Un-shy a gun-shy dog?

[straycat999]

I picked up my long awaited XD-40 today and fired a couple mags worth. Man, the smell of powder smoke gives me a $(#*&@.

Unfortunately, my 14 month old american bulldog ran to his cubby hole in the garage when I started up. this is my first firearm. I know that a punk neighbor is probably the one who scared him. My dog runs free and he might have had a bad introduction to gunfire.

Any of y'all have a suggestion or two how to calm him down and rid his fear?

[sintax]

if hes anything like my American bulldog hes a complete sissy and there is no hope for him, but on the other hand, he is the sweetest dog you could ever ask for. So I guess its a toss up. He is scared of everything from bugs to the vacuum cleaner.

[ZBoater]

Give him a treat every time you shoot. 3-4 treat boxes later, problem should be solved.

Now, remember to add treats to your shooting budget.

[RonS]

Get a pellet or BB gun and start with that, give him treats if he stays with you, but ignore him if he runs off. Don't get pissed with him no matter what, he will associate it with the unusual event, the gun fire, and be even more skittish. Then move up thru louder guns until he will stand the sound. Bear in mind that his hearing is much more acute than a human's, the sound may be painful rather than just frightning. I had a Rott that seemed to love the smell of 2400. He would go with me to the back of the barn and lay all day while I was shooting my .44. Of course it was more of a boomer than most autos, they seem to me to have a higher pitched sound.

The good news is, this is a great excuse to buy more guns. Yep, gotta train the dog some more, time to get a louder gun.

[KevinFWB]

I saw a clip on this on the OLN channel a few months ago. Start off by shooting a gun from about 200yrds away. Continue to do that until the dog doesn't respond to the distant shots any more. Then just continoulsy work your way closer and eventually the shots wont startle him. I think the clip was for a bird dog, but you get the idea.


As a side note, where in the Panhandle are you? I bet you can't guess where I am

[cubicle]

have you tried doggie ear muffs?

that would seem the best solution. It will also not damage his hearing.

[dark_syde99]

Some good advice has been given. I'd like to add that you should place your dog on a leash tied to a tree (or some other immoveable object) while you shoot so that he can not run away. Some dogs, however, will never be gun trained and will always be shy. My ex's father is a Deputy Sheriff's K9 handler. His first dog was very gun shy. After almost a year of training, the dog was still not gun trained and became my ex's guard dog. Her father was flown to Denmark by the department to choose a new K9.

[a1XD9]

+2 on the chain to a tree while shooting idea. That's how I break my hunting dogs in.

[straycat999]

Thanks for the ideas. A dog's sensitive ears makes sense. But, I can read his body language and it's more than ear pain.

I was out in the yard the other day and heard shots off in the distance, and then there was a whizzing sound across the road where the damn bullets were passing by through the trees. I scurried into the garage and I know the bulldog saw me and had the same thought at the same time as I did. Take cover!

[dark_syde99]

HOLY CRAP! If you are in good with the neighbors, I would have a talk with them quick! If not, maybe the Serriff's office could pay them a visit.....

Sounds like they need a little additional "training"!