|
|||||||
|
How to Introduce a Puppy to Gun Shot !! - The Ashland Kennel Method... This is a question I get asked A LOT - as with all training there is NO one way to train a dog/puppy - or introduce them to gun shot... what I do works for me, what someone else recommends works for them... so read, train with folks who know what they are doing and ASK QUESTIONS ! The way we introduce gun shot is all done in the field with a gun shot being associated with the dog/puppy making a retrieve for a bird or bumper. Whatever it is your throwing... it is in the field with someone else throwing and shooting.... this is done gradually. Start with a bird boy/ friend out in the field - distance depends on the pups age/maturity level ( as with all pups we start them EARLY at Ashland ! )... saying HUP, HUP, HUP or HEY, HEY, HEY to get the pups attention and so they are looking in the field at the bird boy... then repeat it ... HUP, HUP, HUP and throw the bird when the puppy is looking... make sure the puppy sees the bird fall then release the puppy - we send them on their name. DO THIS EVERYDAY... it will not take long before the pup comes out, sees the bird boy in the field make knows he is getting ready to make a retrieve !! The pup will know when they see the bird boy in the field, they hear HUP, HUP, HUP- they get to retrieve the bird/bumper. After the puppy really knows the name of this game... then have the bird boy say HIP, HUP, HUP - shoot a blank pistol ( OUT IN THE FIELD ) - when you shoot the gun it will make an echo and the puppy will look side to side - to get their attention focused back to the bird boy in the field( watching for the mark to be thrown ) have the bird boy say HUP, HIP, HUP - when hes watching -then throw. So the sequence is HUP, HIP, HUP - Shoot - then HUP, HUP, HIP again then throw... he already knows HUP, HIP , HIP and associates that with getting to make a retrieve - then gun shot in the field just becomes incidental to making a fun retrieve ! Repeat this everyday... then as the puppy gets older you can stop the HUP, HUP, HUP to get their attention - Just make sure they are always looking at the bird boy - shoot the blank pistol then throw the bird/bumper/mark !!! ITS SO EASY ... this is what works for me and my pups !!! I know your first question : 1. What age do I start this ? We start the young pups with folks throwing in the field at 8 weeks or so... after a few weeks of just throwing in the field with an HUP, HUP... then when they are about 11-14 weeks old you can introduce the gun shot... BUT THE KEY IS NOT THE DOGS/PUPPY'S AGE... its making sure they know and associate the HUP, HUP with making a retrieve !!! Every pup is different so train according to your particular pups ability, maturity level and of course - desire to retrieve !!! |
||||||
Keep in mind... most gun shyness is MAN MADE... if you take a shot gun & fire it standing right beside a puppy/young dog who had never heard a gun shot - DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THEM BEING GUNSHY - They will be !!!! It will scare them - as it would scare a young child ... would you shoot a shot gun standing next to your young child - then please do not do it to my puppy either !