Just got a new pup this weekend. English springer. The last dog I had was extremely gun shy – probably because I did not introduce her to it correctly. What can I do to make sure that she does not turn out the same? What age should I start introducing her to the gun?
She seams to have an excellent nose and has really has picked up on the house training very quickly. Very excited to have new bird dog – just hope I am persistent enough to get her trained correctly.
Get Gun Dog by Richard Wolters. It’s the best hunting dog training book out there.
To start now, even before the book comes, start introducing her to loud noises in pleasant situations. While she’s eating, get a couple pots and pans and bang them together while she’s eating. She will learn to associate loud banging, gunshot type noises with a pleasant experience like eating. Sounds goofy, but of the three dogs I had, the one I got at 16 weeks old and didn’t have the chance to do this with, she was the one that was gun shy. I believe Wolters also tells you to do this in his book.
Get Gun Dog by Richard Wolters. It’s the best hunting dog training book out there.
To start now, even before the book comes, start introducing her to loud noises in pleasant situations. While she’s eating, get a couple pots and pans and bang them together while she’s eating. She will learn to associate loud banging, gunshot type noises with a pleasant experience like eating. Sounds goofy, but of the three dogs I had, the one I got at 16 weeks old and didn’t have the chance to do this with, she was the one that was gun shy. I believe Wolters also tells you to do this in his book.
I trained an English Springer years ago and what I did was,I’d fire a 22 blank over her head while she was eating,all the while telling her “Good girl”.Gun shyness was never a problem.
I trained an English Springer years ago and what I did was,I’d fire a 22 blank over her head while she was eating,all the while telling her “Good girl”.Gun shyness was never a problem.
Quote:
Get Gun Dog by Richard Wolters. It’s the best hunting dog training book out there.
To start now, even before the book comes, start introducing her to loud noises in pleasant situations. While she’s eating, get a couple pots and pans and bang them together while she’s eating. She will learn to associate loud banging, gunshot type noises with a pleasant experience like eating. Sounds goofy, but of the three dogs I had, the one I got at 16 weeks old and didn’t have the chance to do this with, she was the one that was gun shy. I believe Wolters also tells you to do this in his book.
Quote:
Get Gun Dog by Richard Wolters. It’s the best hunting dog training book out there.
To start now, even before the book comes, start introducing her to loud noises in pleasant situations. While she’s eating, get a couple pots and pans and bang them together while she’s eating. She will learn to associate loud banging, gunshot type noises with a pleasant experience like eating. Sounds goofy, but of the three dogs I had, the one I got at 16 weeks old and didn’t have the chance to do this with, she was the one that was gun shy. I believe Wolters also tells you to do this in his book.
As long as you don’t have a bird shy dog – no problem.
You will need two people, one to handle the dog, the other to work a cap gun. The cap gunner is going to need to be 100 yds away or so at first. When pup is chasing the birds you planted and totally focused on the chase have handler signal to cap gunner to pop a couple shots off.
The key here is the handler. You have to be confident and no matter what happens – do not acknowledge the dog’s actions when they hear the cap gun go off.
Take a walk thru the field at first w/o the dog. You’re attitude and demeanor has to be 100% the same walking with no dog as it does with the pup.
If you are worried the dog is going to act gun shy pup will read that like a book and they will be apprehensive.
For young dogs you’re confidence is thier confidence.
The other thing, and probably the more important thing to do is build confidence outside the world of birds and guns. Talk the dog for a walk in a downtown metro area with lot of scary noises and scary situations.
Again, when you are doing that make sure you are acting like this is no big deal…. confidence, confidence, confidence. The best guns dogs are the ones who have been exposed to every social situation imaginable.
I once took a setter pup to a little girl’s school dance recital. It was all about dealing with screaming kids, scary smells and bright flashing lights. It helped the pup bold up a bunch. I on the other hand had to enroll in a 12 step recovery program, which I am 1/2 the way thru the second quarter of the first step…
Good luck!
As long as you don’t have a bird shy dog – no problem.
You will need two people, one to handle the dog, the other to work a cap gun. The cap gunner is going to need to be 100 yds away or so at first. When pup is chasing the birds you planted and totally focused on the chase have handler signal to cap gunner to pop a couple shots off.
The key here is the handler. You have to be confident and no matter what happens – do not acknowledge the dog’s actions when they hear the cap gun go off.
Take a walk thru the field at first w/o the dog. You’re attitude and demeanor has to be 100% the same walking with no dog as it does with the pup.
