gun shy terrier help.

[gazzer 1]

hi folks,have been out doing a lot of rough shooting lately although i still consider myself a novice.quite a few pigeon and rabbit on my permission and to date i havent been very succesfull...i tried taking my plummer terrier along to see how hed react and if hed be ok at mooching/flushing..hes a good ratter but this is relatively new to me and the dog....i had him to heel plodding along as we entered the field,a pigeon flew over,i fired 2 shots,looked round and the dog scarpered,he wouldnt come anywhere near me until i had to hide the gun in a hedge so i could get him back on the lead...my mate then fired another couple of shots off and the dog just laid down trembling....he now hides in his shed whenever i get the gun ready to go out...............now i dont want the usual crap about how plummers are overrated etc...what id like is some advice on how to overcome this (if it can be done)....someone recommended taking him to a clay shoot,sit with him whilst hes pegged out and make him get used to the noise....im concerned this will just completely freak the dog out til he never trusts me at all.....hes a great little dog..id just like to get more use/work out of him rather than having to leave him at home...hes 2 yrs old,quite obedient....can anyone in the know advise of a cure or am i wasting my time???

any tips appreciated folks.

[watchman 256]

only thing i will say is you done to much to soon,should of started at a good distance before hand from the dog and gone from there,

 

you might get it to overcome this from some help with guys that know there shit but you probably f****d it up from the start to be honest,

 

you need some good advice from them that knows but good luck with it anyway

[dedger 16]

Don't know of many people who have cured a dog from Gun shyness, like was said, you did too much too soon, good luck anyway.

[pernod 466]

hi mate, as said previous i think the terrier would take a lot of time to cure if at all. You realy have to get them used to noises from an early age. It may sound daft but i start all my pups playing with balloons, the burst..bang of them is then associated with fun, party poppers are also useful for getting them used to the noise early on. Then when they are older its just a matter of starting them away from the gun and then getting them closer and closer as they mature.

 

Cheers pernod.

[gazzer 1]

not looking good then folks...i guess i learned a valuable lesson...the hard way....what a bummer.

[shotgun tim 27]

there is a differance from gun shyness and gun nervous,start at the begining when feeding or playing bang the metal bowles together,take the dog to a clay shoot start from a few fields away and see how the dog is keep it on a lead though then every time you go get a bit nearer but make it fun while the guns are going off make a fuss of the dog give it treats ectit will be a long process dont rush it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gazzer 1]

thanks guys....feel really bad for the dog but i guess its just a learning curve..i desperately want to enjoy being out with him and getting him working and enjoying it all....ill definately try the clay shoots from a distance,he responds well to fuss so maybe worth a try.

[ratattack 111]

I would say you buggered it, a dog should only be allowed to hear a shot from a long way off initially ie: 100yards+ to gauge how it reacts then gradually closer till you can shoot over them, this can take a while. My terrier loves goin shooting but hates fireworks.

 

Imagine how a shot sounds to you then consider a dogs hearing capabilities, is ait any wonder he shat himself!!!

[j316 119]

when you feed the dog feed him next to a unloaded gun so he she gets to learn that its to relax around guns have known this to work try for a couple of weeks then go to distance training

[gazzer 1]

im gonna try that..came home today from the woods and left the gun on the floor by the door where he waits for me to come in.he walked away initially but came sniffing around,still nervous but i think it will definately improve.