The Dog Doesn't Need to Be Gun Shy
No one likes surprises, especially if it's something like a Cherry Bomb
blowing-up right beside you. If that happens, we have a tendency to put the person
who lit the fuse on our S-List. With a dog, they've got pretty sensitive
hearing. But fear of a gunshot is not in their DNA.
It's usually our fault. We've screwed-up by not getting the pup used to the
big bang when we pull the trigger. While there are breeds that are skittish,
firing-off a rifle will probably make them soil their new mohair suit.
So, in the interest of being good folk, don't even try to get you lhasa
apso to become a member of the NRA. They're just not built for it. Enroll them
in a nice knitting club or teach 'em chess.
Flushers, Retrievers and Pointers
Now we're talking gun dogs. The best conditioning takes place when they're
about 9-weeks old. But you can teach old dogs new tricks, too. Before we get
started, here's a list of extremely stupid and insane things to do if you want
to totally fail at getting your mutt used to guns:
• Keep them outside during thunderstorms.
• Blow-off fireworks near the animal.
• If the pup is eating, start unloading your weapon.
• Take the dog to the Shooting Range.
• Think that an old mutt can teach the new guy some gun dog tricks.
• Randomly blow-off a few rounds just to get the animal's attention.
To Do List
What is gunshot? It's a noise. As you raise your pups, get them used to all
kinds of sounds. Keep a radio or teevee on near their isolated portion of the
house. A good place is where you do your laundry. Someone's always slamming
things around where you do your wash. Snapping your fingers, a hearty clap, a
bunch of slightly loud "Good dog" praises are other things to get
them used to realizing they have ears. Go slow; you don't want the dog to turn
into a neurotic mutt.
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