Goldendoodle Gun SHY!!

I got a 8 month old Goldendoodle! I noticed during the 4th of JULY she was scared of Fireworks so she would Hide Under the car and I never thought anything of it! So today I took her out with my .22 Rifle & shot it and she dove under the car. Then I heard people shooting off shot guns like 200 yards away and I had her walk with me that way and it seemed like she wasn’t scared of the shot gun sound! But then after getting like 20 yards away and like half a box of shells later she started to get scared of the Gun! She is pretty good at Fetching and Retrieving! I did give her treats when she sat still and didnt get scared but IDK anything more I can do any help? Pheasant season opens up in a month think I can get her ready by then or wait til NEXT YEAR??!!

Anything is possible I am by no means a professional dog trainer but I have trained my fare share.

I haven’t ever had the problem training a gun shy dog, I try to make it known to who ever the own is to introduce the “pup” to louder noises at a young age. I like to start even softer than a .22 I go with banging pots and pans together while/during feeding time. pet them, throw some treats into the mix as well.

Another thing I do is get the dog as “birdy” as I can before I introduce a .22 round into the mix, allot of times they get so into the bird that they don’t even notice the round went off if they look at you give a treat and reassure them its OK. Take them for a walk pop a shot off give a treat, repetition allot of times is what is “key” to the training process.

It might take a week of doing some of these things, and it might take a 3 months. The biggest thing is not to expect it to happen in a day or two.

I guess without being around the dog myself I can’t say what approach I would go for sure, or knowing what “loud” sounds the dog was introduced to if it was right away to big fire works I can see it freaking the dog out a little bit.

If you need any advice feel free to shoot me a PM I will try to give you a hand in any way I can.

By the way welcome to IDO!!!

John gave you good advice, and is worth noting.
I have grown up around hunting dogs as my dad and grandpa bred hounds for bear/wild boar ( I grew up in Europe where this is totally acceptable).
I just made my first puppy purchase in march, a wonderful female german shorthair. I got her with the intent of being a hunting dog for upland game, as well as rabbits. Guys will tell you that its bad practice to allow your dogs to chase rabbits, squirrels, etc. I train her to realize birds are the main target, but if she points at a rabbit; I will not punish her. At 7 months of age, She points on rabbits, but does not chase.
For gun shyness, I began using pots and pans around her as soon as I got her. Slamming cupboards, doors, etc. I introduced her to the gun, and would carry it when in the woods or field hiking with her. With a buddy of mine, and my pup on a leash, I marched 30-40 yards away and fired a couple of shots, then eased closer and closer until she did not mind the .22. This went on for a few sessions, before I brought the .410 out, repeated the same thing. Next, I used a 20 gauge, and repeated. Final step has been shooting a 12 gauge, rifles, and pistols around her to let her know that there are bigger “booms” out there. I take her to the gun range regularly during league trap shoots, park the car down the road and walk her near the shooters.
All sorts of ways to do it, but just as john said, be consistent, patient, and repeat, repeat, repeat!

I also am no expert but what Jon said is right. I started at 7 weeks old. as soon as she would put her head in the dish to eat the would clap as loud and hard as I could behind her in attempt to spook her a bit all the while she had her face burried in the foood dish, her one true love. After she got comfortable with retreiving I would light a black cat and then toss the dummie forward and the black cat backwards. After she became acustom to this I ugaded to m80s then m 1000s. If it thunders my dog leaps up and stands at the ready next to the window thinkin its gunfire she wants in on! In general I think its best to introduce the loud noises while the dog is doing something that it loves. in the case of my lab that would be eating

Good info. Fireworks are fireworks. THey are a loud noises when the dog is just hanging out. My dog hates fireworks but a gun shot does not bother her at all because she is hunting. When there are fireworks going off in my neighborhood I break out the dummy and start throwing making it a good think. And it doesn’t matter if I am shooting or someone else is…my dog is working not playing ya know. I thought the same thing when my dog was young. Put a bird in front of that dog and shoot from a ways away. One other suggestion too much loud noise at once is not a good thing. Shoot one or two shells of the 410 or the 22 whatever and then be done. Short training or short exposure is better in my training experience. Just my two cents. Good luck and good hunting!!