Me and the wife got a recuse dog last weekend she is a golden retriever, she love to fetch and have taught he drop it this week, She really wants to please and is doing well with training but she is terrified of guns. I think she would make a great birder if she could get over this fear. I have been shooting a cap gun and giving her food on a long leash but with no leash she runs away and will not come even for treats after a cap gun is shot. any advice?
needs help with gun shy dog.
- Thread starter jogforfun
- Start date
Take her for a trip to local outdoor range, but stay with the dog , don't go too close to firing line, and don't stay too long, repeat few times every time getting closer but if dog shows digress back away, it's a long proces and not necessarily will work
Btw, my Brittany dislikes capgun, but has no problems at the range and in the field hunting
Btw, my Brittany dislikes capgun, but has no problems at the range and in the field hunting
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
I have the same issue. My dog bolts at a .22. Spent 1/2 hour hunting for her at the range earlier this week.
I have given up hope. I'm now contemplating another dog.
I have given up hope. I'm now contemplating another dog.
You need to do everything possible to make the sound/sight of a gun have a positive association for the dog. Since she's a rescue, I'm guessing the original owner ruined her by failing to introduce firearms properly and then dropped her once she was gun shy. With a lot of patience and positive reinforcement it is possible, depending on just how traumatized the dog is, but realistically it's a long shot. Or, you could just love her as is. Best of luck!
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Put down food, shoot .22/cap gun. When dog runs away, take away food.
Repeat every day.
When dog gets hungry enough, he'll stay at the food.
Quite shortly after that 1st time he stays he will associate gunshots = Food.
Repeat every day.
When dog gets hungry enough, he'll stay at the food.
Quite shortly after that 1st time he stays he will associate gunshots = Food.
Have had two gun shy dogs, both rescues. I was not successful in rehabilitating either dog. They were both good dogs in every other respect. Now both my rescues had been shot at one time (before I had them) and despite all my efforts they stayed horribly gun shy. If you can associate something positive with the gun, work from there. Make progressively louder noises while they eat or are doing something else they enjoy. Not necessarily a cap gun but banging a pot together for eg. This assuming the noise is what bothers them, there may be another cause. If it is just the noise you have a shot at getting your dog to come around. In both my dog's cases they were afraid of the presence of a gun, never mind the noise, so I was hooped from the beginning. The dog wants to please you so if she is not completely ruined for gun work (as mine were) you have a real chance of bringing her around. Patience is the key for her, do not show anything approaching impatience while you are working with her, she can sense it, she already has much anxiety around the gun so if she feels she is letting you down she will really panic. Always remember a dog reads your body language a lot more than your voice commands. Good luck.
I would have to completely disagree with rhino. An outdoor range is the last place you want to take a dog, to introduce gunfire or to try and rehabiliate a gunshy dog. I would have to disagree with wrong way too. My suggestion is to take the dog out somewhere you can play with her. Get her excited and worked up and have a good time interacting with her. While you're doing that have someone else fire a blank gun (.22 or 209 primer) way off in the distance. Couple times during the play time. Each day or seasion work the shooter closer and closer 10-15 yards at at time until she becomes comfortable with it. If she shows any signs of stress have the gunner back away again. Good luck with it but in my experience once the dog is gun shy its really hard to bring them back.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
This!! You take a gun shy dog to a range and you will never see her again if she is off leash. She will be in the next county faster than you can say "where did she get to?" In my experiences with a few gun shy dogs my hunting buddies have acquired, just accept you have a nice family pet and get another dog for bird hunting.
I agree with this... the range is a bad idea, and so is using food as a way to combat the phobia. Food is not the greatest joy of a dog... playful interaction with their primary caregiver is their greatest joy, and those are the times you might attempt the rehabilitation, but with a truly "gun shy" dog, IME, it is a long shot.
I would get my dog worked up with his favorite toy. Pet him and give him lots of praise and have someone shoot a .22 about 100 yards away. I act like I don't even hear the shot go off. Keep doing this until the dog doesn't seem to move or look at the shooter anymore.
I noticed it worked better if I did it before I fed him for the day. Give him treats when he would keep playing when the shot went off.
I would drag around a dead goose and let him chase and hold onto it to keep his mind on the bird while my brother would shoot the .22 about 50-100 yards away. The dog would let go at the odd shot, But for the most part he was so focused on the goose that he didn't notice it. After a while he wouldn't notice the gun shot at all. Then we worked up to the shotgun and started at 100 yards away. He would look at the shooter again each time the gun went off with a bit of hesitation, But with positive praise he would go running right back at the goose. Had to do this about 4-5 different times over a week, But he is good now and associates a gun with hunting now so he likes them.
My dog was about 9 months old when I started this, He was a pretty shy dog to begin with, He would run and hide if you shut the door too hard, or the tractor bucket would hit the ground to hard near him....Still a bit of a wimp, But can at least shoot the gun off without him hiding under the deck shaking in distress.
