Episode 86 – Bjorn to Be Wild

Following the Making of a Bear Dog

In this episode, Erik sits down with Wayne Dixon to launch a new standalone series within Nordic Tales & American Trails — Bjorn to Be Wild.

This series will follow the real-time journey of developing a West Siberian Laika puppy into a solo bear dog. From breeding decisions and bloodlines to early socialization and first introductions to game, we explore what it truly takes to build a reliable working dog from the ground up.

Wayne shares his philosophy on intentional breeding, selecting the right traits, and why effort, patience, and consistency matter more than hype or shortcuts. We discuss pack dynamics, confidence building, and the role of calm leadership in shaping a young dog’s mindset

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The conversation moves beyond techniques and into something deeper — expectations. What does it really mean to commit to developing a big game dog? How do you balance instinct and obedience? And how do you stay steady when progress isn’t linear?

This isn’t a finished-dog story. It’s the beginning of a process.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll follow the successes, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way — documenting the path from fuzzy puppy to working bear dog.

Highlights include:

🐾 Intentional breeding and bloodline selection

🐕 Early socialization and confidence building

🎯 Effort vs. genetics in developing a top dog

🐻 Training toward solo bear work

🧠 Leadership, patience, and long-term mindset

🌲 The realities of developing a big game dog

A grounded and ongoing conversation about breeding, training, and the long road of turning potential into performance.

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