How to cure gun shy Lab.

[mvarley84]

My Lab-cross is now 6, but was 5 when i started training him. He was very gun shy to begin with, but the more I exposed him to it, the more used to it he got. Just dont let him run away from you. I took a leash and a stake and pegged him to the ground right next to me. After 10 rds out of a 22 he wasnt even flinching anymore. Now a 12g fired wont even scare him. Just be patient, and reward with attention not food...especially if you want him retreiving the kill.

 

[daniellybbert]

Actually, The Dog Whisperer handled a case like this. Actually brought her out to a Trap & Skeet range to help rehabilitate the dog. It worked, too.

It still didn't work
The dog was still gun shy. The woman said she took the dog to work and the buisiness had a fire alarm and the dog froze up but eventually came out of it and came along with her and her other dog.
The dog is still extremly gun shy it has just learned that it can be dealt with and the sounds will go away.
I am willing to bet that she doesn't rely on this dog due to the issues that it still has.
I believe you can make a dog do anything but It wont like it and therefore it wont be good at it.
So why waste your time. It will be faster and better for you and your scared dog to get a new dog and do it right this time

 

[cookie077]

Hello again. Jake now appears to be cured. or at least not gun scared.

I first started with the .22 when out on some family walks. I always waited till his attention was on something else then pretended nothing happened and carried on. This year I did the same thing with the shotgun. First some light loads then some 3". Next a little crow hunting. Today some muzzleloader. Me 0 tree rats 3. So far all O/K. Mabye next year I will try him in a duck blind. I still figure I will be the one getting wet. He is still a little bit of a moma's boy, if the water is too cold there is no chance he is going in reward or not.
Many thanks to all that helped from me and Jake.
Cookie.