New dog, got questions

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Lupinus

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I picked up a new dog yesterday. About a week ago my uncle got himself a black lab pup (bout 8 months so I still consider that more or less a pup for most dogs) and for some reason now he is surprised the thing chews when he wasn't giving it much attention and had not a single toy for it. So yeah, big surprise it chews right? :rolleyes: Oh well, his stupidity led me to what so far seems to be a sweet well mannered very smart dog who has the basics in place for her training and with a little work should be very good.

But I was wondering about a few things as far as the dog around guns and as a possible hunting partner.

First off what's the best way to get the dog used to gun shots? I was figuring start the dog out while someone shoots something relatively quiet like a .22 and see how she reacts? If she gets a bit nervous or scared best course of action?

From there what's a good way for training to retrieve? She loves fetch and all but I know retrieving game is a whole nother ball park.

Lastly tracking. I'm not necessarily looking to have her able to pick up a three day old trail or anything, but being able to track downed or wounded game would be another goal in my mind. What's the best way to get her started off on such?
 
Get a dummy launcher

They use 22 blanks, like a nail gun. They will launch a plasitc or canvas "dummy" anywhere from about 50-100 yards depending on the power of the blank. The best way to get her used to gunshots is go to a field, have her sit at your side keeping her leashed, and fire a 22 blank in the air. Then give her lots of praise and a treat. Repeat as needed. Just remember to make a game out of it. Labs love games. Same thing when launching the dummys. Start her out with just the dummy. Play fetch with it. Throw it by hand, then when she becomes fond of her "toy", then use the launcher. Just giver her lots of praise, and try to make it fun. Labs have a great work/ play driveand like to please, so just play on that.
 
that was my basic idea, praise and comfort to show her it wasnt anything that is going to hurt her, let someone else do the firing so I can play on that to the maximum. Thanks for the fetching suggestions.
 
glad to help

Some dogs will just naturally just “take” to retrieving. I had a German Shepherd that would “retrieve” potatoes shot from a potato gun.
 
bring treats too. Praise and treats work best.

And make sure you get a soft dummy, one which will not lead her to develop a "hard mouth"

bird isn't much good if the dogs gone and ate it while retrieving it.
:eek:
 
Have someone else shoot for you the first time or so. Slowly get closer if the dog shows any signs that's it's uneasy.

Another helpful trick if your dogs wants to play/ tease you with the dummy is to tie a 10-30 foot lead/rope to their collar. If they start to play games, you have a longer reach and can handle the dog better, and bring it back into the position you want. Most importantly, keep it fun, not exhausting for both of you. Most retrievers are work-aholics and beg to please. I'm sure it will come fairly natural.
 
How about the tracking?

I am thinking of starting with something smelly so that it would be pretty easy and obvious to follow that doesnt smell like much else in the area. Not saying for the exact use but just for sake of something to type lets say chicken liver.

Soak a rag in it, trail the rag, and hide it somewhere out of sight. Make the trail say across an open space and hide the rag in some tall grass.

Take another rag soaked and let her sniff it and then give her the command (whatever it is decided to be) and help her follow the trail. Do the same basic thing but progressivly using things with a lighter scent, scents that blend in with the sourundings more, harder to follow trails, and off course with less help. When she finds the rag or toy or whatever got hidden she gets treat.

Like I said I don't know about chicken liver specifically, its just something rather stinky and not to be smelled everywhere so it is what popped to mind for use as an example.

Sound like a good start off idea? Or am I completely barking up the wrong tree?
 
When I was training my shephard

I used these freeze dried pieces of beef liver that I bought from the pet store. They were a cube about 1/4”, and did smell kinda awful. I think that your dog will be able to sniff out anything that smells remotely like food. Dogs have remarkable noses. Put a Llttle slice (about ½” long) in a tennis ball, and put a bit of whatever you want her to track inside it, I don’t know, maybe some quail feathers, or whatever kind of bird you want her to track or retrieve.
 
I believe this is supposed to be a pretty good book.
http://www.lulu.com/content/132595

We raised Beagles and trained them to hunt. Not quite the same thing but a lot of similar issues.

#1 issue above all else. Train your dog to hit the dirt and freeze at the command "DOWN"! It's not easy but it's important for a hunting dog.

Firstly this helps you catch a rambunctious dog. Secondly it has saved our dogs from being accidentally shot by another hunter on more than one occasion.

"Gun" training was almost always done with a .22 starter pistol. Most of the dogs got through it easily. A few took more work. One female never got past the noise (but got a happy home with a non-hunting family).

