Gun Shy Dog HELP!!!

[GSPhntr]

Hello I've got this 9 month gsp pup and have been doing traing with planted birds in a local field, she was doing fine pointing retriveing and just having a blast but once I introduced the gun she just had no more intrest in looking for birds, she would stand near my legs and kinda shake any advice on how to break the gun shyness would be great I was using a 20g shotgun maybe to high to start with again any help would be great thanks for all the help.

[littleking]

how did you introduce the gun?

[GSPhntr]

Well after getting her birdy and pointing and retriving repteadly in the field I planted some birds let her point walked up and flushed them and shot she has also been to the gun range and has no fear there or any that I can pick up on it's only in the field were she gets scared of the gun

[Benny]

Where are you in Oregon?

I've been told that starting with a .22 LR is very helpful, and then tossing a dead bird for the retrieve is a great way to reward.

You might need to double back and work on pumping her up with the birds again before you try shooting over her.

When we did our first planted pheasants, I had my GF run the check cord, and with a little prediction on my part I set up about 20 to 30 yards to the side of them for shooting. I don't know if any of that will help you, though.

[birdhunter2424]

Well you are going to have to start over with the gun and very slowly at her pass work up to the shotgun. I would sart with a kids cap gun while she is eating. Start at a distance away from her. If at any point she gets scared you have to back up a step in the process and start again. One thing you don't want to do is put a dog in the field with out proper introduction and shoot over them. Once they get gun shy its harder to break. You can break her of it but just remeber to take it very slow let her lead the pass. You might also want to contact a good trainer in your area for help. Good luck, she will come out of it.

[birddogsunlimited]

ive used a dumy launcer it covers a couple things real wasy it makes it a game for the dog witch also lets you work on retreiving and gets them use to the gun shot. so when the hear it the know they get to go get the bird

[kninebirddog]

back up get her back to being excited about birds


once she is excited about birds have someone else bring in a shot gun about 50 yards away and when the dog is in FULL chase of the bird preferable a carded pigeon shoot 1 round in the opposite direction


come back another time and do this again when the dog is not showing any apprehension about the birds and 1 shot in the opposite direction from a distance have them come in closer

trap ranges and 22 long rfles I ahve seen make more dogs gun shy or blasting over a dogs head

if there is a bird dog club near you chaining the dog out with other dogs while shots are going off in the distance your dog seeing the other dogs get excited will also help

[GSPhntr]

Thanks for all the posetive info I live in hillsboro OR. if any of you know a trainer or bird dog club close to there or just someone with experiance training dogs let me know thanks again.

[Benny]

I don't. I'm very new to this, but judging by the picture, it looks like you've done this before?
I'm looking into a club/clinic that starts in February in Eugene. Try iFish.net, you should get a lot of suggestions as I think there's quite a few people on there in your area.
Good luck with the dog!

[GSPhntr]

Ya I have one dog already fully trained and didn't run into problems with her but I'll look into that ifish thanks for the info

[kninebirddog]

Thanks for all the posetive info I live in hillsboro OR. if any of you know a trainer or bird dog club close to there or just someone with experiance training dogs let me know thanks again.

How far are you from antelope oregon

[R-Middleton]

There is a Gun Dog Training club in Eugene, The Green Vally Hunting and Retriever Club. A very good club, I belonged to it for years. A great help in training you and your dog, and a lot of nice people there. They have a web site you can check out.

Ray Middleton