Post by: upwind on October 24, 2010, 06:46:44 PM
Post by: ser300wsm on October 24, 2010, 06:52:28 PM
Post by: ribka on October 24, 2010, 06:56:57 PM
I've trained quite a few dogs though. I worked with my dog all year and acclimated him to first a bb gun, a .22 cal starter pistol and finally a shotgun. Fisrt with wings then live birds. It took a lot of patient training every day. Every dog/breed has to be trained in a different manner depending on his/her character. Now when I pick up the gun he becomes excited and he loves to hunt.
If you don't have the time experience take him/her to a professional trainer. :twocents:
Post by: go4itlab on October 24, 2010, 07:11:41 PM
Post by: Rowdy on October 24, 2010, 10:12:49 PM
Post by: wildweeds on October 26, 2010, 06:49:16 AM
Curious as to how you broke the dog to the gun to start with?How old is the dog also? Breed of the dog(doesn't matter so much really but I think some are born with better hearing than others and it may be a case of really good hearing,GSP's seem to be the most sensitive from what I've seen)
I would reccomend starting back at the beginning also,with birds and a helper,If the dog is so bad that it runs back to the truck I would also consider professional help.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 26, 2010, 09:46:36 AM
something happened which caused the association of bad = gun shots = dog running to truck
Probably should see a pro trainer. Usually about $35-60 per session + birds which don't survive.
What kind of dog do you have and where do you live?
Post by: BIGINNER on October 26, 2010, 10:00:53 AM
Live birds in a controlled training situation is the only way to fix the aprehension thats manifested itself concerning the gun.There needs to be excitement and an attention getter which is the birds.A .22 with live rounds is a very bad idea that will cause the problem to worsen,the .22 is subsonic and creates a high pitched whir similar to a silent dog whistle,popping caps while the dog is eating is not going to get the job done either IMO ,of course I suppose it depends on the severity of the shyness.
Curious as to how you broke the dog to the gun to start with?How old is the dog also? Breed of the dog(doesn't matter so much really but I think some are born with better hearing than others and it may be a case of really good hearing,GSP's seem to be the most sensitive from what I've seen) I would reccomend starting back at the beginning also,with birds and a helper,If the dog is so bad that it runs back to the truck I would also consider professional help.
thats not really true, every dog is differnet breed doesn't really matter, i had a gsp pup that i gun broke myself, i started with a .22 at 100 yards, then slowly got closer and closer, i didn't always use live birds, or birds at all for that matter, using live birds too much can create bad habbits for the dog, i progressed with the .22 up till 20 yards, then she started to flintch a little, so i started all over again at 100 yards, it took a long time, lots of days, and lots of .22 rounds, but pretty soon i would be blasting away over her with the 22 and she acted like she was deaf to the gun, so i swiched to a shotgun at 100 yards, the shotgun was alot easier, took less than 10 min and i was shooting over her while my brother threw a bird out for her, in a couple days she knew that a gun going off ment that there's a bird down and she would go crazy from excitement when she sees the gun out.
well... the point is it takes lots of patience, and lots of work, some dogs are easier than others, i've also heard stories of peopl gunbreaking there dog at the range, and at the range the pup would be fine, or at least looked like she was fine, but once they were in the feild and a gun goes off the dog would take off to the ruck,
when gunbreaking a dog, (or training in general) make sure the pup is enjoying itself, :twocents:
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 26, 2010, 10:47:23 AM
Post by: Copperwood on October 26, 2010, 11:40:01 AM
Post by: wildweeds on October 26, 2010, 12:25:08 PM
Live birds in a controlled training situation is the only way to fix the aprehension thats manifested itself concerning the gun.There needs to be excitement and an attention getter which is the birds.A .22 with live rounds is a very bad idea that will cause the problem to worsen,the .22 is subsonic and creates a high pitched whir similar to a silent dog whistle,popping caps while the dog is eating is not going to get the job done either IMO ,of course I suppose it depends on the severity of the shyness.
