Re: How do I acclimate my lab puppy to gunfire?
Mon Jul 04, 2016 8:50 am
os2firefox wrote:Our german shepherd was never afraid of gunfire. Usually, she just lays down in the shade and watches us. One day, however, we were both shooting our ar15's and she started whimpering and looking disoriented.
Turns out that she went temporary deaf. We stopped immediately and went home, then I bought sone muff mitts and she hasn't had a problem since. I highly recommend getting your pup hearing protection if you want to take it shooting, flying, motorcycling, or around any prolonged loud activity.
This is a great point. Dogs hearing is more sensitive and if we are wearing hearing protection so should they. Now getting them to wear it is another thing all together.
Re: How do I acclimate my lab puppy to gunfire?
Mon Jul 04, 2016 9:03 am
This year the neighbours are already doing celebrating the National Get Drunk And Set Sh*t On Fire Day, and have been since last night, and neither Norman nor Lily have moved, beyond Lily's normal periodic yard perimeter runs.
Obviously Pyrs aren't gun dogs, and although their hearing and sense of smell may be as acute as a Labrador's, they weren't bred to give a (swear word) about noises, just predators, so that probably is why they don't care. Two coyotes yesterday on the trail...now, that you can't desensitize a Pyr (Norman) or Pyr/Anatolian (Lily) to...ever. Good work with your dog.
The coyotes are definitely skittish (more so than usual, around humans) about fireworks.
Obviously Pyrs aren't gun dogs, and although their hearing and sense of smell may be as acute as a Labrador's, they weren't bred to give a (swear word) about noises, just predators, so that probably is why they don't care. Two coyotes yesterday on the trail...now, that you can't desensitize a Pyr (Norman) or Pyr/Anatolian (Lily) to...ever. Good work with your dog.
The coyotes are definitely skittish (more so than usual, around humans) about fireworks.
Re: How do I acclimate my lab puppy to gunfire?
Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:03 am
Here's a book. Gun Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525245499/re ... ExbD5WGX6Y
Re: How do I acclimate my lab puppy to gunfire?
Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:48 am
"We trained our yellow lab with a .22. Started with my son about 100 yards away. A shot about every 10 seconds. then my son got closer. Had the dog on a leash and he was getting a good scratch and pet the whole time. Sone walked to within about 10 yards and fired a few more rounds, and Cedar took interest but was never scared."
I have used this method exactly to train both a yellow lab and several horses...and an Irish Setter. Works every time.
My lab goes prairie dog shooting and camping with me. When the guns come out around camp, we have to call her back...she runs out front expecting dead birds.
The horses progressed to my firing .44spl snake shot rounds from the saddle without getting bucked off. (Cle Elum has several diamondback dens.)
I have used this method exactly to train both a yellow lab and several horses...and an Irish Setter. Works every time.
My lab goes prairie dog shooting and camping with me. When the guns come out around camp, we have to call her back...she runs out front expecting dead birds.
The horses progressed to my firing .44spl snake shot rounds from the saddle without getting bucked off. (Cle Elum has several diamondback dens.)