I noticed it worked better if I did it before I fed him for the day. Give him treats when he would keep playing when the shot went off.
I would drag around a dead goose and let him chase and hold onto it to keep his mind on the bird while my brother would shoot the .22 about 50-100 yards away. The dog would let go at the odd shot, But for the most part he was so focused on the goose that he didn't notice it. After a while he wouldn't notice the gun shot at all. Then we worked up to the shotgun and started at 100 yards away. He would look at the shooter again each time the gun went off with a bit of hesitation, But with positive praise he would go running right back at the goose. Had to do this about 4-5 different times over a week, But he is good now and associates a gun with hunting now so he likes them.
My dog was about 9 months old when I started this, He was a pretty shy dog to begin with, He would run and hide if you shut the door too hard, or the tractor bucket would hit the ground to hard near him....Still a bit of a wimp, But can at least shoot the gun off without him hiding under the deck shaking in distress.
If you are set on "curing" the dog of gun shyness then perhaps you should look for info on dog related sites. Not saying you couldn't get good advice here but the odds are better if you inquire where there are many more individuals that have lots of experience with dogs.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Take the dog on long enjoyable walks with a pellet rifle, do this for 6 months and then move on to a 22 short when she is in the distance. Do Not bring her to a trap range, do not bang pots and pans in her ear. Give yourself 2 years and work with her very gently.
tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
the best way IMO is for them to learn and be taught by example.
A dog builds confidence with other dogs. If they see other dogs excited by the prospect of something when a gun is presented, they will be curious also. A jumpy dog is usually an insecure dog and that is one of the reasons we don't allow our dogs to be rehomed before 8 weeks. We feel that the extra amount of time spent with their litter mates increases their self confidence .
We have yet to have a gun shy dog from our litters and of our 5 they are thrilled when the chance of squirrel dinner is on the menu.
If I was in your shoes...
First I would introduce him to our pack.
I would keep an eye on him until he should confidence in his play fights with others(not always rolling on his back and exposing his belly)
I would do like I do everyday, walk around with any gun I can find at the time. Taking time to pet each dog a good dosage while holding a firearm. I might also wind up the dogs so they would be excited and bouncing at the end(positive enforcement)
I imagine it helps that our lifestyle is loud for example, I run an old cummins, a wood splitter with no muffler, a gas welder, beating on metal, chainsaws roaring, lawn mowers, rotortiller.
so basically they are surrounded with noise and its part of life, which comes to the conclusion, make guns part of your life and your dogs.
many cases are possible to repair but some are not. just like you can make me like snakes.
good luck and be happy, anger wont help the dog in this case
A dog builds confidence with other dogs. If they see other dogs excited by the prospect of something when a gun is presented, they will be curious also. A jumpy dog is usually an insecure dog and that is one of the reasons we don't allow our dogs to be rehomed before 8 weeks. We feel that the extra amount of time spent with their litter mates increases their self confidence .
We have yet to have a gun shy dog from our litters and of our 5 they are thrilled when the chance of squirrel dinner is on the menu.
If I was in your shoes...
First I would introduce him to our pack.
I would keep an eye on him until he should confidence in his play fights with others(not always rolling on his back and exposing his belly)
I would do like I do everyday, walk around with any gun I can find at the time. Taking time to pet each dog a good dosage while holding a firearm. I might also wind up the dogs so they would be excited and bouncing at the end(positive enforcement)
I imagine it helps that our lifestyle is loud for example, I run an old cummins, a wood splitter with no muffler, a gas welder, beating on metal, chainsaws roaring, lawn mowers, rotortiller.
so basically they are surrounded with noise and its part of life, which comes to the conclusion, make guns part of your life and your dogs.
many cases are possible to repair but some are not. just like you can make me like snakes.
good luck and be happy, anger wont help the dog in this case
My dog didn't like gun shots either, and hated the cap gun. What i did was start with 22 shorts firing the opposite direction of him. Next switched to 22lr once he was getting better still shooting the opposite direction and generally 20yrd or more from him once he stopped flinching and trying to get away from the sound i started shooting next to him then switched to the 410. now these days he's fine, Doesn't even care if we spend the afternoon shooting skeet. I should mention that all of this was done on hikes where he was having fun running around.
This is what I did with our gun shy dog.
Go out to the range (without the dog) and record a variety of firearms going off. Whatever he/she will be around (Rifles or Shotguns). Fire off a few hundred shells out of a shotgun and a few dozen rounds from the rifle. When you get home, throw it in the home stereo system. Start off on a low volume with your dog in the room. Set the CD on repeat for an hour or so. Do this EVERY DAY for a week, but slowly increase the volume when the dog starts getting use to the noise, until its as loud as possible (you will need to leave the house for this when it starts getting too loud to bear for yourself).
