I think he's gunshy

Spudlet

Spudlet

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 April 2009
Messages
19,800
Visit site
Oh dear:(

I was hoping I could start introducing Henry to the sound of shots with party poppers (with the gubbins taken out) but he is really unsettled and unsure about the noise:( I have not been letting them off too close to him, but with him in the backyard, and me in the kitchen with my arm stretched away along thr wall by the door so the noise is muffled. But he doesn't want to go near the dummy when it goes off, I have to walk over to the dummy with him and really encourage him to pick it up.

We have a 1-2-1 booked in a few weeks to look at this, but I think this is going to be a big problem:(
 
My dad use to keep 2 spangle gundogs when i was younger and one Boris was terrified of fireworks, party poppers anything that banged while he was in "his house" BUT he was fantastic with guns. Something totally different for him with in being in and out of the house.
 
One of my gundogs is scared of loud noises while in the house, but out working she is entirely different. We always take young dogs out with older, more established dogs as they can see how excited the older one gets at the sound of a gunshot.

Don't give up hope yet! Your trainer will help you work through it :)
 
It's only early doors!

Let your trainer have a look see, once out on the field most dogs are too excited about their work, even if uncomfortable with loud noises in the home.

One of my trainers spent months with her dog and a tape recorder out in the woods (!), different discipline I know, but our dogs have to remain impartial to two pistol shots during their obedience phase and in the working classes, she also got into the habit of picking up thick stick and breaking them when they were out on walks, makes a similar noise!
 
Don't worry, just go back to the step he was comfortable at.

I have to say, Im not sure I would be doing any noise work (apart from CDs etc) in the house, it can get awful echoy and much louder than you think to them. My Mums IWS would have hit the roof if you done that to him. Also some dogs just don't like particular sounds, some gundogs react really badly to a starting pistol but are fine with guns, it's a different, more hollow noise.

Like I said don't give up yet!
 
CaveCanem said:
, she also got into the habit of picking up thick stick and breaking them when they were out on walks, makes a similar noise!
Click to expand...

When you're out beating you tend to whack trees etc with your stick, making enough to drive the birds along the ground, so they are closer to the guns when the dogs flush them. My mum does this out on walks with the pup so he gets used to the noise. Only problem is people look at her like some crazy old vandal!!! :D
 
My fella is not a gundog (much to worried about getting his paws dirty lol) however Dad has a young gundog. Boots (my fella) is terrified of noises in the house, won't stay in room with logs on the fire coz of noise, jumped out the window to avoid the noise of the hoover however when they started shooting in fields over Bella he wasn't bothered in the slightest. He isn't in training but I figured the noise work might help and while he is still petrified in the house he still has no prob with noises in the field. Don't worry too much. Wait and see what happens when your trainer works with you
 
Haven't you been going to gundog training classes? Don't they use a starting pistol in the training?

At the classes I used to go to we always stated off by walking around on the lead, the trainer would shoot the starting pistol and the dogs had to sit immediately - do you not do anything like that in your classes?
 
It's very rarely that I say NEVER, but NEVER introduce dogs to gunfire, OUTSIDE a training environment.

Give your puppy time to recover from his fright, only ever allow gunfire when it's part of a retrieve.

There's a world of difference between Gun Nervous, and Gun Shy. Those dogs which are nervous of gunfire, can indeed be driven to bolt at the sight of a gun.

If you were sitting, in a world of your own, and then someone let a gun off beside you, wouldn't that make you jump? It certainly would me, and it has too!!

A strong, and focused retrieving dog, will accept gunfire as part of the job. I'm quite sure that given time to get over his fright, then you'll make progress.

How old is your puppy? It's important.

Alec.
 
Thank you all:)

Alec, he's an adult dog, a rescue. He's 3.

RW, we haven't been using a starting pistol - the trainer I go to only does one to one gundog training. We'll be specifically working on that next time though.

I'm glad to hear it might not be such an issue after all:)
 
I first read that as gunshee, I was thinking what is gunshee?:o:D

Then looked bad and re read gun shy.


My pointer is also terrified of fireworks and random loud banging, but when we walk the fields there are always lab/springers working and they use a gun of somesort (infact all you hear is whistler/gun shot/whistle gunshot) and bud never flackers, (not that he is used for working) he just works himself:D

Hope you trainer can help, are you still doing search and rescue with him, or what that someone else?
 
I am going to start doing search and rescue with him, but want to wait to start properly until I can speak to the search and rescue team:)
 
I wouldnt worry Spudlet - think about how many people train their dogs to be fine with hoovers/washing machines - even the tv noise! I would probably wait until you've seen your trainer, and see what they say, BUT you can buy discs (or prob download them from itunes) that just have repetative noises. Then I'd give him his all time favourite food/toy/whatever and play it realllyyyyy quietly.

He may be totally different when he's out. Poor Henry! Is he scared of anything other noises?

xxxxx
 
Alec Swan said:
Spudlet,

I think that there in, may lay your problem. Starting with a rescue dog, of 3 years, doesn't bode well. I would like to be wrong, but suspect that I'm not. Sorry.

Alec.
Click to expand...

Henry has come on in leaps and bounds since Spudlet first got him, she has done lots already that others have said wouldn't happen, so I see no reason why she won't get him to do this too.

I know older dogs that have been trained successfully out of 'gunshyness', it can be done, so don't give up Spuds! :D
 
Spudlet I dont see any reason why you couldnt work with an older dog and still get them to do it and enjoy it.

Was playing polo the other day and was talking to the trainer, who was telling me that he regularly takes 4/5 year olds off the tracks and trains them to do the most amazing things. x
 
You just need to get him to associate a gun going off with him being allowed to do his most favouritest thing in the world, it's simple...

Take him to Holkham at the height of summer, line him up with some unsuspecting picnic, fire a gun and let him get that picnic :D :D You may find you quickly get arrested, but I'm sure you'll agree it's worth it! Ideal way to rid the beach of those unslightly naked old men, and I'd bet it would empty the sand dunes of naughty couples ASAP too! :D
 
LMAO, the moment you said "assocoaite it with his most favourite thing" I got a picture of "Spudlet taking a sawn off shot gun into work and whilst henry is under the desks raiding unsuspecting staff of their lunch":rolleyes: and blasting great holes in the ceiling:D:D:D or a pistol tucked in her tights;):D
 
CAYLA said:
LMAO, the moment you said "assocoaite it with his most favourite thing" I got a picture of "Spudlet taking a sawn off shot gun into work and whilst henry is under the desks raiding unsuspecting staff of their lunch":rolleyes: and blasting great holes in the ceiling:D:D:D or a pistol tucked in her tights;):D
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmm that could be a plan.... **strokes chin thoughtfully**:D

Alec, thanks for your advice, but considering I brought home a dog that had only housetraining and that I now have a dog that recalls, retrieves (marked and now blind as well mind you), is trustworthy around young, old and disabled people and stock, I suggest that you are mistaken in this case.
 
Can I ask a related question?

Ruby is 13 months old now so way to early for anything gunlike however she has heard fireworks and also a few rhythmical hammering noises in the distance (road works I think).

She isnt scared. My issue is that she barks at them. How do I suggest to her that barking at a sudden gunlike noise is not acceptable? Ive just ignored it up until now as Id rather have her bold and bark than scared and quiet.
 
I can't remember the name of the user, but as well as all Spudlet's good work there is a user on here who has trained a number of older rescues to work well on the shooting field, and I know a lot of older dogs who have been started in protection work in later life, including one bitch aged seven.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top