Gun shy??

[findergameandfish]

Got a 1.5-year-old yellow lab a week ago, rescued from the Humane Society. Told was hunted over last fall (Pheasants and ducks). I know that that was probably just talk or ruined her by gunfire. But I can’t even fire an air rifle with out her getting scared? Loud house noises don’t seem to bother her but the minute I fire the air rifle her tail is between her legs. This isn’t the first gun-shy dog I have had just this severe need guidance on what to do next. Last dog I was able to start with the air rifle move to a cap gun and then .22 and so on any help would be appreciated!!

[openwater]

I am not a professional trainer, so I can only think of one idea that comes to mind. I was told to shoot off a small noise during a fun retrieve.

In other words work the noise into something she loves doing, like retrieving in my dogs case.

And I don't know how loud your gun is but I might do something like a small firecracker first.

Hopefully something in this will help you out.

good luck

[LABS4ME]

Don't use firecrackers... they are the worst

Don't work on fixing the gunshyness this early into her getting acclimated to her new surroundings... she is going through enough right now without piling this on.

Here is a link to a previous post on gunshyness...

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB36&Number=591305&Forum=f36&Words=gun%20shy&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=590868&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=1554&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post591305

Follow it, take your time, do not just introduce her to gun fire, and like I said, I would wait a couple more weeks before starting to train her so she 'settles' in to her new enviroment.

Good Luck!

Ken

[findergameandfish]

Thats what i tried to do with the small noises thats why i used the air rifle a firecracker at this point will just be to loud. but i appreiciate the input.

[findergameandfish]

Thanks for the link I had already looked at it. The thing is the banging of pots and pans don't bother her. And the site of the gun didn't bother her either when i took it out (the air rifle) just the little puff you get when it shot. I praised her right after and then the next time i tried giving her a treat. She was too scared. But youre point on her just getting aquainted might be the problem. I am just going to place the air rifles around the house so she can get used to seeing them and know they wont harm her and try it later maybe towards the end of the month. On thing though she likes jumping in the back of the truck now. I know this is going to be a slow process I figured the air rifle would be okay for the sound but she didnt like it. I will just work with the retrieve and truck more. From coming from the humane society she allready knows the basic commands of come, sit, stay so I will just keep it fresh in her head. It's just like that saying one step forward and two steps back, I can tell by the way she is in the yard she has the abilities to be a great dog she watches the birds flying around and the squirrels running. What do you think about leaving the air rifles around the house? Are kids are old enough to know not to use them without me and I am home most of the day, or when the kids are home.