advise please

[highflyer25 22]

My lab has turned three and i have now decided to get her to do some work,she is great at retreving but as soon as the gun is shot over her she is petrefied,do i persaver or am i flogin a dead horse and have left it to late,she is from good working lines???

[Clare 33]

it is do able, when my woodie came to me, she was very gun shy, she would dig herself under my feet to get away. it took alot of work but she's now 110% OK with gun.

 

I started with woodie by walking her by my local clay ground, not to close to be scared but close enough she could hear them without fear, and slowly got closer, once she was steady with that I started driving to clay ground parking at furthest end of clay ground and sitting in back with her (landrover defnder) and just ignoring the guns, did this for short times 10-20mins depending on reaction and increased it til i had her sat outside club house with the gund going off around her. finally I took her pigeon shooting I stood at other end of field while O/H shot the birds and then let her work for the birds, and slowly after time I got closer till she was in same hide, and from that day you can shoot over her, work in the beating line, have her at peg with no problems at all

 

so basically take it steady don't rush her, you want to desensitize her to the gun

[Nik_B 3,790]

My lab has turned three and i have now decided to get her to do some work,she is great at retreving but as soon as the gun is shot over her she is petrefied,do i persaver or am i flogin a dead horse and have left it to late,she is from good working lines???

 

I'm far from an expert but I'd take it slowly.

 

Try getting someone to fire a shotgun or starter pistol at one end of a field and you stay with the dog at the other. Every time the gun is fired treat and praise the dog. Slowly decrease the distance over a period of days/weeks what ever the dog in comfortable with.

[highflyer25 22]

Many thanks guys for the replys very helpful i live right next door to broomhills so very doable reg the clay ground.....

[Clare 33]

Many thanks guys for the replys very helpful i live right next door to broomhills so very doable reg the clay ground.....

 

 

best way I found I'm very lucky I live next to two

[Fortunate son 0]

Sound advice by others ...clay ground or shoot day back of car open u sitting in boot with dog but dont fuss over the dog if shes nervous by rewarding her with a treat fussing or stroke only reinforces her reaction to noise is correct behaviour... carry on and show no reaction this reinforces that everything is normal.. start with starter or dummy launcher from distance allways with a retrieve

 

regards me

[SNAP SHOT 194]

All sound advice,

 

try and take it steady, And always watch the dogs reaction to what you get it to do.... slow and steady is best, if you rush the process the dog may never

come outta being gunshy, due to a fear being inbuilt for good, and fight or flight will always go through the dogs mind.

 

Snap.