Went Shooting Today Now Dog is Deaf

[cmiller85]

Has anyone ever had this happen before? Took our lab with us shooting this morning and he was all excited, listening to heel and stay commands and intently focused when the shots went off. About half way through he seemed to be ignoring me more than usual. Back home now and he is not hearing anything. Totally deaf.

He has never had any issues before. Even barking at people shutting their car doors across the street at night and as of this morning was 100%. He is 4 years old and we go duck and upland hunting all the time during the season. He has never been bothered by any of that.

I'm really hoping that this is only temporary but I don't know. I can't imagine its permanent unless there were other issues at play, but that doesn't seem likely considering he was fine then after 30 minutes of shooting hes deaf. 

[dreamunelk]

Never had that happen before.  i think a trip to the vet is worthwhile.  Maybe something else.  How is his behavior?  Confused?  Stressed? ...............

[Curly]

Wow.  I hope he will be okay.  Something I never even thought about...........a dog in a duck blind really could use ear plugs.  hmmmmmmm.....

[Curly]

Looks like Mutt Muffs have been invented.  I doubt they would really work in a duck hunting situation though.......

[cmiller85]

Never had that happen before.  i think a trip to the vet is worthwhile.  Maybe something else.  How is his behavior?  Confused?  Stressed? ...............

He's fine otherwise. Gets excited when you head to the door and stuff just like normal. The only reason I noticed is because he just wasn't listening to me so I did a couple of tests (knocking on the door and ringing the door bell) that would set him to barking immediately and he didn't respond.

[cmiller85]

Wow.  I hope he will be okay.  Something I never even thought about...........a dog in a duck blind really could use ear plugs.  hmmmmmmm.....

We've had many days in the blind with 5 guys shooting 150+ rounds a day and have never had an issue. I'm just wondering if pistol fire is more damaging than shotgun or if it is the rate of exposure; rather than 150 shots for an all day hunt there were 40 rounds over the course of 30-40 minutes.

[wildweeds]

What were you shooting? weapon wise that is?

[Happy Gilmore]

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

[AspenBud]

I generally find that shooting ranges/target shooting and dogs don't mix, it's a good way to make them gun shy or as you found out in this instance, damage their hearing. Bird dogs' ears already take a pounding, particularly duck dogs, no need to add to that.

Give it a couple of days, the dog's ears may just be stunned. But their could also be a problem, that's the thing with hearing loss, things can seem fine as it progresses and then one day something happens and it goes off a cliff.

[cmiller85]

What were you shooting? weapon wise that is?

We were shooting a 38 special.

Today he is showing signs of improvement and responding to certian sounds so hopefully he'll continue to improve.

[Mike450r]

I am no expert but have been told a few times that rifles and pistols are more painful and damaging to dog's ears than a shotgun.  I know in my younger years when shooting without hearing protection a few times that one shot with the rifle or pistol got them ringing where the shotgun not so much.

[h2ofowlr]

Usually my dogs are next to me or behind me when shooting shotguns.  The are usually around gun fire 100+ times a year.  They have never seemed phased or deaph from it.  Way more report from a rifle and pistol.

[wildweeds]

Way different sound waves between a shotgun and a rifle/pistol,Shotguns "Boom" and the other are a high pitched "KRACK". It's best to leave the dog at home.

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

Almost got into an argument over this very thing a couple weeks ago,I'm officially old,I ain't got no use to waste time arguing about something  stupid like the gun club and a puppy.

[old boat]

Did he go in the water, maybe he just needs a cleaning?

[longrangekiller]

Had the same thing happen kinda my 2 year old lab use to go up shooting with me lay at my feet all day long. Until one day a buddy shot his 7mm stw with a muzzle break and I noticed it the first shot he cowered down like it hurt his ears so I held my hands over his ears as he finished shooting. Now it takes a little convincing to get him to go by the bench anymore. But shot guns shooting clays he will stand by my side all day long or sleep hahaha

[Happy Gilmore]

Seems the title of this thread has gone unnoticed

[wildweeds]

Huh?

 

Seems the title of this thread has gone unnoticed

[scottr]

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

This can be very traumatic way to introduce the gun to a puppy.  They don't get the fun of chasing birds (playing into their natural hunting instincts) while the gun is going off.

If done properly in the field the puppy never even notices the gun or and creates the positive association with the gunshot & birds. 

