The DogFather

Charlie Thorburn
  • 5.0 (2)
  • PETS & ANIMALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Charlie Thorburn has been training dogs for 25 years and welcomes you to the DogFather, a show which talks to people from all countries and walks of life about how dogs have impacted their lives and businesses. New episode every week.

  1. FEB 5

    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 comes his way.He goes on to discuss the next big project and reveals a few long-kept secrets.0:00 - Intro0:40 - Picking Up Where We Left Off3:10 - Building the Log Cabin 6:55 - Navigating COVID15:53 - Mordor Pedigrees22:10 - Why Charlie Started YouTube30:00 - Showing Mistakes32:45 - Increasing Demand34:40 - The New Project

    40 min

  2. JAN 24

    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 established U.S. lines, why he felt the need to bring British genetics into the programme, and much more. 0:00 - Introduction 0:42 - Early Days 4:00 - Creating The Mordor Aesthetic 10:20 - Pioneering The Fox Red Labrador 12:15 - Breaking Into The America Market 22:30 - Does Charlie Have An Agent? 25:35 - Delivering Dogs 28:20 - Employing Staff 37:30 - Gaining Momentum 45:20 - Lots of Demos

    51 min

  3. JAN 13

    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, crucially, maintain strong client relationships? He shares all this and more in the episode.

    47 min

  4. 12/12/2025

    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 types of work each line of Labrador performs, and much more. Check out Orvis Sandanona - https://www.orvis.com/sandanona-shooting-grounds.html Follow John on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/glynevian_gundogs 0:00 - Introduction 3:00 - What Is Orvis Sandanona?3:00 - 6:30 - How Did John Get Into Dogs?6:30 - 18:40 - U.K. vs U.S Labrador 18:40 - 20:12 - Breeding Dogs 20:12 - 23:30 Artificial Insemination 23:30 - 28:45 - American Field Trials 28:45 - 32:50 - Selling Puppies 32:50 - 41:20 - Types Of US Work For US Dogs

    41 min

  5. 12/01/2025

    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 the importance of having great employees.Naturally, they also swap stories and anecdotes about dogs in the field, with Kevin offering a few touching remarks about his canine companions.The episode wraps up with Kevin giving Charlie a tour of his gun room.0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Start of Kevin’s 6:50 - The Day-to-Day In Kevin’s11:30 - The Future Of Kevin’s17:41 - Early Days Of Working22:05 - Kevin’s Dogs 29:38 - Kevin’s Gun Room

    47 min

  6. 11/16/2025

    "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 Testing 12:40 - Starting The Brand 15:20 - Bringing Production To The UK 19:10 - Improving & Expanding The Product 28:10 - Expanding Into Retail 30:10 - Subscription Model 32:55 - The Future

    35 min

  7. 11/08/2025

    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 fascinating conversation. Join the team with your own Mordor merchandise: https://mordorgundogs.myshopify.com/

    47 min

  8. 11/01/2025

    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 across the Atlantic to take delivery of a fully trained Mordor dog — and the rest, as they say, is history.0:00 - Introduction 0:57 - How Shelly Found Scotland 5:45 - Working With Terriers 9:05 - Frisbee Dog 13:35 - Setting Up In Connecticut 20:03 - Getting His First Mordor Dog28:40 - Creating The Mordor Gundogs Model34:00 - How Many Mordor Dogs?

    36 min
See All (18)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Charlie Thorburn has been training dogs for 25 years and welcomes you to the DogFather, a show which talks to people from all countries and walks of life about how dogs have impacted their lives and businesses. New episode every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Thorburn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charlie Thorburn
  • Show Website
    The DogFather

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