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RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

I agree that 5 months is too young to start hunting but my dog was 4 months old when he and I would go out shooting ground squirrels and he had a ball. When bird season rolled around a few months later he was ready to go and give it a try.

On the second question, I wouldn't worry about it at this time. Let him bulk up then get use to swimming and retrieving in the water and then slowly work your way up to jumping off a pier or raft or something.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

At that age it is important to introduce things gradually so he doesn't acquire any permanent aversions to water or even worse, guns. Labs are not particularly sensitive usually and you should be able to get him used to both in short order. It still needs to be done step by step to be safe. If you don't have a training book (or video) to tell you how to introduce water and gunfire gradually then you need to get one. If you can get him used to guns, water and birds then it should be fine to let him tag along hunting. You can't expect very much though and I wouldn't take him on serious hunts with other people because he's going to mess up (no way around it at that age) and you don't want him to associate hunting with getting in trouble.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

How do you hunt without a gun? Do you just yell bang when a bird goes up? Just kidding. Take the pup out alone and when he jumps or points a bird is the only time you shoot! Make sure the pup is on the bird and he will not even hear the shot. Bo was pointing and holding birds at 5 months and I was throwing lead at them.

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RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

I agree..........I made a mistake and took my dog along on a dove hunt to condition him to gunshots. Bad mistake. He shut down on me and had an accidental bowel movement in just a matter of seconds. I quickly got him out of there. Since then I have been taking him to the gun range, starting from the parking lot and loving on him and giving him treats. This is the only time I have used the treats in training by the way. After only two trips to the range with gradual introduction each time we are now training directly behind the line. I will throw a bumper and make him steady, wait for a shot, and give him the command to retrieve. Worked great for me, hope it works for you.

Just remembered! I did download some gunshot sounds and some duck call sounds and burned a cd. I played the cd softly to very loud while I feed every evening. I think this might have been the thing that really made it easy. Then at the range I taught my dog to associate the gunshot with a fun retrieve and sometimes a treat.

Good luck and happy hunting

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

I introduced my GSP to gunshots by taking a pigeon and let him chase it through the yard while he was to busy chasing thew bird I would shoot. the sound of the gun was the last thing on his mind the bird was first.

www.gsponline2.tk

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RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

I start conditioning them very early on. While they're eating, start by clapping your hands together. They may spook a little for a while, Just pet them and "good Doggy"but after a few times they forget about it. I'll bang some pots together next and again they may get a little scared at first but after a while, they don't even notice. Next step is field training. Start with a .22 or .410 something small and give treats and "good doggy" if they spook. Usually at this point they get excited not scared. I've done this with my beagles starting at 2-3 months and they LOVE GUNSHOTS!

Trushot }}------>

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

Guy's I'd really suggest that you get a few good books on training and learn how to break a pup to guns properly. I've read some hogwash & wivestales here to be sure.
My new pup was broke to shotguns by week 11 and stolling with my skeet squad by the end of week 14 and loving it. He was 18 weeks old at the outset of dove season and now at 24 weeks (6 months for those that can't do math) working on Grouse with 9 mallards ,3 woodies, & bufflehead to his credit between 22-23 weeks.
The only thing I insist on in the first year is to hunt by myself or with only one gun and directing all my energy to handleing the dog. I believe that first season sets the tone for the dog's entire life and don't want distractions to the task at hand for me or the pup.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

RUDE duck,

Thankyou for your imput. You sound like a real snot nose.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

Caveman ,you're welcome. Oviously you don't know how to train ,othewise you would have never done what you did. As far as claping hands , pots and all that other hogwash while a pup's eating was long since disregarded by any competent trainer a long time ago. Sit down to dinner and have someone scare you unexspectedly and see how you like it.
A pup is ready to hunt as soon as he will follow basic commands and the sooner introduced to the field the quicker and easier the training becomes. A pup is ready for "serious" hunting anytime. The key is not to push a youngster beyound it's physical capabilities and training it's retained up to that point. I hunted grouse yesterday moring with my 6 month old Lab for 3 1/2 hours and covered roughly 3 miles. Was it serious hunting ? You bet! Did we both have a great time? Again yes!

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

Since when is suggesting getting a book to help with training RUDE?Books are written by folks who have WAY more knowledge on the subject then we do or we would be the ones writing those books.

Theres some very good advice here.And I'm one for introducing the gun early in a puppys life when there are in the field and in hot pursuit of a bird.When their desire is so intense all they want is to get to that bird 90%or more never even hear the gun fire.If introduction to the gun is done wrong ,you run the risk of having a Gunshy dog.What folks have to remember is gunshyness is NOT a inherited trait.Its caused my a simple mistake during the training process.Thats why those books are out there.Good luck,Take care Jackson..

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

Debate,,,, fine,,,,,,,,Name calling ,not good.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

My appoligies to all. Everyone has their own way of doing things. Yes, I did make a mistake. I conditioned with loud noises during feeding just like "Waterdog" instructed but maybe took my dog out to live fire too soon. So, I do have a book.......and video for that matter. Maybe there are better ones out there. I just went with recommendations from other dog owners. My dog is 7 1/2 months old and is obiedent trained, knows whistle and hand commands, marks, and double and tripple retrieves beautifully. He knows when we are "serious" and when we are playing. We train do train with fun. As far as gunshy goes...he was over that after that after the first day to the gunrange. I have learned alot and still learn something everyday.

Ruddyduck.....I was being a snot nose myself. It's funny about text... you can never tell if someone's smiling when they are typing or not. Sounds like you know what you are doing. I recommend being a little more graceful about telling us all that we are incompatant trainers next time. I am always thankful for constructive criticism.

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

NAME CALLIN IS NOT WHERE IT'S AT, BUT RUDDYDUCK WAS WAY OUT OF LINE WITH HIS RESPONSE. LET'S KEEP THESE POSTS FUN TO READ WITH A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION FROM A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS AND OLD ONES. NOT EVERYTHING YOU SEE OR HEAR IS GOING TO BE 100% RIGHT.-GOODEE-

RE: 5 month old around guns?
 

There are other ways of getting your point across other than name calling or attacting another poster. There are MANY ideas on gun training dogs,Some dogs never have a problem with the noise and others will never be anything but gun shy. I had a black lab that I took out dove hunting at a very young age, she moved away from me at the first shot but soon was right next to me when I fired. I have a catch dog that runs whenever I get a gun out of the rack, I started my beagles in dove season and they dont have a problem with the gun at age 8 mos and they were 4mos the first time I shot over them. I have trained all my dogs in the same manner, my catahoulas come running to the sound of gun fire now. I think it all has to do with giveing the animal lots of loven after the shot and getting them to trust you, if you scare the heck out of them and get mad when they run off when you shoot and yell they will never like the sound. Thats only my way and it works for me, other ideas people have I will lisen to but if I dont agree with them dosent mean there wrong or that I will call them stupid for there way.