boardmaker
A good 3 year old buck
Guys, I could use some ideas with a gun shy dog.
I have 2 two year old male German Shepards. Both of them were saved in some way shape or form. They are great dogs and very smart. For the most part, they listen well and are a pleasure.
One of the two is EXTREMELY gun shy. I live way out in the country, and it's several miles to the nearest neighbor. If he hears a loud shot, he will just run whatever direction he is pointing until he finds a house. Deer rifle season is a PITA. I wind up putting him in the basement for the season. Even the sight of a gun, pistol or rifle, he gets nervous.
The other dog is fine. He gets a little uneasy, but only because the other is scared. I don't think he would be a problem if the first dog didn't run.
Things I've tried:
I bought a gamo air rifle. I had hopes he would watch me shoot it and slowly get used to it. That's not really happening. He sees me with it out, and he will walk away and hide. I have slowly introduced him to it. A little here. A little there. And it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I had plans on stepping up from that to a 22 and slowly getting bigger.
The dogs are kinda sorta leash trained. They will let me leash them, but it's not their favorite. So I've thought to leash him a whole day and just shoot shoot shoot. It seems a little cruel, but it's for his own good. I'm afraid he will hate the leash from that point on and possibly run once I do let him free.
I had the idea of electronic collar, but I don't think that would work for gun shy. The dogs respond pretty good to most other basic commands. They can be at times a little high strung, but they're still pretty young.
I also do not have a dog kennel. I've never had a tied up or kenneled dog. We've always let them have freedom. It would be very hard for me to consider either of these as a solution.
He is probably the best dog I've ever had. This is his only hurdle. Any Ideas guys? I would love to break him of this.
Thanks
Lucas
I have 2 two year old male German Shepards. Both of them were saved in some way shape or form. They are great dogs and very smart. For the most part, they listen well and are a pleasure.
One of the two is EXTREMELY gun shy. I live way out in the country, and it's several miles to the nearest neighbor. If he hears a loud shot, he will just run whatever direction he is pointing until he finds a house. Deer rifle season is a PITA. I wind up putting him in the basement for the season. Even the sight of a gun, pistol or rifle, he gets nervous.
The other dog is fine. He gets a little uneasy, but only because the other is scared. I don't think he would be a problem if the first dog didn't run.
Things I've tried:
I bought a gamo air rifle. I had hopes he would watch me shoot it and slowly get used to it. That's not really happening. He sees me with it out, and he will walk away and hide. I have slowly introduced him to it. A little here. A little there. And it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I had plans on stepping up from that to a 22 and slowly getting bigger.
The dogs are kinda sorta leash trained. They will let me leash them, but it's not their favorite. So I've thought to leash him a whole day and just shoot shoot shoot. It seems a little cruel, but it's for his own good. I'm afraid he will hate the leash from that point on and possibly run once I do let him free.
I had the idea of electronic collar, but I don't think that would work for gun shy. The dogs respond pretty good to most other basic commands. They can be at times a little high strung, but they're still pretty young.
I also do not have a dog kennel. I've never had a tied up or kenneled dog. We've always let them have freedom. It would be very hard for me to consider either of these as a solution.
He is probably the best dog I've ever had. This is his only hurdle. Any Ideas guys? I would love to break him of this.
Thanks
Lucas