I have a 2 year old golden retriver who was one heck of a dog last yearbut all of a sudden this year he got real gun shy. He was fine during the early goose season but 3 weeks I had some watch him while I was on vaction. Now he is scared of the gun shot and scared of the gun if he sees a gun he cowers and runs away. Has anyone else experienced this with a dog and broke him of it? Thanks

Seems like some how a gun has made a bad impression on him, Have you done any shooting before taking him back out in the field? I wouldnt rule out "someone watching him" causing the problem..

I agree with you, dispo.

Was the person that watched your dog a real close friend/family member?

You might have to start over with your dog. Cap gun at a distance, get closer while shooting it, .22 rounds, etc.

Acurtis, what part of WI do you hunt?

I do most of my waterfowl hunting throughout the central part of the state (Wis Rapids), and take a few trips to the Mississippi where my uncle lives.

Eight more days until my North Dakota trip!

Gunshyness is almost always man-made.
Your "friend" did something to make thi happen.



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Yea I tried taking him in the field again he wood retrieve the dummy but wouldn't bring it back he ran and hid. The person that watched my dog was my sister and her boyfriend. I was told to try beating a wooden spoon on a pot while he's eating. I hunt in waupaca county area not to far from rapids

I wouldnt do that unless you want to risk scaring your dog from eating...the loud noise may be associated with eating and the dog might get scared...
Try taking the dog out and having someone else shoot with a small caliber gun about 100yds away and moving in making shots at small increments say every 15 yds or so..
you basically will have to comfort the dog and do just like a brand new pup, and break him into the gunshot again..

You want to fix this dog - You need professional help. Contact Krytal Creek Kennels - google the name. They are located in Cedar Grove.

Beating a spoon on a pot or pan or taking a dog to a trap range is all wrong. The dog needs to associate the bang of the gun with game ie. birds and be happy as the retrieve is the reward the dog recieves at the end. Someone did something to turn this dog off.
It can be done but is better done by people who specialize in fixing man made errors!

JW

You want to create happiness every time the dog hears a sound. Basically, the dog is associating that noise with something bad, but we want the dog to associate the noise of the gun with something good. From a far distance, you can use a launcher system if you'd like, that has a sound and keep it at a far distance. You'll want your dog thinking that everytime he hears a noise, there's a retrieve and the dog is excited about this. Start this from a good distance, and with something like a starter pistol and a live throw. Get the dog excited about this, and then continue to move in, in small intervals. The dog will soon learn that it's a positive association with the sound, and the sound will no longer scare the dog. You want your dog only focusing on the retrieve, as he would if it were a ball. You'll know that the dog is 100% back when you are close enough to him, he has a gun shot beside him, but pays it no mind and only focuses on the retrieve.

Hope this is of help!

There is a CD you can buy online... I think it is called sounds of my master... it starts with classical music with very low shot gun sounds in the back ground over a few hours very slowly it changes over shotgun sounds in the foreground and no classical music. Supposedly it helps out a lot with a gun shy dog and bring them back up to par. http://www.gundogsupply.com/mavocatrsy.html