Training a dog to be around firearms

[Talon]

Easiest way is to take her to the outdoor active range with you. At first stay in the vehicle with her at a distance and move in closer over a couple of days.

Always take her plinking with you

[dw32005]

I taught my dog initially by taking it outback and shooting black birds. She loves retrieving and I need a retriever. I started with a .22 and then moved to an old break open 16ga. While doing this I taught her to always be behind me when I'm in stalker mode. She seems to know the difference too. Now she gets all most to excited when I pull a gun out at home. She's probably my favorite shooting buddy. The noise doesn't seem to bother her at all as she likes to be right where the action is and although maybe a bad call on my part I let her. We also taught her a year ago that when anybody says the range is hot that she needs to bs behind the shooter sitting.

[M1A4ME]

We always started with .22 out of a rifle. Get the pups out. Get them active. Pet them, play with them. Shoot of a round and see what they do. Usually they look, then go back to playing, getting petted, etc.

After a few times of the .22 we'd use a shotgun but first we'd let them smell/lick carry around grouse tail feathers or squirrel tails from last year. Let'em smell the feathers and bite them. First hunting trip was with one of the older dogs. First grouse/squirrel we get is allowed to be examined by the pup (if the old dog will let the whipper snapper around "his/her" game). Pretty quick they get the idea that hunting and guns and gun shots all go together and you ain't really having fun without some gun noise.

We always had bird dogs but killed squirrels and turkeys with them as well as grouse. The dogs don't care. They just want to hunt.

[WidowMaker88]

Well, I help train mostly labs, but spaniels and other pups as well. It is good you are starting her young, lots of people wait a bit, which makes things more difficult.

I have heard a couple good things in this thread so far, one big thing, is act not so much... excited. But alert, if you are training her to be a hunting dog, you want her to be able to heel and stay quiet, not get all this energy and bounce around. If you are right handed, I would heel her to your left as most of the time you carry with your dominant hand.

It helps if you have a buddy system. Family member, good friend so on. YOU the dog owner, should stay with your pup. Have her sit on your left. and keep her calm, then have your friend start maybe 10-15 yards away with two blocks of wood. Have your friend clap them together once, but not as hard as possible. wait ten seconds or so between claps, depending on your pup and how frightened/alerted they are.

Continue to clap the blocks a little louder as you go, (remember, this process will take more than a day for the pup to be fully used to reports) As your pup becomes more comfortable with the clapping of the blocks, have your friend, or you and the pup move closer. maybe 5-10 ft closer and continue.

Firearms make different noises than blocks, ie. Action opening/closing plus report of firearm.

After you have been able to get closer to your pup with the blocks and she isn't as spooked, transition to a cap gun, you can use those snappers you get around the 4th of july as well, just make sure you don't distract your pup with the motion of throwing it on the ground.

When you transition to the .22 blanks or .22 in general, if you are able to fire shorts, start with those, and again, not next to your pup. Might have to start 20 yrds away. All depends on dog. progressively get closer as you are able to.

I usually work the dog with the blocks for at least a week before I transition to an actual report from a firearm.

If you spook your pup too early, it will set you way back.

Don't forget the treats, have her sit and heel, give her a treat, so on when she does good with the blocks/gunfire. Just don't give it to her every time once she starts getting the hang of it.

Be patient and Good luck!

[WidowMaker88]

I don't know how you feel about choker chains for a collar, but I personally find them great for training purposes, I never get the ones with the teeth that sit into the neck.

When the pup becomes more complacent with the reports, she may become lazy, or bored, and want to just go wander. I usually end up not petting my pup after the first week or so, and transition to using the choker, (when I train, it is on them so they become used to that weight. Especially if you plan on using a tracking collar at any point)

If the pup starts to become lazy, or too excited, just a short quick tug will alert them again. just don't over use it.

[inanebignate]

Originally Posted by Bobbo_b

I recently got a new puppy and would like to train her to NOT be scared of guns so she can come out shooting/hunting with me. I've never trained an animal to be around firearms. I'd Appreciate any advice, tips or tricks.

Thanks in advance!

my dad just used a cap gun and shot it all the time.

[fritzmeister]

Some good stuff in here. My dogs just seemed to naturally love gunfire, and have had several close calls with fireworks. They LOVE fireworks.

One other way I have heard of "training" dogs to like bangs or to even retrain them if they are gun shy is to have a cap gun (& maybe graduate up to a blank revolver) and every time you bring them food, you shoot the cap/blank gun several times. Starting from far away and continuing to fire as you get closer. They will associate "bang" with someting good. I have never tried this, but think it woudl help.

I think WidowMaker is on the right path with not necessarily getting excited with the noise, but alert. Have a friend toss a firecracker from behind so he/she can not see the motion. Maybe even toss a real bird (dead or alive) or a retriever dummy after the 'bang'. Then they will associate the noise with the bird and action of retrieving.

Don't always throw the bird. You will not always hit every shot. Make sure he/she understands the commands and your voice.

Sounds like fun. I almost miss the days of training my pups. Good luck, & post pics!!!

[Bobbo_b]

Thanks for everyones reply. Lots of great ideas! thanks for the help everyone.

[primeduck]

This is how I train my hunting Labs not to be gun shy when they are pups:
1. Get a cap pistol and each time you put it's food bowl down, shoot a couple of caps off...while you are scratching it's head. Do this for a couple of weeks.

2. Go out to some land with a friend and a shotgun. Field loads (low brass shells) work great and are cheap. With the dog on a leash, go about 100yds away from your friend and have him shoot a round...while you are talking to and petting your dog and re-assuring it. Move up about 10 to 15yds and repeat. Do this over and over untill you have walked up to your friend. Stand next to your buddy with the dog on the opposite side of you and let your friend shoot again. The dog should not be alarmed.

[Bobbo_b]

thanks prime! more sound advice i like your method.