[ArmedBear]

My dog acts differently when he's being trained, or when we're going hunting, vs. when we take him on a hike and let him run wild and burn off all his pent-up energy.

I like it that way, but sometimes a hike might really be a training session. So I thought I could carry a fake shotgun so he differentiates between that and a free-for-all hike in the hills.

Does anyone know a source of a rubber or durable plastic prop shotgun that isn't too expensive, and generally looks like a hunting gun as opposed to a short shotgun?

[Virginian]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I found carrying a BB gun was probably sufficient, but I went to a little 22 with the bolt out so I didn't get the local constabulary up in arms. The dogs are smart, but apparently not that caliber knowledgeable. BUT, a toy gun doesn't smell like a real gun, and they do go by smell a lot.

[ArmedBear]

I was wondering about smell.

I guess rubbing a dirty cleaning patch around a rubber gun might not do it.:)

I was thinking about city parks. Many have ponds, and I could train there no problem, but I don't want to get into some sort of trouble for "hunting in a city park."

[PandaBearBG]

A real traing gun is gonna run ya a bit
http://www.kravshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=247

Maybe one of those airsoft guns? For cheap? If you have shooting gloves or a shotshell bag that would have the smell of expended gunpowder or empty shot hulls to provide the scent?

[highorder]

He's a dog. How perceptive could he be?

Cut and paint a mop or broom handle and rub it down with CLP. :)

[ArmedBear]

He's a dog. How perceptive could he be?

Do you have a hunting dog?:)

My dogs know the difference between different clothes. They go nuts when I put on certain pants or boots that I wear on the trail, while paying little or no attention when I change clothes otherwise.

Dogs ignore much of what we humans consider "important". However, they can be amazingly perceptive when something matters to them.

Just for fun, when one of my dogs was asleep at the opposite end of the house, I whispered, very softly, "dinner". I could barely hear myself, and she was out cold, far from me. She came running immediately, like a bat out of hell.

[highorder]

Do you have a hunting dog?

I don't, I was trying to be funny. "Is this thing on?... Hello?..." :)

Having said that, I would craft a replica from a 2x4 and a piece of pipe, and dirty it with Hoppe's #9.

Soungs like fun, considering the wooden M1 thread floating around.

[ArmedBear]

I don't, I was trying to be funny.

I don't have to try to be funny any more. I have two furry four-legged comedians making me laugh whenever I'm awake -- and sometimes when I'm trying to sleep.:)

[rcmodel]

Even a pipe & 2"x4" dummy gun in a City Park could result in the SWAT Team responding in this day & age!

I'd rethink that plan if I was you.

rc

[PandaBearBG]

Maybe have a completely sole purpose hunting outfit from boots to pants that she only associates with hunting if carrying a smelly stick isn't practical? My dog knows my work clothes even when it's dry cleaned and gets all depressed when I put it on. Or maybe train them with new command words for specific situations?

[ArmedBear]

My dog knows my work clothes even when it's dry cleaned and gets all depressed when I put it on.

They sure don't make it any easier to go to work, do they?:)

Yeah, that's a good idea: use different words for an unstructured run through the hills. Not sure how that fits with constant reinforcement. He is a lot better at "whoa" if he hears it every single day -- a few days off and he pretends he isn't quite sure what it means... I'll have to ask the trainer I work with.

[Smitty in CT]

http://www.blueguns.com/