Hey All,

My Ranger is 9 months old this month and his training has been arduous but fun, he is a most excellent dog. We have Whoa left been working it he understands it but does not like having to stay motionless lol. Anyways I was wondering how some of you fine folks out there break your gsp's into gun fire. I have started out with a cap gun then we used a starter pistol and I am leary to fire my 12 guage yet cause i do not want to get him off on the wrong paw. He has done well with the other noise makers, does however stop to see where the noise came from which I do believe is not exactly good any advice is as always greatly respected and appreciated thanks so much.

Josh

My suggestion would be to do your gunfire when he doesn't notice the sound.  I like to get a pup chasing a bird in the air and start further back and fire the starter pistol.  You really shouldn't get a reaction as they are so into chasing the bird that they don't react to the gunfire.  I then get closer and closer to the dog while the bird flushes and is chased.  It helps to have two people, one to fire and one to flush the bird.  Once you feel good about no reaction to the starter pistol you can move to the shotgun and go through the same process.  Hope this helps.

Matt

Thanks Matt I have been doing just that and it just seems like he is more interested with the sound of the gun it doesn't scare him but he seems really into where the sound came from and the other hand he is really birdy as well ANYTHING with wings he wants he is now started to see what I want him to be interested in but repetition, repetition, repetition like every thing else.

Thanks Matt I have been doing just that and it just seems like he is more interested with the sound of the gun it doesn't scare him but he seems really into where the sound came from and the other hand he is really birdy as well ANYTHING with wings he wants he is now started to see what I want him to be interested in but repetition, repetition, repetition like every thing else will be the key.

Dittos what Matt said,

Make sure that you associate loud noises with some positive, ie, feeding time, play time, a bird busting out of cover.

I start my pups off with banging feed pans together at feeding time.

I also use empty laundry detergent bottles for them to play with when they are young pups. They romp and play with those things and make all sorts of noise.

Be sure that you take them away though as soon as they start chewing on them. You do not want them ingesting a bunch of plastic.