Need Help, Gun Shy GSP.....

leadeyedbugger · 11-18-2008, 01:19 PM

I was hopeful that i would be able to tap into the knowledge of the board here to help me help me gsp out. She was a touch gun shy earlier in the year, she would jump slightly when the shots would go off and maybe turn away a little bit or take a couple steps back. Now she is completely freaked out over gun shots.....bad.....and i am not too sure as to what to do. She is a pretty sensitive dog by nature and frankly at this point i am not sure how to go about this. So if anybody has some recommendations or knows of a gsp trainer that i could call and get some information from that would be great. My wife and i talked earlier today about the possibility of getting another dog and retiring her to just pet status instead of pet/hunter. She makes a wonderful lovable house dog and would still get plenty of excersize as she goes with my wife on daily horse rides which she loves, but she also loves to hunt....at least until last trip out. Its really not a fun place to be in as we feel that we let her down in her training. Anyways, any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thehunter · 11-18-2008, 01:32 PM

PM me. I have some stuff for you to try.

OutdoorBum · 11-18-2008, 01:50 PM

I have the same problem. I've tried CD's that gradually introduce dogs to gunfire, and some other recommended methods. My dog is an absolute chicken and often jumps when a grocery bag gets rattled too loudly. I've basically given up, but if Hunter would be willing to PM me too I'd appreciate it.

steelheadslayer · 11-18-2008, 02:25 PM

Does your dog like live birds? Start over with live pigeons. Have a feriensd stand back about a 100 yds. and fire a shot when your dog is picking up the bird. Do this after a couple of fun retrieves with a live bird to keep her jazzed up. If she shows no reluctance to the shot have him forward in 10 yd increments, if she shows any fear or reluctance to pick up the bird have him move back to the previous spot and keep at it until you can have the gun right next to you when she's retrieving the bird. This way, she will associate the loud noise with something pleasant and not just something that hurts her ears.

This could take awhile seeing as how she is a sensitive dog. We did the above method with my 6 month old yellow lab this summer and we had the gun right next to her within 5 shots. The KEY is the live bird and reading your dog.

Remember, gun shy dogs aren't born, they're made.

Sounds like you're going to have be real patient, don't give up. I really hate to see a dog not be able to do what they were bred to do.

Where are you located? I'd love to help out if possible.

DogZilla15 · 11-18-2008, 02:30 PM

First off it would be great if you were to go through the process you used to introduce the pup(s) to gunfire in the beginning. If you did everything properly and you still ended up with your current problem, there probably isn't much that can be done.

For the time being, it would be best to get the dog completely away from gunfire for a couple of months. Give it time to settle down and "unlearn" its current response to loud noises. Not something you want to hear when bird season is open but this is going to take time to work its self out.

How is the dog on birds? Is it all fired up and and ready to hunt every time it's turned loose in the field or does it show little enthusiasm?

Contact the breeder and owners of your pups siblings to see if this has shown up in other members of the litter. You'll want to know if mental instability is inherited or just a chance occurrance. Has the breeder been involved with the pups upbringing?

This is going to be a rough ride for you and the dog so be prepared.

fishstik · 11-18-2008, 02:36 PM

Every dog is different. My little gsp just about ****** herself if you drop something like a pan and on the fourth of July we have to medicate her but she hears a shotgun and she comes to life. i had her from a puppy so she puts the shotgun together with dead birds. My GSP before her was really gun shy when i got him he was 2, He loved tennis balls though, so i would play fetch with him while shooting my 22 pistol and after a few evenings he could care less and he became a very productive dog for me for 10 years.

leadeyedbugger · 11-18-2008, 02:42 PM

The process that we went through was basically following the "gundog" video. We used a cap gun as a puppy when we fed her, while playing fetch with her etc. I think that where we went terribly wrong was we didn't do it continuisly as she never seemed to care about loud noises before. And now she cares alot, she is a very birdy dog, but i am afraid that she equates birds with loud noises that she doesn't like at all now. I definitely plan to just give her a break for a month or two, but would like some help on how to go after that.

steelheadslayer · 11-18-2008, 02:47 PM

Good Luck!!!!

dogzilla, a couple points I hadn't thought about, well done!

PacificPointer · 11-18-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadeyedbugger

The process that we went through was basically following the "gundog" video. We used a cap gun as a puppy when we fed her, while playing fetch with her etc. I think that where we went terribly wrong was we didn't do it continuisly as she never seemed to care about loud noises before. And now she cares alot, she is a very birdy dog, but i am afraid that she equates birds with loud noises that she doesn't like at all now. I definitely plan to just give her a break for a month or two, but would like some help on how to go after that.

S-Slayer method is good but I would flush pigeons and fire during the chase while the dog is hell bent for leather after the bird.

