help breaking a squirell dog of bein gun shy

[midnight howler]

i have a pure blood mountain cur, he is around ten months old.. he does everything good until i shoot a gun, then he takes off and starts shivering, does anyone know how to fix this?????

[jrbsr]

What size gun are you shooting, a shotgun, or a 22 lr?

[nomorewolves]

I had bird dogs for many years....Start off when feeding a dog with a cap gun. Fire a couple of rounds far away, move in if he is good with that. Relate that sound with good things. Be outside fire a round, maybe give him a treat, pat on the head. Move up to a start pistol. same routine with a larger gun.. Be patient....Go slow.. make the game fun for your dog, play catch, fire a round and so on.