pups and gun shot?

[Paul in North Lincs.]

You may recall I mentioned a coulpe of weeks ago that I'd bougt a ESS pup.

 

Now at 12 weeks old I have moved on already from verbal comands and are using hand signals and the whistle.

 

I have taught the wee lad to sit when * where I want, stay, stay while I walk around him, come on comand and even had him retrieving a small dead rabbit to hand time and time agian this morning on command...............he just seems to be on the button and picks thing up quickly.

 

Having never trained a gun dog before I, and others around me (including my vet friend) are amazed at what he can do already..................is this normal???

 

Naturally I don't want to rush and spoil the dog, and am happy to carry on drilling home this basic training, however would it be too early to expose him to gun shot??? I just don't know, and dont want to spoil him

 

please advice

 

thanks

[tiercel]

Paul,

 

There is a very sure way of intoducing a pup to gunshot. If done correctly will not alarm even the most timid of pups. All you need is a clay shoot. You take the pup to a clayshoot and stand well back from the guns. 100 yds is not too close. Over the course of an afternoon / morning you move gradualy closer to the guns, if the pup shows any signs of distress, I have yet to have one do this, but it can happen. Retreat a little till the dog is comfortable. and stay there for an hour or so. Most outward going pups will take no notice of the shots being fired, after a couple of days of this they are ready to be introduced to the starting pistol. That is the next stage in their training.

[Paul in North Lincs.]

thanks.....................so do you think he is old enough for this?

[MC]

When he is playing in the garden fire a starting pistol in your pocket. This will deaden the carck and see what his reaction is.

 

I did this with my springer when he was about the same age as yours and he didn't bat an eyelid.

 

Don't overdo it though, I uade to fire it once or twice every other day. Now he is not bothered at all by gunshots, fireworks etc.

 

Just make sure that you keep the training fun for now and don't put any pressure on the little guy.

[tiercel]

thanks.....................so do you think he is old enough for this?

 

Paul,

 

I am no nttf all I am telling you is how I have done it for the last 20 odd years. The earlier you introduce him to the sound of gunshot the better IMHO.

Must say though, yet to have a failure doing it by this method.

 

*EDIT*

At this moment in time all you want the pup to do is accept gunfire. Not associate it with anything. If for example you started now with a starting pistol and sending the dog to retrieve, it could lead to him running in at a later date as he associates gunshot with a retrieve.

[Paul in North Lincs.]

thanks chaps

[new to the flock]

thanks.....................so do you think he is old enough for this?

 

Paul,

 

I am no nttf all I am telling you is how I have done it for the last 20 odd years. The earlier you introduce him to the sound of gunshot the better IMHO.

Must say though, yet to have a failure doing it by this method.

 

*EDIT*

At this moment in time all you want the pup to do is accept gunfire. Not associate it with anything. If for example you started now with a starting pistol and sending the dog to retrieve, it could lead to him running in at a later date as he associates gunshot with a retrieve.

 

 

Sound advice

 

NTTF

[Danger Mouse]

Very good advice indeed, I am on my third pup now, she is also 3 months, (cocker) but I will wait a couple of weeks and then take her to the clay grounds as tiercel says, initialy though I might keep her in the car with me for a short while first, guage the first reactions before getting the pup out of the car.. I had a mate whose dog that ran off from the gun shots once (no lead! ) and it took ages to get him back.

Previously I have built them up, first using air rifles, then took mod off and fired more shots, then used a mate with Shotgun at distance,(approx 100yds) me with dog, mate gets closer, firing shots every 10 yds or so until up to me and the dog.. this has always worked for me! I do like the idea of the clay grounds though. Clever! and cost effective!

[hawkeye]

Very good advice indeed, I am on my third pup now, she is also 3 months, (cocker) but I will wait a couple of weeks and then take her to the clay grounds as tiercel says, initialy though I might keep her in the car with me for a short while first, guage the first reactions before getting the pup out of the car.. I had a mate whose dog that ran off from the gun shots once (no lead! ) and it took ages to get him back.

Previously I have built them up, first using air rifles, then took mod off and fired more shots, then used a mate with Shotgun at distance,(approx 100yds) me with dog, mate gets closer, firing shots every 10 yds or so until up to me and the dog.. this has always worked for me! I do like the idea of the clay grounds though. Clever! and cost effective! :blink:

 

 

 

Sound like we have another Markbivvy here (tight ***) :blink:

[Millomite]

Paul slow down!!!!! A 3 month pup should be nowhere near dead game yet!!!

 

Don't try too hard, patience is a virtue, remember he is just a pup!!!

[tiercel]

Paul,

 

This is the definitive article on introducing your dog to shot.

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=19639

[Paul in North Lincs.]

once again...................many thanks