Im working with my dogs to steady them to the flush shot and fall.

While working the process i got to thinking about something.  I worked this process starting with 100% compliance to Whoa and then temptations all the way up to actual flushes.

Anyhow I desensitized the dogs to the shot early on, in fact that was the easy part.  Flush is taking a bit more work but its going pretty quick all and all.

My question is do any of your dogs whoa on the sound of gunfire?

I was thinking things over and thought i could hammer things home by also implimenting this.

Any cons to doing so?

At this point i whoa them on solid points off scent and off of just verbal whoa's.

The only cons I can think of is that you don't want your dog whoa-ing to gunfire on another part of the course, meaning you don't want your dog to hear it's bracemate getting a bird shot for it and come to a whoa. Or at least I wouldn't. Second, I think you might set up an expectation with the dog that there will always be a shot fired, which there won't be in a safety situation or if your starter's pistol malfunctions.

Interesting question though...

Jean

Pixie the method you describe is exactly what im doing and seems to be working.  Sure there are prob instances of FT or testing that it could become an issue; but i do not plan to FT and only am testing to title out my dogs after that and first and most they are hunting dogs.  I think being solid to a whoa on the shot is another form of having control over the dog(s) in the field...also keep from busting other birds in a covey.