Robby22 Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hi All, Well I thought id take my golden retriever out with me, as she's never had any exposure to guns, so took the air gun up to farm, but as soon as i got it out the car she was a changed dog....for the worst, real "on edge" and wouldnt heel whilst i had the gun in hand, even flicking the safety on an off made her bolt to the gate where the car was, I tried to have her sat with me but she could only think of getting back to the car, is there anything I can do to try an make her more at ease around guns? Or as a gun dog is she a lost cause?? Any help would be really appreciated Thanks Robby22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Robby22, Is this the first time that the dog has been near the gun? Did you raise this dog from a pup or did you buy her as an older dog? How old is the dog? If you take the gun out in the house and the dog sees it what does she do? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby22 Posted July 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 it is only the second time to my knowledge, we bought her at 10/11 mths, and she is 2yrs old now, I dont really know because i dont think ive had a gun out whilst shes been in the house (lives outside most of the time) Would really like to calm her down around guns, because she's a cracking little dog, but with her being this nervous-i fear she might only make a pet?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 mine hates air rifle as well. so much so that i sold it. the shotgun he is fine with and as soon as it comes out the cabinet he goes made and thinks hes coming out with me. he hasn't yet and wont until i know he is ok with bangs. i have a coupe of new rifles in the cabinet and he is fine near them. centre-fire and rim-fire.. strange as an air-rifle he is a quivering wreck even though he has never heard one. hope it gets sorted out kind regards Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 strange that , as my lab used to hate the sound of the air rifle but was fine with the shotgun , and now i noticed that my pup spaniel also doesnt like the sound much either but is ok when i take her up the clay ground , plenty of shotguns there maybe they can hear the whoose of the pellets a lot more than us etc .. , i,m talking pcp;s , spring gun seems ok .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 funny enough mine was a pcp as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 dont slam any doors around him, whatever you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 it is only the second time to my knowledge, we bought her at 10/11 mths, and she is 2yrs old now, I dont really know because i dont think ive had a gun out whilst shes been in the house (lives outside most of the time) Would really like to calm her down around guns, because she's a cracking little dog, but with her being this nervous-i fear she might only make a pet?? Do you know if anyone tried to introduce her to a gun before you bought here? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby22 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 NTTF-I dont think so, the previous owner wasnt a shooting man, she is a very nervous dog though-always has been for some reason??? MM-I havent slammed doors or anything like that. Is there anyway I can cure this gun shyness?? Its sort of deflated me somewhat after i thought i was making some real progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 How close was she to you when you fired the air gun? What does she do if you come out to the kennel with the air gun? After hearing some of the other airgun comments above.....have you ever had her out near a shot gun? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby22 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 she was about 5 or 6 ft away, I dont know il try it tonight, I havent had her out near a shotgun yet, I thought an air rifle might ease her in to it? but will try with a shotgun.....il try anything! Robby22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 Do not just fire the shotgun near her. Have a read of the pinned topic Introduction to Gunfire. Also I would start out on the distance shots with just shotgun primers not full loads or even blanks. If she flinches with the primers stop or you will make it even worse. It will give a starting point as to what we are up against . NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 if you have the chance of beating it can help as well, it gets them close to gunfire but not that close but with plenty of game about to keep their mind off the shooting. Obviously the seasons a way off but not that far if nothing else has worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby22 Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Right, so tried some tips suggested, 1st, got the gun out while dog was in front room-she made for the door like a runaway train! 2nd, took her out with the shotgun (never fired it just tried to have her heel whilst i had gun in hand) she still bolted for the gate. So it looks like im up against it, Anyone have any tips or training advice to try an correct this shyness, as said shes a cracking dog, and would be a crying shame not to use her for shooting. But If it cant be undone I dont want to waste months trying to train her, if she will always be like this? Thanks Robby22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 (edited) Years ago I bought a 2 year old lab that had been used for picking up only to find she was very gun shy. I tried to let her associate a gun with good things. I would have the gun under my arm when I took her for a walk in the evenings , and every time she was fed. It took 6 months but finally she was happy with me carrying a gun. I took her to a clay shoot keeping several hundred yards away. She was not very happy , but did not panic at the sound of a shot. Finaly the shooting season came around . For the morning flight I sat her 200 yards off but perhaps fortunately no duck came near. Later we walked up some dykes and a bunch of mallard burst out of the reeds under her nose. Before she had time to think one was down flapping on the grass and though she ran in she did the retrieve with no other problems. Time to work on running in the future. This happened several more times and as I shot all her attention was on the rising duck , which was bouncing on the grass before she had time to think. She was still nervous sitting next to me if I had a shot on later flights so I sat her 100 yards away with no problems. After a few more weeks she forgot all about her gun shyness and later became a brilliant gundog. It was a long process , but well worth it. Edited July 21, 2009 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
provider Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Hi I have hear a trick with a gun shy dog is to take the gun out and leave it on the floor where the dog can give it a look and a sniff and relise that its not a threat. it may take some time for the dog to go near it. you could try putting it next to its bowl at feeding time Prov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Robby22 What type of shotgun do you have? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soreshoulder Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 (edited) Robby22 What type of shotgun do you have? NTTF i think they are all in his signature NTTF Edited July 26, 2009 by soreshoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 i think they are all in his signature NTTF Robby22, I would start this dog out at dinner time. Take one of your shotguns and break it down. Before you bring the dog in for dinner place the stock of the gun on the floor and his bowl just in front of it. Once he is very comfortable with the stock sitting by his bowl, give it a good week at least, add the fore end with the stock. Be sure not to place it out in order as you do not want to make it look like a gun. Again once he is comfortable with the pieces sitting there add the barrel to the pile. The next step once he is comfortable is to start to place it on the ground in order. Leave gaps between the pieces. The next step will be to assemble the gun and leave it on the floor. It is best to leave the gun in a broken open position for this. Let me know how you are getting on with the above and then we can go over the next steps. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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