shooting over a pup
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- Rank: Just A Pup
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:16 am
shooting over a pup
I have 5 month old female GSP. i was wondering when i should start shooting over her. she is very birdy and will hold point to flush. should i continue to work her on birds only or is it ok to start shooting.
Re: shooting over a pup
you have to slowly introduce pups to gun fire. YOU CANNOT start to shoot a shotgun over a pup or you may end up with a gun shy dog, and most people would agree that it is one of the hardest problems to fix. You should start out with a cap gun at least one hundred yards away and move closer slowly. Get John Hahn's "the perfect start" and it will show you how.
- cstokes/southeast,ks
- Rank: Junior Hunter
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- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: shooting over a pup
IMO: I dont worry about age much. I think it applies more to how easy and well you introduce it. I start my dogs young in every aspect. Also take in to consideration how well your pup handles pressure.
- Winchey
- Rank: 5X Champion
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Re: shooting over a pup
Do you shoot when she is chasing the birds you flush?
- cstokes/southeast,ks
- Rank: Junior Hunter
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: shooting over a pup
Only if they make point it and hold it as desired. Also make sure they are in full chase and a good distance away during the first few fires. If the pup acts normally and not nervous work your way closer to him. Also start with a small caliber such as a .22 . Very important that you only shoot if the dog points and holds the bird as you want him to. So if he is on a check cord, Assist in keeping him steady and turn it loose as the dog starts chase.
Re: shooting over a pup
More than anything else in the upbringing of a pup....gunfire is the one thing I'm most careful with. I never try to fast track it...I'm super cautious...perhaps to a fault. I can't think of anything worse than ruining all of the training, exposure, etc. by turning a pup gunshy.
Re: shooting over a pup
I also have a 5 month old female GSP. I did gun intro over the summer started at 3 months old while she chased pigeons. First with a 22 , then poppers, then 20ga. Been shooting birds over her since the season start. When she'll hold point.Tyler'sGSP wrote:I have 5 month old female GSP. i was wondering when i should start shooting over her. she is very birdy and will hold point to flush. should i continue to work her on birds only or is it ok to start shooting.
- ACooper
- GDF Premier Member!
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- Location: Sometimes I'm in Oklahoma
Re: shooting over a pup
Be very aware of your muzzle blast when gun breaking or shooting birds for a dog.
Re: shooting over a pup
Agree with the other posts, if gun intro is done properly you shouldnt have a problem. Shot my pups first pointed wild bird at 6 months, and have 60 wild birds to date over him at 8 months. Now when he sees the shotgun he gets crazy excited.