Need help with my lab

[hrd2fnd]

I have this black lab that is about 5 yro that I saved from being put down that will not stop his barking when I am out plinking   . It is driving me and the wife nuts so much so she is saying until I get him under control I can no longer shot out back.  I have tried to have him sit with me on a leash and comfort him after each shot from the 22 but no go.  Any ideas as this is driving me nuts becasue I would love to continue to plink in my own back yard but he will not shut up or stop from jumping in front of the barrel.

Thanks,

hrd

[norsepeak]

sounds to me like he has some experience in hunting and associates the shot to getting to got and retrieve.  So when you shoot he gets excited and want to go retireve.  Mine does the same thing.  Don't know how you could break him of doing that short of a shock collar, but I think after a few years of this (being 5 yo) you may not be able to stop this behavior....don't know.

[fisheral87]

Is he excited or intimidated? Is it the shot or the gun?

Barking is just part of the reaction how does he act in general?

Observation past the barking might help figure out a good response to the barking.

 

Al

[Nash]

Im not sure if you are just shooting a 22 or other guns as well, but my lab hates my 22. He doesnt mind the shotguns and bigger rifles just hates the 22 for some reason.  Maybe try a different gun if all he has heard is the 22.

[hrd2fnd]

he does the same with the 9mm pistol, he is a very high-per dog even with hearing rounds from neighbors 1/2 mile away.  He gets this way just seeing me get the 22 out. 

[Smokepole]

We used to have a lab mix like that.  That dog would bark at just about anything, and drive us nuts.  Found out she had to run everyday to stay calmed down.  We finally started working her hard and we put her on high protein food and she calmed down a lot.  She quit barking at cars and neighbors and guns.  Might be something you could try?

I've also noticed that shotguns don't seem to set them off as badly as hand guns.  9mm has a pretty sharp report compared to a shotgun.  I still have a 16 year-old chocolate lab who never did like hand guns or shotguns unless we were out hunting, and she was part of the mix.  She would bark and yip in excitement the whole time we would shoot clays or targets. 

Is there a place you could put the dog where he won't hear you shootin'?
 

[D-Rock425]

I dont know how to fix it.  My lab if fine with guns but he goes nuts with loud fireworks.

[TONTO]

  My lab's great around guns, but fishing poles he freaks out. Barks when I cast, must think I'm throwing it for him although he doesn't try to retrive it just bugs me and have screwed up a few casts, he useualy barks right about the time I release. He gets realy bad when I have a fish on, running back and forth and barking, drives me crazy.

[hrd2fnd]

I'm thinking I will take him out back and see how he handles the 410.  I'm also going to try the doggy downers the vet gave me during the weeks leading up to the 4th.  All else fails I will try the shock collar, but would rather not but it has help with his bad habits of getting on the counters after my banana bread boy can he chow down 4 loafs of that stuff.

[Wagner]

  I think you should make it into a game and take advantage of your dogs desire to retreive. Get a launcher and make him heal then shoot launch and let him retreive. If you lite that dog up for wanting to retreive or hunt, dont be suprised come next season if he will not retreive. I personally dont shoot around my dogs unless there is birds. One thing to remember about an e-collar is the dog must know exactly why he is being corrected.

[hrd2fnd]

Now there's an idea, next time I shoot throw something for him to retrieve maybe this will help cant hurt   thnks

[penhuntsbirds]

 I think you should make it into a game and take advantage of your dogs desire to retreive. Get a launcher and make him heal then shoot launch and let him retreive. If you lite that dog up for wanting to retreive or hunt, dont be suprised come next season if he will not retreive. I personally dont shoot around my dogs unless there is birds. One thing to remember about an e-collar is the dog must know exactly why he is being corrected.

OK my  I could not agree more! I would say the 4 pro dog trainers I have talked to about anything to do with shooting would have said the same thing

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

I would be be pumped if I had a dog get that excited when I was shooting.  All three of my labs go absolutely ape-sh*t at the sight of a gun, orange vest, or even when I put on a pair of boots.  Unless he is intimidated, thats a different story.  I would do what the guys in previous posts said and make it into a game!  Thats a great idea.  Embrace your dogs excitement.  Maybe give your wife the doggy downers!  I'm just kidding, good luck!   

[87Ford]

have screwed up a few casts, he useualy barks right about the time I release. He gets realy bad when I have a fish on, running back and forth and barking

That's funny.  Well, maybe not if he's screwing up your casts, but it sounds like that dog likes to go fishin'!

[87Ford]

I personally dont shoot around my dogs unless there is birds

I agree and never shoot around my Lab unless it is a hunting/training situation.  He gets excited around guns too, but not because he enjoys the loud report.  He's excited about the reward of a retrieve that follows.  I just don't like the idea of unnecessarily subjecting my dog to repeated loud gunfire.

If you must have your dog with you during plinking sessions then a simple bark collar may work better than an e-collar.

Good luck.