Dogs gun shy?

[TomMN]

It's not hard to break a dog from gunshyness. If you have an area you can do this, the best method I have seen is to shoot when you feed them. If they don't stay and eat, pick up the dish and leave. Next day set the food down, shoot when they come to eat, if they don't eat pick it up and leave. Three or four days of this and they will forget about the gun. It's best to keep it up a couple days after they start eating just to make sure.

I have used this on a few dogs and it has always worked, never seen one that could not be broke of being gun shy.

[jt&z's dad]

Tomn I watched my father cure a hound the same way 25 years ago. 2 or 3 days and he was woofing food down like there was no distraction. We started with a .22 pointed away from the dog and worked up to a .410. after a week he as shooting a 20ga. at feeding time and he was the first hound to the dish. Only problem was he was the first hound to a rabbit after a shot. I have a hound now that will leave a track and run to a gun shot, How do I cure that?

[coolbrze]

Some can be cured but it is normally a long hard road. In my opinion it isn't worth it. Cut your losses and get something that isn't gun shy. Did the person selling them tell you they had been gunned over or was it their first time out?

big dog

I'll 2nd this. You might be able to cure it, but who knows. If you do, get a buddy to stand way out w/ a .22 or small caliber and work up to a shotgun while they're stroking a rabbit.

[Pine Mt Beagles]

YOU WILL PROBLY HAVE A LOT BETTER, SEASON, AND FUN AND LESS STRESS IF YOU TAKE THE DOGS ONE AT A TIME AND FIND OUT IF ALL ARE SHY OR SOME JUST FOLLOWING THE OTHERS IT'S UNSUALTO SEE -4- AT THE SAME TIME..BUT I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE GUY'S MOST TIMES IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE TO BREAK THEM .FIRST TIME SOME ONE SHOOT'S CLOSE THEY WILL BE SHY AGAIN-----JMO

PINE MT BEAGLES
KEEP'EM RUNNING

[S.R.Patch]

"Prevention is the best cure"

A hound is not born knowing he's to run rabbit, nor how or with physical ability. It is only through exposure, experience and conditioning that he may become a useful partner in the field, how is it any less with the gun?
A hound brought up right will have come to love the gun and knows the sound of it's bark means game is at hand.
Knowing how to read and handle a hound to bring out the best in them is what will separate you from being just a hunter and becoming a houndsman.
Best of luck...

[HarleyPA]

JMO

I wouldn't just tie em up and shoot. When their tied up, their alert to whats going on. Have someone else hold them or put them on a long check cord and let them get distracted. Use a 22 short from a distancce.

Everybody has given good advice. I haven't had experience with dogs that are gun shy, but I started my dogs the right way. My gyp knows what a gun is, she looks forward to when I carry one.

Good luck

[Spruce Ridge Beagler]

Yes , firing a 22 at feed time has worked for me in the past as it has others. Just make sure everyone at home is on the same page with you.
No sneakin treats out by the kids or whoever.
Good luck , Dave

[CHRIS WHITT]

YOU WILL PROBLY HAVE A LOT BETTER, SEASON, AND FUN AND LESS STRESS IF YOU TAKE THE DOGS ONE AT A TIME AND FIND OUT IF ALL ARE SHY OR SOME JUST FOLLOWING THE OTHERS IT'S UNSUALTO SEE -4- AT THE SAME TIME..BUT I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE GUY'S MOST TIMES IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE TO BREAK THEM .FIRST TIME SOME ONE SHOOT'S CLOSE THEY WILL BE SHY AGAIN-----JMO

PINE MT BEAGLES
KEEP'EM RUNNING

Thats what I was going to say , we had three dogs a few years back that was gun shy , when we took the dogs out seperate we found that as long as another dog keep running they paid the shot no mind .
(1 dog turned out to be gun shy , but the other 2 wasn't )