Introduce gunshot before you take her shooting!
You probably know someone that has taken a young dog onto a driven pheasant shoot with no preparation and no previous experience of gunfire.
And the truth is, for some dogs, some of the time, this doesn’t cause a problem.
However, for others it is a devastating experience and the beginning of a challenging time for the owner, who then has to try and undo the harm that has been done.
Step-by-step
For this reason I recommend that every gundog is put through a programme of introduction to gunshot.
This means reducing the power of the shot in as many ways as possible
- Start at a distance
- Ensure the wind is blowing away from the dog
- Use a lower calibre weapon
There is always a point of the three above factors, at which the dog will be comfortable with the noise. Your job is to start in such a way that the dog is never alarmed, and gradually raise the levels of each factor.
You will need an assistant to make the bangs!
Start at a distance
Your first bangs need to be well away from the dog. A hundred yards is a reasonable starting point. Increase this distance immediately if the dog seems uncomfortable.
Watch for wind direction
Position yourself (with your dog) and your assistant so that the wind is blowing away from your dog. This can make a big difference to the volume of the bang and the impression it has on the dog.
Making the bang
I begin with a starting pistol rather than a shotgun. You can ask your assistant to fire the pistol inside a game bag to begin with.[wp_ad_camp_1]This will muffle the noise even further.
If you don’t own a starting pistol you can use party poppers but you will have to clear up the mess afterwards! Bring the bangs closer if the dog is comfortable.
Then you can introduce an actual gun.
Remember to increase the distance again when you make the shots louder. I use a .410 shotgun first and then go through the process again with a 12 bore.
Don’t forget to accustom the dog to multiple shots. If it is difficult for you to arrange this, find out when your next local clay shoot takes place and see if you can find a place to walk your dog about at a good distance (several hundred yards) from the shots. Move gradually closer if he is happy.
Nervous dogs
If you know that your dog is already nervous of bangs, or if the dog has a very sensitive nature you may need to start with the bangs very far away indeed. I am talking well over a hundred yards.
You can also help the dog by first desensitising him to a CD of bangs which includes gunshots and fireworks. Play it very quietly indeed to begin with and gradually increase the volume as he gets used to the noise.
For more information check out this article on how I cured my own gunshy dog.
If you enjoy my articles, you might like my new book: The Happy Puppy Handbook
This article was a turning point for me with my gun nervous cocker. She became increasingly alarmed by the pistol used at training days until in the end I stopped going because she would just freeze and shut down. Your Gun Dog Club trainer suggested CD. In the house, she would leave her food bowl and bolt to her bed even on the lowest volume so I moved it to the car and played it with all the windows open. She seemed better with the shotgun track (as a puppy she could hear them from our house in the winter) After I read this article, I started using party poppers whilst out training and we haven’t looked back. A year later and she can tolerate the CD full volume. She had her first day in the beating line today – she flinched on the first shot but was having so much fun she didn’t seem to notice after that.
Glad you found the article helpful Anna