Watch Ross's videos he does a good job and shows why you may want a Pointer next

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9JMG...eature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3bm...eature=related

sidewinder · 11-18-2008, 04:30 PM

I would let a pro handle it. This is a tough choise, but for me these days..I would get rid of the dog....but if you can't do that...STOP shooting around your dog. Forget about it for a long time. (each case is different) Expose your dog to lots of birds...especially live ones if possible. Get her really birdy. Then in time think about a little shooting. Make sure your dog is really busy, and a long ways away. Try a shot, and watch her. Its a long process if you want a sure thing, and even that might not be possibe. Some dogs are just jumpy.

DogZilla15 · 11-18-2008, 04:48 PM

A dog that really loves birds will sometimes work through a noise problem. Having the dog completely distracted and totally focused on the bird helps a lot. Dogs with little prey drive will tend to hear more of what's going on around them than dogs that are totally into birds and searching.

Getting the dog's prey drive at a fever pitch will go a long way in correcting the problem. If this cannot be done, you'll probably end up with just a pet. Gunshyness isn't about the gun, it's about the dog and little can be done to correct mental instability. The success rate in these situations is quite low.

Like I said before. Go back to the breeder and find out as much as you can about the rest of the litter.

A good breeder will replace a defective dog. You may have a tough time convincing the breeder that the dog is defective and the problem is not your fault.

Some other stuff......

How is the dog around strange people and other dogs? Any signs of shyness or fear of unknown situations? Proper socilization goes a long way toward building a confident dog. Dogs that spend a lot of time in a kennel without human contact can have problems adjusting to life outside the kennel. The GSP is one of the Versatile Breeds and needs a lot of human contact to grow into a useful hunting dog. They don't do well if they spend a lot of time by themselves, doing nothing. The dog should live in the house, ride in the car to the grocery store and be a constant companion as long as there are people home. Lots of off-leash time in unfamiliar surroundings as soon as the pup comes home from the breeder is a must. The dog should never be punished by anything more than a stern voice or by ignoring the dog when it behaves poorly.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.

Don't forget the breeder.....

DogZilla15 · 11-18-2008, 04:56 PM

I forgot something....

The dog may fear the gun along with the noise if it understands the gun is the source. Keep a gun out in plain sight around the house and when you pet the dog, have the gun in your other hand. Set the gun next to the dog's dish at feeding time. lay the gun next to the dog's pad in the living room. Every time the dog is in the field, you must pack a gun along. The dog must learn that good things happen when the gun is around.

steelheadslayer · 11-18-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogZilla15

I forgot something....

Every time the dog is in the field, you must pack a gun along. The dog must learn that good things happen when the gun is around.

This is what my theory was with the birds. Getting the dog to associate the gun(noise) with something he she likes.

leadeyedbugger · 11-18-2008, 06:10 PM

Thank you for the advice guys. I am just going to give her a break for now and see what we can do after a few weeks. I won't get rid of her because she is such a great pet, she is a indoor dog as all of our dogs are and she travels with me alot. However, if i cannot correct it then she will be retired from hunting. I can talk to the breeder, however, another mistake that i probably made is she is not from a well known hunter breeder....i guess a backyard breeder.....Thanks again everyone and i will keep everybody informed. I will talk to the wife somemore but i might be back on the market for a gundog.

Half fast Toyn · 11-19-2008, 02:05 PM

Starve the dog for 4 days. Shoot over first introduction to food back. If dog runs, starve another day... continue but don't go longer than a week. This triggers the self preservation instinct over the panic and flight instinct. I use firecrackers.

Put dog in crate and park close to rifle range... but not too close. Leave there for 1 hour. Repeat often and park closer as dog becomes less frightened. Do not park so close as to damage dogs hearing.

Last but not least. Put dog on lead and walk as other dogs are allowed to hunt. Nothing brings out competitiveness on a dog like this.

Get the gun out often and give out treats every time you do. The gun is a good thing. Pack it or a dummy for neighborhood walks and field time.

DO NOT punish or console the dog... big mistake.

The best way to cure is prevent..... get that dog so involved with birds that the FIRST shot will not even be noticed.

Ive noticed gun shy dogs tend to be on the aggressive side twards other dogs. Socialize your pups well.

I am Toyn, I dont hunt alone....

Labsforme · 11-19-2008, 08:48 PM

Dogzilla is spot on.I have worked a gun sensitive dog back to being able to hunt.I bred and ran Shorthairs in FT and NAVHDA from the early 70's on.DO NOT try to force your dog into the situation!!!!!!!Back off.Make birds and retrieving fun long before reintroducing a shot,preferably by a blank gun at over 100 yds.SLOWLY build up as you see the confidence in your dog.Do this over several days.Stop at the moment any hesitation shows up.Let her make a fun retrieve and love her up and quit for the day.Hard to be patient but it may work.

Jeff G

Rainman · 11-19-2008, 10:24 PM

My grandpa used to use a starter pistol from behind them as they were eating their dinner. At first they would react to the "shot", then settle down and finish eating. Didn't seem to take them long to get accustomed to it, and viola, no more gun shy dog.

Catch 22 · 11-19-2008, 10:32 PM

Fred Meyers sells cap guns in their toy section for $6. fire them in the house when they eat. Get closer over time. Fire as you throw their favorite ball or toy. Step it up slowly.