German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America

cheerio · Moderator Joined: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 285 Location: Canada

I was wondering where in North America (US and Canada), do you purchase what in order to train your pups to be used to the noise of a gun shot. Any one able to help me?

J Shelton · Junior Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 28

start with a cap gun for young pup-found in toy stores, then graduate to starters pistol found in most outdoors mag. ie) cabelas, then finally a real gun.

J Shelton · Junior Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 28

you can also find starters pistols at most sporting goods stores that carry guns, like "Bass pro shops" for example. Obvioiusly be careful with distance between you and dog with all three when starting out.

cheerio · Moderator Joined: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 285 Location: Canada

Thank you kindly. I must say I like the idea to start with the cap gun...
I shall hit the stores tomorrow!

KYSER · Junior Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 46

I believe it is best to have them distracted by chasing a bird when intoductions are started. I started with a cap on a muzzle loader after launching a bird then to just a primer in an empty shotgun shell to a 22 short, which ws not as loud as the shotshell primer to a .410 while in full chase about 20 yards out to a 20 gauge. All this was done before 13 weeks old. I never used a pistol because I wanted the pup to associate a long gun with bird hunting. When a long gun comes out of the gun safe he gets fired up.

Dave · Posted: 06/19/04, 7:37 am Post subject:

Kyser is correct. It starts out at the home with some thoughtful and occasional noise conditioning. A clap while feeding, etc.

The real crucial step is a shot in the field. I use a bank pistol and very "thoughtfully" again give a shot when the pup is actively engaged chasing a robin or some other live object. The idea is the fact that the sound is not the prime focus and it it essentially linked to something fun (chasing the bird/critter.)

This progression takes time, several trips afield over a period of weeks.

There is plenty of information on introducing a dog to the gun. Read as much as you can on the subject. The Joan Bailey book, "Training Gun Dogs...(I forgot the rest of the title) is a good read on the subject. Just go slowly and thoughtfully.

cheerio · Moderator Joined: 11 Mar 2003 Posts: 285 Location: Canada

Ok, thanks, I will try this

dualgwp · Posted: 06/22/04, 5:33 am Post subject:

Here's a scenario of what NOT to do.

I sold a very nice puppy to a young fella who wanted to hunt with her. We worked with her from time to time introducing her to birds, blank guns and all that good stuff from the time she was 12 wks old till she was around 8 months old. Had shot a bird for her with a .410, and she showed no fear of the sound. Pointing pretty well and hunting nicely at that point.

Hunting season rolls around and he takes her along on a preserve hunt with a couple of buddies and their Chessie and Pointer. Within the first 5 minutes, a cock bird is spotted , puppy doesn't see or smelll the bird.... 4 men and their guns go blaring off.... bang,bang,bang,bang,bang!

Puppy didn't have a clue what was happeniing, never sees the bird, has hardley gotten a chance to get "into" it and WWII goes off around her. Needless to say, we are now working with her to get over her fear of the gun. Sad, stupid and so unavoidable!!!! A nice puppy possibly ruined because her owner didn't use his head and think of the puppy before the stupid pen raised bird that cost him $10.

Lesson learned? Don't be in a big hurry take your time and do it right.

apple220 · Newbie Joined: 25 Nov 2005 Posts: 5

Jon · Guest

Although there are many different temperaments in all breeds, IMO it shouldn't be necessary to take months to introduce a young dog to the sound of gunfire. If a pup has enough prey drive and desire to find/pick up game, accustoming a dog to gunfire should take but a few outings.

We took a 3 month old to ND this year. After hearing gunfire in the truck from a distance. We simply got him playing with a dead bird (pheasant) while someone fired a 20 guage in the opposite direction about 50 yds away. Within 2 days, he learned that everytime a gun went off, there was a bird to find. Within a week, we had shot 5-6 pheasant over points with this pup. Every pup is different-and you have to "read" the pup you have. However, I would say that a pup that requires months to accept the sound of gun fire is probably a more sensitive dog and certainly not the typical that anyone should be striving for. A pup should be ready to go at 5-6 months at the latest in order to be able to profit from that first hunting season.

Sundowner · Member Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 19 Location: England

Max was only about 6 months old and I took him with me to shoots. I kept him well away from the guns at first, but once he saw the other dogs in there, it was hard to stop hom. Funny enough, the guns never seemed to bother him at all, it was the hunters shouting at their dogs that seemed to make him nervous? I should also mention that I got him used to a starting pistol first.
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