de-sensitizing dogs to bang noises?

[Xirxious]

We have a 7 year old Flatcoated Retriever and she is scared shitless by any 'bang'. Plus we're 10 min South of 'boom city'. Has anyone found a good way to 'unscare' a dog at this age? She was originally raised as a bird dog for a friend to hunt with. 5 years go by and the training faded. I don't want to force scare her, but if buying 500 firecrackers and letting one off with her everyday is a solution, I'd try it.

[os2firefox]

step 1. get a cap gun ($5 from fred meyers/wallgreens)
step 2. bang
step 3. treat
repeat

[MadPick]

This thread should be of interest:
http://www.waguns.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=42060

[deadshot2]

We have a 7 year old Flatcoated Retriever and she is scared shitless by any 'bang'. Plus we're 10 min South of 'boom city'. Has anyone found a good way to 'unscare' a dog at this age? She was originally raised as a bird dog for a friend to hunt with. 5 years go by and the training faded. I don't want to force scare her, but if buying 500 firecrackers and letting one off with her everyday is a solution, I'd try it.

Take the dog to the Kenmore gun range's shotgun area. Sit with the dog outside the fence, hold her on a leash. and pet her all the while the shooters are "busting birds". She just needs to feel secure while the noise.

My Shih-Tsu used to go to the range with me as a pup and sit in the truck. Today he merely rolls over on his back and goes to sleep when the neighborhood "goes to war" on the 4th.

[Xirxious]

Are there any differences with a grown dog vs. a pup? It would seem a pup is easier to train for this.

[StatlerandWaldorf]

We struggled to train a cocker spaniel at that age - but that dog was bloody stupid. Good suggestions above.