[wildweeds]

Crazy talk scott,plain crazy talk,why follow the learned behavior and techniques of pro trainer/handlers of clear back to the 30's-40's when so an so's grandad took every dog he ever had to the trap club at 8 weeks old to "SEE" if it was gunshy.BTW this post is loaded with sarcasm,we are on the same page,birds= guns and birds are GOOD=Guns are good

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

This can be very traumatic way to introduce the gun to a puppy.  They don't get the fun of chasing birds (playing into their natural hunting instincts) while the gun is going off.

If done properly in the field the puppy never even notices the gun or creates the positive association with the gunshot & birds.

[scottr]

Crazy talk scott,plain crazy talk,why follow the learned behavior and techniques of pro trainer/handlers of clear back to the 30's-40's when so an so's grandad took every dog he ever had to the trap club at 8 weeks old to "SEE" if it was gunshy.BTW this post is loaded with sarcasm,we are on the same page,birds= guns and birds are GOOD=Guns are good

Haha, ya those old farts like Robert Wehle weren't so smart, neither were their dogs 

In all seriousness, I don't know why you would want to expose your seasoned gun trained dog the range. Hearing is such an important sense for a sporting dog and the repeated exposure of gunfire (especially from a handgun or rifle) will do long term damage to the dogs ears.  Why take the risk of prematurely decreasing your dogs hearing while you're out plinking or shooting clays?

And to the OP I am sorry about your dog, I hope he recovers.

[REHJWA]

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

This can be very traumatic way to introduce the gun to a puppy.  They don't get the fun of chasing birds (playing into their natural hunting instincts) while the gun is going off.

If done properly in the field the puppy never even notices the gun or and creates the positive association with the gunshot & birds.

My dogs are so use to being rewarded after shot that the look I get in the blind if we miss could kill a man.

[Curly]

My dogs are so use to being rewarded after shot that the look I get in the blind if we miss could kill a man.

Those looks are priceless. 

[SpringerFan]

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

This can be very traumatic way to introduce the gun to a puppy.  They don't get the fun of chasing birds (playing into their natural hunting instincts) while the gun is going off.

If done properly in the field the puppy never even notices the gun or and creates the positive association with the gunshot & birds.

I agree 100% Scott!! No way I would ever take a pup to the range.

I have started two dogs under some very experienced trainers. As pups we leave them in the truck the first few times out during training.

Over multiple weeks you introduce them to the field while other dogs are running with gunners and birds.

They learn very quickly that a shotgun shot means fun.

Both my dogs get excited when they hear shots. Means birds.

[cmiller85]

Here's an update for those who might run into this same issue. Duke (our dog) seems to have recovered just fine. It took about 24 hrs before he really started responding good again. He's back to his usual self and hearing the quiet squeaks and whispers I throw at him.

I never would have thought that shooting some rounds off would have any different effect than an all day duck hunt but I guess it does....lesson learned. 

[viva_che1363]

i dont have any dogs for the time being, but im glad to hear yours is doing good.

[JJD]

Anyone want to take their puppy to the shooting range to get it used to gunfire?

This can be very traumatic way to introduce the gun to a puppy.  They don't get the fun of chasing birds (playing into their natural hunting instincts) while the gun is going off.

If done properly in the field the puppy never even notices the gun or and creates the positive association with the gunshot & birds.

My dogs are so use to being rewarded after shot that the look I get in the blind if we miss could kill a man.

Your Dog is thinking, one more of those and the collar goes back on buddy.   

[BIGINNER]

what were you shootong?   my dogs can't stand rifle shots, but go insane with excitement when a shotgun is fired

[cmiller85]

what were you shootong?   my dogs can't stand rifle shots, but go insane with excitement when a shotgun is fired

We were shooting a .38 snubby

[BIGINNER]

what were you shootong?   my dogs can't stand rifle shots, but go insane with excitement when a shotgun is fired

We were shooting a .38 snubby

that might be the problem.  shotguns make a different type of sound and those snubbies are really loud.

[scottr]

Here's an update for those who might run into this same issue. Duke (our dog) seems to have recovered just fine. It took about 24 hrs before he really started responding good again. He's back to his usual self and hearing the quiet squeaks and whispers I throw at him.

I never would have thought that shooting some rounds off would have any different effect than an all day duck hunt but I guess it does....lesson learned. 

Really happy to hear Duke has recovered! 

[REHJWA]

Glad to hear his hearing is back... My dogs just pretend to be deaf when it's dinner time...