OK, my Visla has done driven me off the deep end. He has been timid since the day I got him from the Humane Society. I have tried to get him used to the gun and thought he was improving. However, today when we were out a hen got up, and he acted like he has with gunshots -- chose to follow rather than lead.I brought him home and I couldn't even get him excited over some feathers. I think he has officially given up on me. I have tried diligently to get him used to blank shots to no avail. I've shot from a distance while he eats, had others shoot as adistance while we've played, etc. But he is consistently scared no matter what. So, if you all can give me some advice where to go from here, great. If someone would like him, I would probablybe willing to part with him so that he can have a good home and a patient teacher. Admittedly, I don''t have as much time to spend with him as is probably necessary.

I wouldn't give up on him just yet. How old is this dog? Perhaps you're pushing him too soon?

tailcrackin (Jonsey) has some good advice on introducing the gun. But you have to get your dog excited about birds. A suggestion, get asmall bird (chukar or pigeon)and anchor it's feet by tying a 10' or so cord to it. It will try flying around and the dog will see it as a plaything. Let your dog play with it. You will loose the bird but you'll help the dog.

Some dogs just don't have it.

Hey, i dont think i would give up so soon. Check out http://www.coonriverkennels.com/and click on the link "marks tips and tricks" then, "introducing gun fire"...good luck, and usually all the hard work pays off.

OK, OK, I'll admit I overreacted. After allowing my sadness and frustration to subside -- and listening to my very understanding wife, I am once again willing to work on my dog. I did look at the Coon RIver Kennels Website -- which by the way is only a couple hours from where I live. I can see how his plan would work. So I am going to get some pigeons and see what I can do. By the way, the dog seems to have had time to allow his own feelings to subside and was actually willing to have a little fun today!

Hey, whats goin on?? Dog problems?? My names Dave Jones, everybody calls me Jonesy. I own a gun dog kennel in Berea Kentucky, Itrain bird dogs and retreivers for a living.Ok lets talk dogs for little bit. Now this Vizsla, you got from the humane society?? Did they know much about the dog before?? How does it act around the birds, What I am gonna help you try and figure out, iswhat is going on in your dogs head. Some people are gonna disagree, but my opinion is " I would rather do it once, with less problems, than twice with lots of problems." Now if you've already got someone set up to fix, or help you, thats cool. Just let me know and we will go on from there. Cool?? Jonesy

Sorry, didn't finish my sentence. Some dogs just don't have it. No interest in birds. In that case, you still have a family pet.

Anyway, I did read the articleMNfowlplay suggested to you and it's right on the mark but with real problem dogs, Jonsey has good advice. I'll repost it here if Jonsey don't mind.

"...a better way to do is to get a few pigeons, pull some of the wing feathers out when the dog bumps, bird flies, but not well, as soon as the dog gets mouth on thebird to catch it,fire. The dog does not have time to think bout it, you can always shorten the firing distance after it gets comfortable with it. This is just socialization of the gun and the dog won't think the bird is doin it. I have had to fix alot of dogs from that sort of problem. Jonesy "

Lets think about the dog for a little bit, what has been his reaction to birds, period?? How much bird action has it got to experience? What we might need to do here before problem gets worse is to allow more bird exposure, with no gunfire. We have to assume that nothing was done before. Think about the "bells ad whistles" going on in its head. MAYBE, never hunted before, or shot around, seen birds, new house, new mom and dad, new everything,you never know, and you don't always get the rest of the story from the humane society. I would much rather treat it like its a puppy, better to be safe than sorry. Dog Training 101: it is always easier to advance a dogwhen time is right, than when it is wrong. Patience is a virtue. What we need to discuss is what and how you have been doing the stuff to make a nice dog. Thanks Jonesy

OK, here's the history of my dog and I. I got him from the Humane Society late last summer at about 4 months of age. When I played with him there, her was very submissive -- rolled over on his back. He still does this when reprimanded too harshly or when he doesn't want to do something. Introduced gunfire via blanks during mealtimes -- he always was timid with this. Did hunt him last year. He found a number of birds on a number of occasions. However, when I shot, he would not retrieve and would follow me for a time before hunting again. Continued to try to condition him with blanks throughout the summer with little success. Took him with me hunting again hoping he would want the birds worse than his fear of the shots as he gets very birdy on small birds in the feilds around my house. Made a bad choice here -- I admit it. Too many hunters and birds opening day. So, I took him last Saturday and he had equated the gunshot with the birds to the point that when he saw a hen flush, he acted like he did to gunfire. On Sunday, he was at least interested and playful with the feathers on a fishing pole. Also, I moved my gunshots back to about 40 yards from 20. He reacted much better to this. So, I looked at the information from Coon River Kennels listed above and am ordering a half dozen pigions to use to see if I can get him straight and ready to hunt. I'm thinking that I'll probably just train and bench him from hunting for the rest of the year unless he shows fast growth. I will only hunt him then if I am going out alone or with 1 or 2 others.

Cool, pigeons should work, you only need to work 1 birdat a time, give dog a day or two off go back to field. I'll let you follow what they have got to say, then if there's a problem still, maybe we can talk, or I will help you try to fix your dog. IF you have ANY question, you ask the guy thats gonna help you, you guys talk before you go and work the dog. This has your mind open to what will,or could probably happen. If you feel unsure in your mind, about what he is going to do, don't do it. It isbetter to be safe than sorry. There is alot of different ways to attempt to correct problems, it just takes time to figure out what is best for the dog. You understand?? Feel free to call or e-mail, Thanks Jonesy 859-985-2918