For tracking use what you want tracked, for example If it's a duck, put a bunch of duck feathers in a small sack with a string attached. Now go out and drag it along until you have a trail you are satisfied with (short trails to start, longer later on) and leave the sack at the end of the trail. Let the dog track the trail and at the end give them a treat. DO NOT let them have at the sack. You are trying to teach them to track, NOT EAT. That's why you have to have an alternative treat they like at the end of the "game".
 
I am not looking for something specific for them to track every time, more for general tracking where I would have something for her to start.

Say a lost deer or other game and getting her started with some blood found on the ground or some such.
 
Beware

Some dogs don't like gunshots no matter what. I've not met a lab like this, but I have two lab mixes that are not too keen on gunfire while out in the woods.

Some just don't like it no matter what, it may be more breed specific. Not to ruin any enthusiasm, it's just that I've met a few dogs like this. I've also had a black lab that didn't mind M80's going off less than 10 feet from him. The dog never even flinched. Great bird dog that one.

jeepmor
 
Regarding introduction to gunfire...

In my opinion, it's best to take it slow and easy. When I started my GSP this year, I would fire a few shots as he ate. First, I started with one of my kids' cap guns, from a couple rooms away. Each meal, I'd move a few steps closer. After a few days, I could shoot it right over his head and he wouldn't even look up.

Then I switched to a .22 blank-firing starter pistol. Same deal. Whenever he ate, I'd shoot a few times (no more than 3). I started a couple rooms away and each meal I move a little closer. Again, within a few days, I could fire it within a couple feet of him and he wouldn't even look up.

Once he was solid with that, I started taking him with when I'd go shoot sporting clays. Since the weather was decent (not very hot), I'd leave him in his travel kennel in the back of the truck so that he could hear somewhat distant gunshots.

When he was being formally trained we started with him in a field shooting a couple shots at 100 yards or so, and then moving forward about 10 yards at a time. With the base he had, there was no problem at all.

This sounds like a lot of work, but it really did go pretty fast and didn't take much effort. Perhaps he would have been able to progress faster, but I'd rather take the more methodical approach and avoid winding up with a gun-shy dog than try to rush things.
 
My dad's lab/shep mix was deathly afraid of guns. But a few just for fun trips out in the woods with him and my golden puppy and he started to tolerate the shots. His dog and my gloden became fast friends, and the first time they were together duck hunting, he actually stood after the shot! Normally he would hide under anything. But since my little 5 month old puppy was out fetching her first bird, his competitive instinct made him more and more brave, despite the previous 2 years of training! My golden did it with little training, he just needed a buddy. By the end of the year my dad could take him out duck hunting alone and he do all needed retrieves. Though it's not as natural, his drive for retrieving as my golden's is, he still learned with time.

I think tracking will come more naturally. I've used a bunch of the training scents at Gander. Inject the dummys, let him get used to it for a while. Then you can have a helper drag a dummy further out and let him do a blind retrieve. He'll be more used to the scent he's supposed to look for.
 
I have a beagle mix and I trained her to track using dripping off of meat (chicken or roast) to begin with and have worked up to blood. She is only about 9 monthes old and is doing good. She found her first deer the other day. It was an easy find in the open timber floor and only about 50-60 yds from my stand w/ a double lung shot and a lot of blood. Remember to praise them when they do good. Meat, treat, or a ear, tail, foot off the found game. Good Luck and Good Hunting
 
I suppose it would be better to just shoot right next to the dog.:confused:

You want to ease a dog into the situation, make it feel comfortable with the surondings and the situation, then proceed.
 
I start very early (~12 weeks old) by having my wife shoot a .22 100 feet away while I praise the pup and give her a snack.

The next day we move the rifle closer and keep up with the praise and snacks.

Then we go to a .38 pistol, a shotgun, and finally a 30-06.

I have trained my last 3 lab this way and none of them have cared about gunfire. They will sleep in the back of the truck 50 feet away from the line during a Hi-Power Service rifle competion.

In fact none of them will get excited about guns, but they all went crazy when I put on camo for duck hunting.


I do train my dogs that they are not allowed to touch guns, they are not allowed to runaround and knock into them or chew on them.
 
BJ

Nearly the same as what I have done with my last 4 dogs.

My golden will get interested if I'm down by the gun cabinet, but if I grab my wadders, camo or call...she's nuts until she can hop up in the truck.
 
I'm kinda old school when it comes to dogs and gunfire. I take young pups on a hunting trip or shooting. Never had a problem.
 
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