Post by: at2smithjason on February 03, 2017, 09:37:15 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on February 03, 2017, 09:40:42 AM
Post by: JKEEN33 on February 03, 2017, 10:14:23 AM
I've been lucky enough that all of my labs have had the natural search desire when they here a gunshot. I have not dealt with gun shy yet.
Post by: at2smithjason on February 03, 2017, 11:56:04 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on February 03, 2017, 11:59:45 AM
Post by: at2smithjason on February 03, 2017, 12:04:29 PM
Post by: Dhoey07 on February 03, 2017, 12:32:18 PM
No I don't. I was thinking that a cap gun would be a nice start to get him used to the loud noise before I took him out and let him watch a gun shoot.
I would buy a .22 blank dummy launcher. That way when he hears a pop, there is something associated with it. Start with just a dummy and get the retrieve, then use the launcher. He might give one weird look at first but then he'll remember his job is to retrieve. If you have a partner then the cap gun would be fine but a lot of the training I did was one on one, less distractions.
Post by: Colin on February 03, 2017, 02:09:09 PM
Bill hillman puppy video is worth every cent. You'd probably work through it pretty fast but at the end you'd have a 2 year old who is steady and loves to retrieve and gets how the game works. At that point you've got 90 percent of the hunting dogs I see surpassed in their training.
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Post by: BD1 on February 04, 2017, 06:03:16 PM
Post by: garrett89 on February 12, 2017, 03:52:26 PM
Post by: mburrows on February 12, 2017, 04:19:07 PM
But like has been said make sure all other obedience and basics have been taught.
Post by: sliverthrower on February 12, 2017, 05:32:42 PM
Post by: Alex4200 on February 12, 2017, 06:55:17 PM
Work on obedience training, retrieving and tracking. Work on those building blocks.
PERIOD
The noise related stuff can happen later, slowly, especially when the dog is having fun retrieving.
Post by: carvermoe on February 23, 2017, 08:02:04 PM
closer and closer all while keeping her interested in a toy. finally started rolling the window down.
She could have cared less about the boom booms. We spent an hour doing it.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on February 23, 2017, 10:52:42 PM
Post by: Clark33 on March 18, 2017, 08:28:13 AM
Always good to associate a shooting range is just like hunting ducks. Or, firecrackers and food is like hunting or, banging pots and pans when you eat is like hunting ducks. All that makes them real good hunting dogs..
Always good to have a sarcastic response to a thread without adding any useful information.
I have the .22 blank dummy launcher, I zip tie and duck wing to it so she gets the feel of feathers in her mouth. I also introduced her to gun fire by standing about 200 yards behind my father who was shooting. I kept her at heel and we slowly moved closer and closer until we were standing right behind my dad as he was shooting and she didn't even seem to care. Gave me piece of mind she was not gun shy.
I read the water dog book and bought the DVD as a supplement, I'm a visual learner. My dog turned out just fine, is she perfect NOPE, does she get the job done YEP, is it fun to watch her continue to learn YOU BET. Will it test your patience.... ABSOLUTELY. Have fun with the process, you'll both learn a lot.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15401104_10210285857775270_7527068137998847002_n.jpg?oh=6e89342b79080f29099073763e1771c4&oe=596A7724)
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 18, 2017, 08:39:42 AM
Always good to associate a shooting range is just like hunting ducks. Or, firecrackers and food is like hunting or, banging pots and pans when you eat is like hunting ducks. All that makes them real good hunting dogs..
Perhaps another idea is to visit the local trap range and wander around with the dog on a leash at the far end of the line working closer each time.
I have never been refused on east side just remember to bring a bag with you and police the dog.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 18, 2017, 02:14:30 PM
Post by: Clark33 on March 18, 2017, 07:07:07 PM
Dogs need a bird in their mouth when a shot goes off. From the start.
Now that's sound advice. I always freeze a few birds through out the season for off season training.... the girlfriend hates it :chuckle:
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 18, 2017, 10:18:33 PM
Birds. Dogs need birds to be hunting dogs. Pigeons, ducks, sparrows.... Whatever. A loud noise at a tricking range will achieve NOTHiNG in a hunting dogs life.
Post by: JDHasty on March 18, 2017, 11:36:26 PM
I just took my 4month old lab to the range today.We stayed in the car and Started way back and moved
closer and closer all while keeping her interested in a toy. finally started rolling the window down.
She could have cared less about the boom booms. We spent an hour doing it.
And there ya' go. That is how to get over gun shy concerns. A lab will probably hunt, in time. The big thing is to get them out with other GOOD dogs who hunt. Obedience is paramount though, nobody will tolerate a knot head around their bird dog for long.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 19, 2017, 07:17:42 AM
I just took my 4month old lab to the range today.We stayed in the car and Started way back and moved
closer and closer all while keeping her interested in a toy. finally started rolling the window down.
She could have cared less about the boom booms. We spent an hour doing it.
And there ya' go. That is how to get over gun shy concerns. A lab will probably hunt, in time. The big thing is to get them out with other GOOD dogs who hunt. Obedience is paramount though, nobody will tolerate a knot head around their bird dog for long.
The way folks describe how to get them around guns is probably why dogs are gunshy in the first place.