If you are worried the dog is going to act gun shy pup will read that like a book and they will be apprehensive.
For young dogs you’re confidence is thier confidence.
The other thing, and probably the more important thing to do is build confidence outside the world of birds and guns. Talk the dog for a walk in a downtown metro area with lot of scary noises and scary situations.
Again, when you are doing that make sure you are acting like this is no big deal…. confidence, confidence, confidence. The best guns dogs are the ones who have been exposed to every social situation imaginable.
I once took a setter pup to a little girl’s school dance recital. It was all about dealing with screaming kids, scary smells and bright flashing lights. It helped the pup bold up a bunch. I on the other hand had to enroll in a 12 step recovery program, which I am 1/2 the way thru the second quarter of the first step…
Good luck!
I would start about 3 mos old. I took my lab to a sporting clays club. Put him on a leash out in the parking lot and slowly moved him closer to the noise. Didn’t spend a lot of time there the first time, but made frequent trips each time spending a little more time at the club getting closer to the shooter. After a couple trips, he didn’t seem to even notice the noise and he would sit within 30 ft of the shooters.
Just an idea.
I would start about 3 mos old. I took my lab to a sporting clays club. Put him on a leash out in the parking lot and slowly moved him closer to the noise. Didn’t spend a lot of time there the first time, but made frequent trips each time spending a little more time at the club getting closer to the shooter. After a couple trips, he didn’t seem to even notice the noise and he would sit within 30 ft of the shooters.
Just an idea.
I like these last two posts for advice. I used a buddy to shoot blanks in teh distance while I played fetch. After two sessions, I was shooting the gun when I threw the dummy. Never had a problem. Dog is almost 2 now and if a loud noise goes off nearby he gets excited and looks around to see where the bird is! 
I like these last two posts for advice. I used a buddy to shoot blanks in teh distance while I played fetch. After two sessions, I was shooting the gun when I threw the dummy. Never had a problem. Dog is almost 2 now and if a loud noise goes off nearby he gets excited and looks around to see where the bird is!
Good advice from everyone. I agree with around three months to start with the introduction to guns. I’ll give you a little breakdown first. At 8 weeks I start the pup out playing the retrieving game inside. At 10 and 11 weeks I move the game outside and add the heel and sit commands. At 12 weeks this is where I start with the gun. I use a training pistol with .22 blanks. I will stand a ways away from the pup, about 10 to 15 yards. When the pup is eating I will fire a shot. If the pup is startled, move further away. As it gets used to the noise, move closer until you can fire, standing directly over the dog.
Good advice from everyone. I agree with around three months to start with the introduction to guns. I’ll give you a little breakdown first. At 8 weeks I start the pup out playing the retrieving game inside. At 10 and 11 weeks I move the game outside and add the heel and sit commands. At 12 weeks this is where I start with the gun. I use a training pistol with .22 blanks. I will stand a ways away from the pup, about 10 to 15 yards. When the pup is eating I will fire a shot. If the pup is startled, move further away. As it gets used to the noise, move closer until you can fire, standing directly over the dog.
I start them a few weeks after bringing them home. fishnfreak gave a great starting point, the loud noises while eating(loud clapping or a small cap gun), ect…don’t rush it. You have lots of time to introduce louder noises on up to the 12 gauge. Slowly introduce louder and louder noises over the next few months. I like to introduce the starter pistol after the dog has grasped retrieving. Once they understand the retrieve, starter pistol while the dummy’s in the air and the pup’s attention is on the dummy. Work up from there. The biggest thing is to take your time, if you work slowly there shouldn’t be any reason your pup will be gun shy. Gun shy dogs are tough to pull back once the damage is done, keep the big guns away for a while.
Good luck.
BIRDDOG
I start them a few weeks after bringing them home. fishnfreak gave a great starting point, the loud noises while eating(loud clapping or a small cap gun), ect…don’t rush it. You have lots of time to introduce louder noises on up to the 12 gauge. Slowly introduce louder and louder noises over the next few months. I like to introduce the starter pistol after the dog has grasped retrieving. Once they understand the retrieve, starter pistol while the dummy’s in the air and the pup’s attention is on the dummy. Work up from there. The biggest thing is to take your time, if you work slowly there shouldn’t be any reason your pup will be gun shy. Gun shy dogs are tough to pull back once the damage is done, keep the big guns away for a while.
Good luck.
BIRDDOG
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