Any training situation, you want the dog to be in a positive mode, along with successful ending. What I recommended is exactly what I do, to associate the gun at whatever age, whatever breed. plus this is exactly how I fix a shy dog. the birds will not give the dog time later to think while it is reaching down to catch....they are excited about snatching the bird. Do what ya want, my email and phone is open, there are several posts on here about gunshy, take and go back to earlier in teh year, and you can see several ways to attempt to fix. Mine and others, Thanks Jonesy