlie decided to start a YouTube channel.Charlie shares why he shows his mistakes on YouTube, why he values the honesty of presenting things warts and all, and why he doesn’t mind the criticism that often c
This American Family Have Bred Gundogs For 136 Years: Setters, Brittanys & Labradors
Charlie is joined by Dane Maltsberger of Lebncroft Labradors. Dane’s family farm in Indiana has been breeding gundogs since 1888, with the vocation passed down through the generations.The programme began with Setters, then moved on to Brittany Spaniels, before settling on Labradors in the 1980s. Together, Charlie and Dane discuss the optimal Labrador, how Dane introduced U.K. bloodlines into his e
How Mordor Gundogs Went Global: Selling Dogs Across the World
Charlie is joined by Joe as they chart the next instalment of the Mordor journey. In the podcast’s very first episode, Charlie shared how he went from school, to dogs, to founding Mordor. In this episode, he explains how Mordor went international.How does he have so many dogs spread across multiple states in America and in countries around the world? How does he build these connections—and, crucia
U.K. vs. U.S. Labradors: How They’re Worked & Bred Differently
Charlie is joined by John Carpenter at Orvis Sandanona in New York State.John is the upland manager of the club and speaks in detail with Charlie about U.K. and U.S. Labradors. John breeds Labradors in the States but is well-versed in British practices, while Charlie breeds Labradors in the U.K. but knows the U.S. scene well.The pair discuss the breeding process, selling puppies, field trials, the
The Man Behind The Most Loved Hunting Store In America - Kevin Kelly
Charlie sits down with Kevin Kelly from “Kevin’s” Store in Thomasville. Having known each other for nearly a decade—thanks to Charlie’s frequent dog deliveries in the area—the two cover a wide range of topics.Kevin shares how he launched his store, why it has gained global appeal, and what the future holds for the business. They discuss how to move their respective ventures forward and reflect on
"Fresh Dog Food Makes Your Dog Live 3 Years Longer On Average" - Harry Bremner of Tuggs
Harry Bremner, founder of Tuggs dog food, joins Charlie to share his journey, the unique approach behind Tuggs, Charlie’s investment and the early days of product testing, the future of the industry, and much more.Click To Get 50% Off Your First Tuggs Order: https://tuggs.uk/mordor50 0:00 - Introduction 0:47 - Insect Based Protein 5:20 - Early Days Testing12:40 - Starting The Brand15:20 - Bringing
EYE SPECIAL: Can Dogs See Colour? Can They See In The Dark? Sight vs. Scent & More!
Charlie and Neil are back, and in this episode, they’re discussing dogs’ eyes - what they can and can’t see, whether they perceive colour, how well they see in the dark, what kinds of objects they can recognise, and whether they’re short- or long-sighted.Neil is a leading ophthalmologist (eye specialist), and Charlie has trained thousands of dogs, so their combined experience makes for a truly fas
Charlie’s First American Client On His Journey With Dogs - Including 9 Mordor Dogs!
Sheldon “Shelly” Steinmetz sits down with Charlie after a day’s shooting at Logiealmond to reflect on their long-standing friendship and the many stories they’ve shared. Originally from America, Shelly came to Scotland to study veterinary medicine at Glasgow University — a move that sparked his passion for terriers and field sports.Fast forward a few years, and Shelly became the first person acros
They Ship Dogs All Around The World: But How Do They Do It? - Airpets
Charlie sits down with the owners of Airpets to discuss all aspects of their business: from it's history, how they pivoted from kennels to pet travel, how they actually ship the dogs, runway number 5 and so much more. Mordor Gundogs use Airpets for all their international travel and couldn't recommend them enough.See more here: https://airpets.com/
From An Ecological Desert To Award Winning Estate - Philip Blount
Philip is the estate manager of the Logiealmond Sporting Estate, based in Perthshire. In this episode, they discuss the owner’s remarkable journey in transforming the estate from an ecological desert into the thriving, award-winning haven it is today.If you’d like to join or host your own Mordor shooting party with our dogs—either this season or next—please feel free to email Charlie at info@mordo
Stud Dogs, Picking Up 120 Days A Year & Are Dog Training Courses Worth It? - Katie Smith
In this episode Charlie is joined by Katie Smith from Fosterwold Gundogs. Filmed back in May, Charlie and Katie discuss a wide range of topics from Katie's background and how she got into training dogs, whether courses are worth it, how they retire their dogs, and why neither have ever kept a son off a stud dog. Fosterwold Gundogs - https://www.fosterwoldgundogs.com/0:00 - Introduction 1:33 -
Skinners Dog Food: 7 Generations of Manufacturing (But Will They Sell The Company?)
Charlie sits down with Ben Skinner, the seventh generation of the Skinner family to lead this well-known business. From making animal feed in 1688, to launching dog food in the 1970s, to building the modern brand we know today - Ben shares the incredible journey of a company that’s lasted over 300 years.They dive into generational differences, staying aligned across centuries, going against the gr
Mr. Labrador vs. Mr Cocker Spaniel: Who Wins? - Nick Ridley
Charlie is joined by renowned Cocker Spaniel trainer Nick Ridley for the latest episode of The DogFather podcast.Charlie has long been associated with Labradors, while Nick is celebrated for his expertise with Cockers—but when the two are compared head-to-head, who comes out on top? This lively episode brings together two seasoned veterans of the sport as they share their experiences, their passio
Former Shooting Times Editor (& Mordor Employee) On The State Of The Countryside - Patrick Galbraith
Charlie is joined by his former (short-term) employee, Patrick Galbraith, previously the editor of Shooting Times.In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore a diverse array of subjects, from Patrick’s recently published book Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Countryside, to the often-overlooked negative impact that dogs can have on rural ecosystems. The discussion also del
40 Years of Training & Trialling Spaniels - Jeremy Organ
In the latest episode of the DogFather, Charlie is joined by Jeremy Organ of Edgegrove Gundogs. Their wide ranging conversations covers how the spaniel breeds have changed to be smaller and flashier, how people don't understand blood lines any more, wind scent vs. ground scent and so much more. Edgegrove Gundogs Website - https://edgegrovegundogs.co.uk/ Edgegrove Gundogs Facebook - https://www
Just How Similar Is A Modern Vet To James Heriott? Introducing Vet's Corner
Charlie is joined by Neil Geddes, a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye specialist). They discuss Neil's background and how he became a vet, his early days, and how the industry has changed over the past decades.Neil will be a feature of the podcast and will field many questions from Charlie and the listeners on all things veterinary science. In this episodes, Neil answers a range of questions fro
This Family Have The Oldest Line Of Labradors In The World: 150 Years Of Continuous Breeding
Charlie is joined by John Forbes-Leith to discuss the Fyvie Labradors. John's family have had the Fyvie line since 1885 and is, by our reckoning, the oldest continuous line of Labradors in the world. Discovered in Canada, Labrador Retrievers were brought back to the U.K. for retrieving ducks from the water. From the early boats, some went to the Duke of Buccleuch, others went to the Earl of Malmsb
Sleeping In The Kennels & Eating From A Dog Food Bowl: How I Built Mordor Gundogs
Charlie is joined by the Mordor media man, Joe, and together they discuss the early days of Mordor Gundogs. Charlie shares how his love of dogs started, why he rejected his place in the army, and how he laid the groundwork (literally) for Mordor to become the place that it is today.He shares how he first discovered Craighead farm and why, upon purchasing it, he wasn't initially going to use it
