can you teach a hunting dog not to be gun shy if it's over a certain year old?

Answer 1

Yes you can. Dogs follow there pack leader. Make sure you are that leader and force him to sit stay will a gun is being shot off. You must make sure you are in a calm state and not babying your dog with "it's okay". Many reputations and consistency is the key

Answer 2

My family had hunting dogs as I was growing up and it seems weird that you are teaching a dog to hunt after being a year old. That is a little late in the game, but not in possible. It is the sound of the gun or the sight of the gun that scares him? If you are serious about trying to get over the gun shyness, spend lots and lots and lots of time with your dog. Let him sniff the rifle, and if possible, let him train with other dogs that are already trained and see on how they are reacting,sometimes that will give them confidence. Fire blanks that will get him used to it. It none of that works, maybe your dog was just not meant to be a hunting dog. There is SO much more to teach other then gun shyness. If he is stuck there, how is he doing in the rest of the training?

Answer 3

We start out our puppy's at birth.
When we start feeding them food we smash metal pans together before we drop the food pan down in the pens.
And once they are up a moving really well we take them out with the others and target shoot over them. Because they are with an older dog who could care less about the noise they learn not to mind it.
I would take your dog out in the field with another dog who is not gun shy and work them together. Do not shoot alto over him/her but do it a few times and call it good. Make it fun fort he dog let them find something ot point on something and play and have some fun Make each session longer than the last until you can shoot about 10-20 times over the course of a hour or more.
Good luck.

Answer 4

yes a dog is never too old to learn.
1st. let it check out the gun (not loaded!). let it get a good sniff.
2nd. have some one hold it in a field and you shoot the gun at the far end of the field. (youll need a big field)
if the dog makes a fuss just ignor it untill it settles down then praises it.
3rd. once firing at a distance is ok with the dog move closer and repeat as befor.

keep doing this until your next to it with out a problem.

Answer 5

I used to raise Beagles for rabbit hunting. Had one that always ran home at the sound of a gun. For the amount that we used to shoot, there shouldn't have been a problem. I would tend to say no, but if they heard it constantly everyday, seems like they'de get used to it. You'd just have to be consistant in your training, and talk supportively to the pup all the time to allay his fears.

Answer 6

yeah don't point it in his direction... lol

but seriously it is something that he will get acclamated to the longer he's exposes to hunting with you. Usually well over at least 2 or 3 year old dogs begin hunting with their hunters sort of speak and the earlier you get them out there doing it the better the chances for their sporting... good luck

Answer 7

you have to expose him to gunfire - shoot some clays with a smallbore - .410 and gradually work up to 12 gauge. Some will come around some won't. You have to make it a fun event , truck ride ,romp in the field and so forth.

Answer 8

possibly. It will take some practice with blanks & lots of positive re-enforcement. Some dogs can get over the fear & others don't. They're just like humans that way.

Answer 9

probobly, if its an older dog it might be hard. You just need to get him use to the noise of a gun. It make take many rounds of ammo, but if you stick to it, it should work.

Answer 10

Yes, search for K-9 police training websites and farms.