Curious as to how you broke the dog to the gun to start with?How old is the dog also? Breed of the dog(doesn't matter so much really but I think some are born with better hearing than others and it may be a case of really good hearing,GSP's seem to be the most sensitive from what I've seen) I would reccomend starting back at the beginning also,with birds and a helper,If the dog is so bad that it runs back to the truck I would also consider professional help.
thats not really true, every dog is differnet breed doesn't really matter, i had a gsp pup that i gun broke myself, i started with a .22 at 100 yards, then slowly got closer and closer, i didn't always use live birds, or birds at all for that matter, using live birds too much can create bad habbits for the dog, i progressed with the .22 up till 20 yards, then she started to flintch a little, so i started all over again at 100 yards, it took a long time, lots of days, and lots of .22 rounds, but pretty soon i would be blasting away over her with the 22 and she acted like she was deaf to the gun, so i swiched to a shotgun at 100 yards, the shotgun was alot easier, took less than 10 min and i was shooting over her while my brother threw a bird out for her, in a couple days she knew that a gun going off ment that there's a bird down and she would go crazy from excitement when she sees the gun out.
well... the point is it takes lots of patience, and lots of work, some dogs are easier than others, i've also heard stories of peopl gunbreaking there dog at the range, and at the range the pup would be fine, or at least looked like she was fine, but once they were in the feild and a gun goes off the dog would take off to the ruck,
when gunbreaking a dog, (or training in general) make sure the pup is enjoying itself, :twocents:
Post by: mjbskwim on October 26, 2010, 10:24:59 PM
She did jump out of the truck when my other dog went for a grouse.She even found the bird first.
So the excitement factor can play a part.
there is a trap range down the road that trains dogs also.He says they will get used to the gun.
I haven't had the heart to take her back there to try it.She was shaking like a leaf Saturday when I left her in the truck at the hunting site.A quarter mile from the actual shooting area.
I have always heard to make a lot of noise over the dog when it's eating too.
(mine cowers then too)
Bang some pots over it's head.Make noise when you are doing stuff around the yard.
I say this cause my girl flinches to everything.I bang something she runs to the other end of the property.
Get it used to banging sounds first then guns.
Your wife/GF will get annoyed,but it's for the greater cause
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 27, 2010, 08:34:24 AM
If your dog flinches because its being startled, you are causing the problem.
Your dog should be looking for a reason for noise. Banging pots and pans teaches the dog nothing. If I snuck up behind a dog, clobbered a pot and pan together and the dog just stood there and kept eating I'd say it was a sign of a "stupid" dog. Dog should bark, should hide, should have a reaction. It is not a good reaction that it ignores being snuck up on and having noise presented unnaturally.
When a gun goes off, I want the dog on alert, eyes to the sky, eyes searching around, looking for action. I definately would NEVER want a dog to sleep on a carpet in the back of a truck ignoring gun shots at a rifle/skeet range. Never.
Teach the dog shots equal birds. Shots equal action. Shots equal fun. Start from day one. You don't need to carry toy cap guns, bang pans together or anything else. Praise, happy, goofy kiddie voices and flying birds with a little low power .22 blank pistol a long way away. When a pop goes off, pup will be looking for action in no time at all. Shot in the distance will have a 10 week old pups eyes looking to the horizon, scanning for something to happen.
When a dog "bolts" on its own and the owner is confident he's done NOTHING to the dog, take it to a pro if you are interested in an attempt to, "fix" the problem.
Post by: Copperwood on October 27, 2010, 08:13:51 PM
Post by: Hangfire on October 29, 2010, 07:34:59 AM
Post by: nontypical176 on October 29, 2010, 08:25:09 AM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 29, 2010, 10:18:24 AM
Post by: upwind on November 17, 2010, 05:58:29 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 17, 2010, 06:21:04 PM
happy gilmore had some great advice, as did others. but every dog is different and it would be wise to work with a pro on this one. a lot of bird dog problems can be worked out with live birds.
if many live birds, and money for a trainer is out of the question... i suggest you start from the ground up on noise conditioning and take it very slow and carefully... but then again Im just some guy on the net throwing out his two cents.