Training to gun

[MrGadget]

We have a new member to the family! A beautiful 3 yr old Yellow Lab. He i BIG, right at 100lbs, very lovable, beautiful conformation, and loves water. I took him out to the lake several times to play "Get the bird!"...He dives right in and swims out to retrieve a floating water bottle.

I would like to train him to gun the "right way". I don't want to screw up and make him gun shy in the process and end up with what Ann Richards would call a "that dog won't hunt!"

Any advice? Thanks in advance, Gadget

[Birddog]

This is how I've always started my dogs, others may do it differently. While he's eating, I start with clapping, progressively getting louder, I continue with this until it no longer startles him. Start softly and don't get louder until the pup is ok with it. A week or 2 of this and he should be well adjusted to it. I then move to a .22 while playing fetch, let him get excited about chasing the dummie and I let off a shot, as long as it doesn't startle him keep doing it, sometimes while he's on his way to the dummie, other times while he's on his way back...lots of praise! I progressively up the size of the gun over a few weeks. Another good way of doing it, if you have someone that can help...have the helper with the gun and you take the dog, go 200+yds or so away, 2 way radios are nice for this. Put the dog to your side, throw a dummy and have the gun fire as close to the same time as possible, as long as the dog doesn't get scared, praise. Progressivley move closer to the gunner, 10 yds at a time, make it a fun fetch game for the pup(treats and praise), as long as the dog is having fun fetching the gun shouldn't scare him. I've yet to have a gun shy dog, take it slow, make it fun for the dog and enjoy the training, nothing like working a pup and watching him grow into a hunter, very satisfying! Good luck.

BIRDDOG

[SoDakMac]

Most of your gun dog books and magazines have articles or chapters on how to avoid gun shyness. What I have done in the past is to set up a situation where I am with the dog and a buddy is out a ½ or ¼ mile from us with a small caliber gun. I bring along the dog’s favorite food or a few treats and have him sit by me. My partner shoots a few rounds and I watch the dog for reaction. The partner gradually gets closer and keeps firing a few rounds – if the dog does not seem to be bothered by the noise we keep on going until the gun is within a 50 yards or so. Some guys use shotguns at a distance and a .22 handgun or starter gun closer in. I know guys who never worry about ‘breaking in’ a gun dog to the noise and have not had a problem. However, I recommend taking some time to accustom the dog to loud noises before firing a 12 gauge a few feet over his head for the first time. The one time I hurried up the process caused me a lot of problems and I essentially lost the young dog for hunting the first year.

[MrGadget]

Thanks for your responses! So, this isn't a whole lot different than getting a horse ready for a cavalry reeenactment. Start with your partner shooting at a distance while you have full control of the animal, then advance to popping a cap on the empty chamber of a .36 Navy over his rump before you let go with a full charge over his ears. I kinda figured it would be a similar process with a gun dog, but, knowing I'd only get one chance to screw up, I needed to hear it from someone who had BTDT. Thanks again, Gadget

[Fog Fighter]

Another way that works is to have a buddy drop you and your pup about a mile from the gun club. You can barely hear the guns in the distance from that range. Slowly walk the pup towards the gun club while playing games with him in the ditch. By the time you reach the gun club, the noise of the guns won't bother him at all.

Good luck with your lab and remeber to keep reassuing your pup with lots of affection and play as you move towards the gun club.