How early should I intorduce my pup to a cap gun..

[Jesse Rattray]

I am just curious on when I should intorduce my puppy Souris to a cap gun to start getting her use to the sound of a gun.. I have been reading up on this but I have found that every article is different..
With all the great advice I have read on this forum I figured you guys would be the best ones to talk to seeing how you have hands on experience..
Any help would be great..
Thanks,

Jesse Rattray

[Huntingonthebrain]

I started right away with my dog at 2 months. I started with loud music and banging of pots while he ate. Start with banging some pots in the other room as he eats. At each new meal.... get a little closer. I had my dog out with a shotgun at 8 months. The 12 ga doesn't phase him when he is on point now. He just stands there. So I guess the advice is start small and allow him to feel secure with each new noise and level of sound:spoton:

[Jesse Rattray]

Perfect.. I am just loving this forum, a lot of great advice from people who have already gone through what I am about to. THANKS A LOT!!! Here is a picture of Souris the day I picked her up..

[Sharon]

No big hurry. Lots of time. Depends on the confidence of the dog.

I start with a .22 pistol - used while the dog is running away or otherwise occupied , then a .32 blank pistol and then a 20 gauge. Hint: Always shoot ( starter pistols) on the far side of your body when the dog is on point.

[Jixer]

That is good advice Case. Its a lot easier to prevent gunshyness than fix it. If your dog is out running and chasing a bird or two, and you fire your starter pistol behind your back, it is not going to upset your dog. It might just get excited every time you shoot!

[verno]

You have been given lots of great advice here about how to introduce gunfire. If I may add my two cents it would be GO SLOW!
The first year I had gunner, I did things right. As mentioned above I made loud noise, started with a .22 and moved up to the .209. He was doing great. Did 3 CKC tests and one NAVHDA where he never reacted to the shot. Against my breeders stern warnings, I took him hunting with a group of guys that fall. I knew all but one guy in the group. The guy I didnt know turned out to be the type that doesnt know much about dogs and just thinks they are tools to help him shoot stuff, no different than a decoy. When he was up to shoot, and Gunner went on point, I asked him to move to a spot away from the dog so I could move in to flush. Then (heres my mistake) I focused on my dog and didn't watch where he went. I flushed the bird and this fellow was about 10 ft behind me and to my right. He opened up with 3 rounds from his 12ga, and it scared the crap out of me. The dog rolled over and peed, it was a terrible scene.
Thankfully it didnt affect him too much. I kenneled him for the rest of the day, and worked with him by myself the next day. But there was the potential to do some real damage very quickly.

[Jesse Rattray]

This is all great advice.. I have started already with some loud noises, I had to vacume the carpet last night and put Souris in the kitchen. She was very excited and curious of what was making the noise and she ran right into the living room to see what it was and then started to follow the vacume..
I think I am going to start out with a cap gun and then go to a 22. starter pistol and go from there. I have a friend who has been training the Lab and GSP for the last 3 years so he has been a great help to me getting prepared.
As for the idiot who shot and scared you do I would have freaked. Things like that I just can't handle..
Thanks again for all the great advice..

Jesse Rattray

[be2man]

As mentioned, you want a positive association with the gun. You might consider some introduction before 4 months of age. If you can, have the dog distracted/chasing birds and start with an assisstant at a distance of 80-100 yds with a .22 or .209 pointed away from the dog, and you can watch the dogs reaction. If there's no reaction, gradually move the gun closer. If he stops and looks fearful or runs back to you. Stop the gun gun work and build on his "bird drive" before you try it again.