More than 15,000 year ago, humans forged a remarkable relationship with Canis lupus while traveling and hunting across forests and plains. Over thousands of years, that partnership evolved. Wolves became Canis familiaris—dogs—and eventually found their way from our hunting grounds into our homes and hearts.

Here is a look at our video chat:

In this episode, we chat with Tom Paley, an upland bird dog enthusiast who works alongside his dog, Reuben, to locate and point game birds. Traditionally practiced across the Midwest and Northwest, upland bird hunting puts dog and human back in the field together, working toward a shared goal and relying on an extraordinary bond built on instinct, training, and trust. Reuben and Tom can often be found at Wil-Nor Outdoors, a club offering training as well as hunting and fishing expeditions.

Tom shares his experiences in the field with Reuben and other dogs, what it takes to develop a good bird dog, and why working side by side with a dog can make this centuries-old tradition so rewarding for him, and most importantly his dog, Reuben!