In this episode I’m joined by Jo Laurens—gundog trainer, author of Force-Free Gundog Training, and host of the Hold the Line podcast. We start with what’s actually going on in the puppy world right now in the UK: demand has dropped, rescue centres are overflowing, and people are struggling to place litters even when they’re advertised on the big platforms. The big takeaway here is simple—if you’re breeding, you need a proper objective and a plan, not a “does anyone have a stud?” Facebook post. From there we get into the stuff gundog people really need to hear: you can’t “opt out” of genetics. If you buy a dog bred to hunt, point, and chase, those instincts are sitting there waiting to meet the environment—game scent, wildlife, movement—and once that switch flips, you’re managing it. That’s why I’m so big on prevention and on matching the right puppy to the right home, not letting people pick based on vibes. We also talk about the tension between show-breeding, pet demand, and preserving real working ability, plus why so many owners accidentally create a wildlife-obsessed dog by letting early chasing become the dog’s favourite hobby.