Over the course of two to three weeks, your dog should be ready to hit the field. Take the pooch out and give it a try. Slowly ease the dog into it with only a few shells out of the shotgun every 5 - 10 minutes. Your dog will remember the sounds playing at home and it will grow on him / her.
DO NOT FORCE YOUR DOG TO GO TO THE RANGE IF IT IS AFRAID OF THE NOISE - This will only push the dog further away from being able to be around firearms. Dogs respond to positive reinforcement. Forcing it to remain around firearms when not comfortable, in a dogs mind, will cause the dog to feel like its in trouble or un cared for.
Go out to the range (without the dog) and record a variety of firearms going off. Whatever he/she will be around (Rifles or Shotguns). Fire off a few hundred shells out of a shotgun and a few dozen rounds from the rifle. When you get home, throw it in the home stereo system. Start off on a low volume with your dog in the room. Set the CD on repeat for an hour or so. Do this EVERY DAY for a week, but slowly increase the volume when the dog starts getting use to the noise, until its as loud as possible (you will need to leave the house for this when it starts getting too loud to bear for yourself).
Over the course of two to three weeks, your dog should be ready to hit the field. Take the pooch out and give it a try. Slowly ease the dog into it with only a few shells out of the shotgun every 5 - 10 minutes. Your dog will remember the sounds playing at home and it will grow on him / her.
DO NOT FORCE YOUR DOG TO GO TO THE RANGE IF IT IS AFRAID OF THE NOISE - This will only push the dog further away from being able to be around firearms. Dogs respond to positive reinforcement. Forcing it to remain around firearms when not comfortable, in a dogs mind, will cause the dog to feel like its in trouble or un cared for.
University of Alabama several years ago came out with a series of audio tapes just as sapper suggested--you play them everytime you feed the dog and the gunshots get louder and louder. It will sometimes even work.
This problem is akin to hounds runnin deer--sometimes you can break 'em and sometimes you can't
This problem is akin to hounds runnin deer--sometimes you can break 'em and sometimes you can't
I agree with tylerjwittey about the presence and reactions of other dogs. My dog had absolutely no problems with guns at all. Couldn't care less. Took him out shooting with a couple buddies and their dogs. The other dogs hated it. Running around at the of their leashes like crazy. They got a bunch of attention in an attempt to calm them down and re assure them it was ok. Mine saw all the attention they were getting and within an hour or 2 he was running around and acting like an idiot. Took the better part of a year to get him mostly over it again. I would take him shooting with me, leave him in the car with a few treats, then graduated to leaving his window all the way down, then the door open, then bringing him out of the car and leaving the door open so he could go back in the car if he wanted to. Now I just open his door when I get there, he comes with me to set up targets and stuff and I play with him while going down to set up targets. He always has the door open if he wants in the car to get away from the noise.
If I take him out shooting by myself he's not a huge fan. He doesn't run away, he just sort of sulks around. If there are other people or even a dog at the range/ gravel pit he couldn't care less. Just wants to party. He is fine when I take him out for grouse, if my hunting partner takes a shot, he stops and takes a quick look then is right back to running through the woods. This is a boxer/bull dog mix. I don't think either are really known for being gun dogs?
My brother's hound doesn't do guns at all. It used to be afraid of the dirt bikes when we rode a lot. One day we threw her in the truck and drove out to a big gravel pit we used to ride, always tons of people. Tied her to the truck gave her food and water and rode around all day. At first she wasn't happy, hid under/in the truck. Between all the people being around and the constant dirt bikes and stuff all over the place, by the end of the day she loved the bikes, barking at them and trying to chase them. Now as soon as a bike comes out of the garage or if you fire one up outside she goes crazy, bouncing up and down barking and carrying on. Just wants to chase the bikes around.
Not necessarily the best way to go about it, but it worked that time.
If I take him out shooting by myself he's not a huge fan. He doesn't run away, he just sort of sulks around. If there are other people or even a dog at the range/ gravel pit he couldn't care less. Just wants to party. He is fine when I take him out for grouse, if my hunting partner takes a shot, he stops and takes a quick look then is right back to running through the woods. This is a boxer/bull dog mix. I don't think either are really known for being gun dogs?
My brother's hound doesn't do guns at all. It used to be afraid of the dirt bikes when we rode a lot. One day we threw her in the truck and drove out to a big gravel pit we used to ride, always tons of people. Tied her to the truck gave her food and water and rode around all day. At first she wasn't happy, hid under/in the truck. Between all the people being around and the constant dirt bikes and stuff all over the place, by the end of the day she loved the bikes, barking at them and trying to chase them. Now as soon as a bike comes out of the garage or if you fire one up outside she goes crazy, bouncing up and down barking and carrying on. Just wants to chase the bikes around.
Not necessarily the best way to go about it, but it worked that time.
