Introducing a dog to live firing?

[Charlie Anderson]

good evening,

just out of interest and apologies if this has been covered before but what is the standard age that you would introduce a dog to gun fire?

 

regards

[Dougy]

We did it very slowly, and quietly at the start, incorporate play and treats. 

When we had the pup at home each feed time we made noises quiet at the start then increased, pots, pans, you-tube firework noises on the telly make it all fun and dont fuss about any noise. 

We drove down to a clay ground with the pup in the car, windows closed and some music on, stayed for about 2 or 3 minutes treats and fussed, then drove back out, then increased over weeks. opened windows, stayed longer until there was no reaction. Over time out of the car and a walk round, treats every now and again and incorporate a bit of training ( all very simple stuff) to distract. 

We must have done a decent job, we have 2 dogs that are just about bomb proof they will stand on a peg and watch the birds as you shoot, firework's night they dont give a second look, all good apart from Buster, he jumps out of his skin if a paperclip falls an the kitchen floor. We never planned for those 

 

Take it slow, no need to rush, get your little man or girl used to as much as you can over the early months, traffic, lorry's, tractors, farm stock, horses, squirrels, rabbits the lot.  

[Yellow Bear]

41 minutes ago, Dougy said:

We did it very slowly, and quietly at the start, incorporate play and treats. 

When we had the pup at home each feed time we made noises quiet at the start then increased, pots, pans, you-tube firework noises on the telly make it all fun and dont fuss about any noise. 

We drove down to a clay ground with the pup in the car, windows closed and some music on, stayed for about 2 or 3 minutes treats and fussed, then drove back out, then increased over weeks. opened windows, stayed longer until there was no reaction. Over time out of the car and a walk round, treats every now and again and incorporate a bit of training ( all very simple stuff) to distract. 

We must have done a decent job, we have 2 dogs that are just about bomb proof they will stand on a peg and watch the birds as you shoot, firework's night they dont give a second look, all good apart from Buster, he jumps out of his skin if a paperclip falls an the kitchen floor. We never planned for those 

 

Take it slow, no need to rush, get your little man or girl used to as much as you can over the early months, traffic, lorry's, tractors, farm stock, horses, squirrels, rabbits the lot.  

similar to this except SWMBO would sit in the boot (estate) with the pup at the back of the car park and then at the cafe(Catton park on a Wednesday) chatting to the other non shooting wives. The pup enjoyed all the fuss from the other guns.