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what to use to get my dog used to guns


dando44
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get a mate to take a shotgun about 300yds away, sit the dog with you then signal him to take a shot, if the dog is ok get him to move 50yds closer and repeat, reassure the dog, give him a treat and a fuss, and keep the mate with the gun moving towards you 50yds at a time and fire a few shots, throw a dummy for the dog to fetch so he associated the bang with good stuff and not to be feared, if the dog looks nervous, get the guy with the gun to retreat a bit and fire, just keep trying to associate the bang with fun, if the dog is terrified stop and try again in a week or two gently from a distance always with treats and fun

 

always worked for me, never had a dog that was gun shy

 

mikee

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I would start by clapping your hands when he is playing. Get him to sit as soon as you have clapped.

 

You can then introduce a starter pistol or air rifle. You can always cut a cartridge open and take the powder and shot out so you just have a primer to start with.

 

There is a world of difference between a starter pistol and a 12 bore. As Mikee has said when you do move on to live shots then start ata distance away and be ready to reassure him if he does jump/flinch.

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I stated bashing the food bowls together to make a loud noise, she knew food was coming and so was happy about it, then when I could not get any louder I moved to the shotgun at 200 meters, wife had the dog and was playing with her and giving her treats, fired the gun, no reaction so moved to 150 and fired again, still nothing.

 

I did not move closed until the next day then started again at 200 meters and repeated the execise. over about 10 days I got to being 50 yards from her with nothing then moved close and she is fine but every dog is different and it is really easy to mess this up and get a gun shy dog (my dad did it wrong and his is now virtually useless) so take it slow and if in doubt stop and start again tomorrow.

 

I used blanks on the gun to start with as they were softer, I find a starter pistol and .22 make a loud crack and this is more high pitched and can scare some dogs. Saying that my brothers lab could be sat on a bomb and would sleep through it so it really is down to the dog and you will know what there charecter is better than anyone.

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I use metal feed bowls (they tend to last a lifetime) and from the early days I'll bang them around, throw them on the (concrete) kennel floors and generally make a lot of noise with them. Mind you I don't have neighbours! :yes: The dogs don't even flinch when first introduced to gunfire...in fact it's probably a relief for them :blink:

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Get a starting pistol and 'short' blanks, fire it into a coat pocket to muffle the sound whilst the dog is running around, after a week take the pistol out of your pocket and fire it behind your back and into the ground etc......then after a week or so get the long blanks and so on. We always give our pups balloons to play with starting off with them only partially inflated, then gradually blow 'em up a bit more. Party poppers are another good intro' to pops/bangs aswell. Banging doors, dropping trays, clapping hands etc all helps. My little Springer bitch is very nervy, if a paper bag blew 'round the corner she'd **** herself but she'll sit steady as a rock to shotgun fire :blink: so the above obviously works.

 

Funnily enough all our dogs, (except the very laid back Pointer), have been and still are very wary of an air rifle being fired?!

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
clay ground cage the dog inn the boot of your car and park up some distance from the shooting if it shows no distressing signs then move a bit closer nextime you go

 

thats what i did,then walked him in etc. etc.

he's in the hide when i shoot now,fine.

took about a month though.

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Agree with previous posters clay grounds are bad news, get the dog used to clangs and bangs generally as a pup. Then build up slowly and let them associate all such noises with good things like food, retrieves or whatever floats the particular dogs boat. Problem is when the dog realy gets the idea of bang = game and hunting, i don't like the dog out of the kennel when practising etc. but he sure don't want to stay there at times ;)

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You can always cut a cartridge open and take the powder and shot out so you just have a primer to start with.

 

 

Just started training mine to get used to the gun....so I made this little item.

 

It fires HiltiCaps, you can get them in different colours, which indicate what strength the Caps are themselves. The ones in the Photo's, Green which are average, & good to start off with, then the Red which are a much louder crack. Use the little bar to knock the empty case out.

 

I had my Daughter walking the Dog a good 70-100yds in front, I followed, letting a shot off now & again. The first half dozen she noticed, after that she wasn't that bothered, swapped to the Red Caps, same again. Then closed the distance, now I can fire the Green Caps with her in close proximity, that's as far as I've got now up to date.

 

I find the advantage of using this, is it also gets the Dog used to the gun.

 

PICT0883.jpg

 

PICT0884.jpg

 

BJ

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  • 5 years later...

Something that always puzzles me with dogs is the JR that I had before the one that I have now would not flinch a bit when we went out walking on Sunday morning when the local clay club have there weekly shoot she would not worry at all as we walked by about 100 yards from where they was shooting but when November the 5th came around she would go in to a complete panic trembling and trying to hide this went on for weeks as people never keep to the day made my life hell at times new dog does not worry at all.

 

I like your little adapter BJ just what I expected it to look like off centre only problem is having to poke the carts out one at a time reminds me of a film I seen once a long time ago where someone used an adapter like that to kill someone and as the police was looking for a .45 hand gun unless they could find the small adapter that he through away they could not prove that he did it as it was a film they did find it and he went to prison in the end.

 

I just had another thought if you wanted to you could use .8m or .9m centre fire blanks perhaps more expensive but it would be simpler to make an adapter to fit them this all gets in to I do not no what the legal position is with these things in the UK I have seen them for sale on US websites but they fire live rounds through them as well as blanks.

Edited by four-wheel-drive
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I like your little adapter BJ just what I expected it to look like off centre only problem is having to poke the carts out one at a time reminds me of a film I seen once a long time ago where someone used an adapter like that to kill someone and as the police was looking for a .45 hand gun unless they could find the small adapter that he through away they could not prove that he did it as it was a film they did find it and he went to prison in the end.

 

 

A blast from the past... :) ..it brings back a few memories, certainly worked well & served a purpose.

 

Easily made for a 12g, but I never thought about it serving any other purpose than it was intended for.

 

Found today covered in dust, anyone want it..?

 

£10 + postage & it's yours.

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