After years on the range I have lost enough hearing to require hearing aids at a fairly young age, figured it wan't helping my best friend out any. Any ideas why he would sit there rather than move at least a few feet away? I have another dog (non sporting dog) who goes into the yard and lays down 60 yards away or so. With their ears being more sensative than ours that has to really bother him. Wonder if they make hearing protection for dogs?

Coon River Kennels has a good article on their site about this subject. Sorry I don't have the link, do a google search.

LIVE BIRDS! My last lab was afraid of gunfire. I was told by many people it was a lost cause ever tring to hunt her. Sre hunted very well though and loved it . I was not going to give up. I bought a half dozen phesants off of a local breeder. I realesed the first one with no gun. The second bird I could of fired a canon and she would not cared less about the noise, buy the third bird she would bring it back after it was shot. All she needed was the conection between the birds and the shot. Before this any target gun range we were on she would run a mile back to the truck and sit right there. Some of those scare tactics with the blank gun are not for all dogs. Don't you wan't the dog to look for the game after the shot. I would run to if sombody banged a pot in my ear when I was trieng to eat. Probaly even bite their leg.

he aint shy!

Good post Doc.Dogs are not born gun shy,timid yes gun shy no.Thats a man made fault by improper gun introduction.I haven't checked the link provided,but from personal experience and Deerhuntress said this too,Excitement is the key.Get your dog super excited,weither it be chasing a few birds or really excited fetching drills and start off with a cap gun and at a distance.Have a freind or yourself fire the cap gun when the dog is heading away from you charing after a bird or your fetch dummy,when hes a good distance away fire your cap gun.Its a gradual process so going slow is key.If the dogs shows any sign of the shot being fired,just ignore him like it never happened,stop for the day and try again another day.

I'd like to add if its a mild case,excitement drills often will help if done correctly.If its a hard deep rooted fear,professional help may be your only answer.Gunshyness can be cured.It takes great patience,so dont expect a quick fix.Theres also some professionals that offer guarenteed results.I will check the link Doc provided and always willing to answer any questions if you have them.My info is a condensed version.Best of luck.Take care,Jackson..

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hey doc E

I have been keeping up with the gunshy posts and was still wondering if anyone has ever heard of the audio CD called GUNSHY CURE

I've heard of it (or something similar), but I don't know anything about it -- or it's effectiveness.