Any trainer knows there are a few benchmarks every gun dog must clear on its way to the field. They include swimming, introduction to birds, and a positive association with gun noise. Recently, I’m happy to report, Pritch passed her gun-shy test with flying colors.

One of the common ways to introduce dogs to gun noise is to fire a starter pistol while the pup is eating outdoors (starting, of course, at a good distance from the bowl and moving closer over time if the dog shows no adverse signs). But because I live in the heart of Charleston, S.C., I couldn’t fire a starter pistol every time Pritch had a meal without setting the ladies of the Neighborhood Watch program aflutter. So my wife and I had to get creative when it came to introducing Pritch to loud noises as a pup.

When Pritch was very young, we’d often unload the dishwasher or run the vacuum during her meals and then later moved to banging on some pots and pans (some trainers suggest slapping two 2x4s together). During our walks, the city proved to be full of unexpected noises, like rumbling buses, clanging garbage trucks, and thundering Harleys. Even the summer thunderstorms gave us plenty of noise. Through all of this I watched Pritch closely to gauge her reactions, and I was glad to see that she was unfazed. She has never been a timid dog.

Still, I had some trepidation when we took her to a farm in rural South Carolina for her first brush with gun noise. My brother served as bird boy, firing a .22 starter pistol and then tossing the dummy. And while I was prepared for the worst, at the crack of the pistol Pritch only seemed to get more excited about the retrieve (an easy toss that she delivered to hand). We repeated the process numerous times with positive results, and Pritch seemed thoroughly electrified (in the most positive way) by the gun noise.

In a follow-up session we transitioned to a shotgun seamlessly. Though Pritch does have to get used to the echo of the blast, which sometimes caused her to look in the opposite direction of the gunner/bird boy.

I couldn’t be more pleased, and you can bet that I now sleep a little easier knowing my pup won’t run for the truck at the report of a shotgun. I’m curious of the various ways you have introduced your dogs to gun noise. And what you’ve found to work.

Comments (11)

from TJ wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

Popping balloons is a cheap way to simulate a gun shot and people in a neighborhood can't get to upset about ballons.

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

TJ- That's a good one I haven't heard but really like. -D

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from pinopolis wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

nice to hear some tips for the suburban gun dog. thanks!

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from Quackwacker wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

Pritch is on her Way. Whooooooot!!!!!

Good Job!

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from hnestle wrote 17 weeks 3 days ago

Get some of the snap pops that you get for kids to throw at each other on the 4 of july. They are loud and you can pop them in your fingers.

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from kelmitch wrote 17 weeks 3 days ago

When your dog is solid on quartering and retrieving off the quartering is a great time to introduce the gun.You still need to do all the introduction to loud noices at a young adge (pots,pans etc.).When the dog courses left the bird handler toses a cold dead training bird to the right and fires the blank gun(This is done after introduction to birds yard work).This teaches the dog many different things and you move to wing clipped trainers then planted trainers.The dog learns he or she only finds birds in front of the handler (teaches range) and the gun fire means there is a bird to retrieve.

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from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 17 weeks 2 days ago

I have heard of the same ways to introduce a dog to a gun... while the dog is eating or playing, slowly ease toward the gun while firing a gun. If they show that they are afraid, get farther back and repeat the process until the dog is OK with the gun be fired close by.

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from muskiemaster wrote 17 weeks 2 days ago

are pup passed her gun dog test during the 4th while people were trapshooting in the field and she played in the pond.

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from BIGGAMECOCK wrote 16 weeks 4 days ago

I, like you, live downtown in a SC city. The dummy launcher in the park always drew stares, but no trouble.
I found a cap gun at meal time worked great (which btw, are not sold at Toys-r-us anymore). It was loud enough for a distraction, but not so loud that the neighbors thought you were Ike Turner. Plus, it's the only way I can get the house to smell like fresh gunpowder, safely.

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from Kansas wrote 16 weeks 3 days ago

What's the best age to introduce to real gunfire?

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from TJ wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

Popping balloons is a cheap way to simulate a gun shot and people in a neighborhood can't get to upset about ballons.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hnestle wrote 17 weeks 3 days ago

Get some of the snap pops that you get for kids to throw at each other on the 4 of july. They are loud and you can pop them in your fingers.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BIGGAMECOCK wrote 16 weeks 4 days ago

I, like you, live downtown in a SC city. The dummy launcher in the park always drew stares, but no trouble.
I found a cap gun at meal time worked great (which btw, are not sold at Toys-r-us anymore). It was loud enough for a distraction, but not so loud that the neighbors thought you were Ike Turner. Plus, it's the only way I can get the house to smell like fresh gunpowder, safely.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

TJ- That's a good one I haven't heard but really like. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from pinopolis wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

nice to hear some tips for the suburban gun dog. thanks!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Quackwacker wrote 17 weeks 4 days ago

Pritch is on her Way. Whooooooot!!!!!

Good Job!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from kelmitch wrote 17 weeks 3 days ago

When your dog is solid on quartering and retrieving off the quartering is a great time to introduce the gun.You still need to do all the introduction to loud noices at a young adge (pots,pans etc.).When the dog courses left the bird handler toses a cold dead training bird to the right and fires the blank gun(This is done after introduction to birds yard work).This teaches the dog many different things and you move to wing clipped trainers then planted trainers.The dog learns he or she only finds birds in front of the handler (teaches range) and the gun fire means there is a bird to retrieve.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 17 weeks 2 days ago

I have heard of the same ways to introduce a dog to a gun... while the dog is eating or playing, slowly ease toward the gun while firing a gun. If they show that they are afraid, get farther back and repeat the process until the dog is OK with the gun be fired close by.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muskiemaster wrote 17 weeks 2 days ago

are pup passed her gun dog test during the 4th while people were trapshooting in the field and she played in the pond.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Kansas wrote 16 weeks 3 days ago

What's the best age to introduce to real gunfire?

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from chadian wrote 15 weeks 2 days ago

capture your moment in history with the enduring leagacy of art. chad lavin studio. www.lavinstudio.com

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