I started with loud noises the day I brought my lab home. First with a loud clap from the other side of the room, then working up to a .22 outside while he was in the general area, and so on, never had a problem. My friends lab, my labs brother, was suddenly terrified of gun shots @ 1 year or so. Found out a few days later that he had run off one day and someone peppered his butt with a shotgun. Loud noise=Ouch Took him a while to break him of that, he didn't do any majic trick, just worked with his dog for many, many months. I have to put my lab inside when I benchrest shoot, he lays right in front of the shooting bench. I swear you could see the muzzle blast ruffle his fur without so much as a jerk out of him. I figure it is bad for his ears though, anyone know anything about that? I'm sure long term gun fire exposure will take it's toll on any hearing, man's or dog's.