good sign

[EastWaViking]

I have a 12 1/2 week old lab that I have been training, and she has been doing real well with bringing the dummy
back to me.  Tonight I decided it was time to introduce the gun to the training.  I bought some 22 short blanks and shot them while the dummy was in the air.  She didn't even blink!  Straight to the dummy and running right back to me.  I think I'm on the road to having a pretty good dog.  I will work my way up to full 12 gauge loads slowly over the next month or two.

Any advice from experienced gun dog owners/trainers?

thanks

[Gutpile]

I used to just have my wife hole the pup back and I went 20-30 yards away and started banging away with the 12 she'd slowly come towards me playing with the dog to keep it occupied. At first he was a bit skiddish but turned out to be a great dog. this is no scientific method but it worked for me.

[Wacenturion]

Get a helper....have him go a considerable distance away from you, say 70-80 plus yards, and as you throw the dummy have him fire the shotgun.  Then slowly move in at intervals of say 10 yards or so until he get to you and the dog. Oh and a 20 ga. is fine if you have one.
The main thing is for the pup to associate the sound with fun.....i.e ....retrieving.  Where people screw up is getting in a hurry and try shooting right over a pup that is not use to the sound and ends up spooking him.
As with everything dog training.....take your time and do it right.  Always quit the game early if he gets bored or distracted....as there is tomorrow.

[Gutpile]

Forgot about that. We'd throw a dummy and shoot while it was in the air. Geez, it's been a long time. My old boy will be 15 in May. Maybe.   

[Ridgeratt]

Take you and your dog to the local trap range. Start "way" down range and let them get used to the noise and move closer as the dog feels comfortable. Just take your time and you will be able to stand right behind the line with no problems. This doesn't mean go right to the line walk the dog around to where they can hear the shot's but far enough away like the road leading into the place.

[Shannon]

The trap range is not the place to get a dog used to gun shots. That has ruined a lot of good dogs. Shoot with a blank when they are chasing a winged pigeon or from a distance while they eat and gradually work up to bigger guns and closer as they get used to it. Its pretty easy if you take your time.

[mossback91]

wow I never specifically worked with my brittanies on gunshot training, but they were never bothered by it................

[EastWaViking]

Well, after four days of using 22 short blanks with my pup I decided to jump straight to the 20 gauge today.  She didn't even notice a difference!  I threw the dummy and touched off a 7  1/2 and off she went, grabbed the dummy and right back to me three times in a row!  Now I need to work on "stay" and "heel" any suggestions?

[merlo105]

Sounds like you have got it figured out work up in small amounts they dont give out prizes for the person who can train the fastest. Sounds like you'll have fun and questions just pm.

[rasbo]

dad started out with a cap gun in the house

[Rowdy]

Well, after four days of using 22 short blanks with my pup I decided to jump straight to the 20 gauge today.  She didn't even notice a difference!  I threw the dummy and touched off a 7  1/2 and off she went, grabbed the dummy and right back to me three times in a row!  Now I need to work on "stay" and "heel" any suggestions?

"heel":  I put my dog in the half hitch, walk slowly at first and correct when the dog pulls to the front or side.  I also use a paper towel roll for a tap on the head as the dog pulls to the front.  After a sesion or two start making 90 degree turns when the pup isn't heeling, this will essentially have the dog correct itself by the tightening of the lead.  At heel a dog's head should be next to your knee so it can see when you go in a different direction.  I have a buddy who thinks his pup knows heel and the dogs whole body is out in front of him.   I told him to turn around without saying anything, his reply "but he'll just keep going the other way", exactly because he's not heeling. 

Dog training is a blast and a great way to bond with your dog.  It also lets your dog know your boss and what you say is law.  You'll more than likely get your best results with short consistent sesions and always end on a good note, the dog doing something right and getting rewarded for it (atta boy, scratch behind the ears).

Jake

[Wacenturion]

Well, after four days of using 22 short blanks with my pup I decided to jump straight to the 20 gauge today.  She didn't even notice a difference!  I threw the dummy and touched off a 7  1/2 and off she went, grabbed the dummy and right back to me three times in a row!  Now I need to work on "stay" and "heel" any suggestions?

"heel":  I put my dog in the half hitch, walk slowly at first and correct when the dog pulls to the front or side.  I also use a paper towel roll for a tap on the head as the dog pulls to the front.  After a sesion or two start making 90 degree turns when the pup isn't heeling, this will essentially have the dog correct itself by the tightening of the lead.  At heel a dog's head should be next to your knee so it can see when you go in a different direction.  I have a buddy who thinks his pup knows heel and the dogs whole body is out in front of him.   I told him to turn around without saying anything, his reply "but he'll just keep going the other way", exactly because he's not heeling. 

Dog training is a blast and a great way to bond with your dog.  It also lets your dog know your boss and what you say is law.  You'll more than likely get your best results with short consistent sesions and always end on a good note, the dog doing something right and getting rewarded for it (atta boy, scratch behind the ears).

Jake

Good advice.  Also once your dog knows what is expected, do not let him or her get away with breaking the rules.  If they cheat, take the time and correct the problem right now.  If you get lazy and don't follow through on this, you'll have no one to blame but yourself.

I'll give you an example......when I was field trialing retrievers years ago and wanted the dog to spin and sit on a whistle command after I sent him on a blind retrieve so I could redirect him, I would first make sure he would honor my command. Usually at first they know a single blast means sit as I have already trained that into him.  When sent and I hit the whistle he will initially sit and look back, but then their youth and desire gets the better and they take off again .  At this point drop everything and chase the dog down, drag him back to the approximate site of the infraction, have him sit and look him right in the eyes and hit the whistle at point blank range.  Then turn and walk back to where you originally gave the command....don't look back at him.  When you get there he had better be right where you left him....or if he isn't, you run him down again.  Believe me they will get the message...and if later they cheat....repeat. 

At this point you will have a dog that responds the correct way.  Usually most retrievers you see out there don't pay a bit of attention to their handler because the handler was lazy and choose to yell and blow on the whistle over and over because the dog only partialy listened.  Not the dogs fault...hell he was trained to act that way.  One blast means turn, sit and look at me for more direction....not, I repeat, not multiple blasts on the wistle, you son of bitch and other descriptive phrases thrown at him over a 10 minute period....you get my drift.

Every dog is different...training is just a fun common sense approach on how to trick them to initially do what you want, praise and reinforce it until you are sure they understand and then never let them regress.  Time spent doing it right will give you a hunting buddy the quality that few will ever know.

[Wayne1]

I'll give you an example......when I was field trialing retrievers years ago and wanted the dog to spin and sit on a whistle command after I sent him on a blind retrieve so I could redirect him, I would first make sure he would honor my command. Usually at first they know a single blast means sit as I have already trained that into him.  When sent and I hit the whistle he will initially sit and look back, but then their youth and desire gets the better and they take off again .  At this point drop everything and chase the dog down, drag him back to the approximate site of the infraction, have him sit and look him right in the eyes and hit the whistle at point blank range.  Then turn and walk back to where you originally gave the command....don't look back at him.  When you get there he had better be right where you left him....or if he isn't, you run him down again.  Believe me they will get the message...and if later they cheat....repeat. 

Exactly the way I've always done it..  And find that it really does'nt take but a couple of time's before they get the idea.