The American Beagler Forum

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY YEARS OF BEAGLING, I HAVE TWO GUN SHY PUPS BOTH OUT OF TWO DIFFRENT LITTERS , BOTH ABOUT A YEAR OLD, BOTH CAN RUN THE STEW OUT OF A RABBIT. BUT WHEN SHOT OVER BOTH COMPLETLY QUIT,TOGETHER OR SEPERATE. A COUPLE TIMES I HAD TO GO FIND THEM, ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Find new pups....


Tony

Were they running solo or with a pack?
I've seen pups taken out with strangers get spooked when the guns started popping. However, when taken out with the pack with which they were familiar, the first shot spooked them. When the pack continued to run the rabbit they soon got back with the pack. The next shot they looked up and then continued to run. The third shot they never looked up and continued to run.

when you feed your dogs use metal dishes and bang them around so they get use to loud noises, then they will asociate the loud noise as a good thing, after they start running use a 22 to get them use to the gun, it won't be as loud as a shotgun so it will ease them into getting use to guns, but make sure they aren't right next to you and make sure they are on the track when you fire a round or two off

T Hynes wrote:when you feed your dogs use metal dishes and bang them around so they get use to loud noises, then they will asociate the loud noise as a good thing, after they start running use a 22 to get them use to the gun, it won't be as loud as a shotgun so it will ease them into getting use to guns, but make sure they aren't right next to you and make sure they are on the track when you fire a round or two off

there is no reason at all u have to go through this. either some one has all ready screwed these pups up or they are screwed up from birth. decide wich one of the reason it is then destore them.

Hey Bill, thats kinda what I was getting at but a little more beating around the bush so to speak...lol.

I don't understand why people want to spend their time and effort on trying to get hounds "over" bad behaviors that they should be put down for...a beagle isnt by nature a man shy hound or gun shy for the most part, and these traits should be eliminated from the gene pool whenever possible. Just MHO only....



Tony

Can't say this is a cure but, My cousin got an 8 month old pup last year that was scared of his own shadow. Just the sound of a car door closing would scare the bejeezus out of this pup. Every time we went out the pup would run great with the other hounds but as soon as a shot went off he was out of there. After about 6 months of the pup being kenneled close (approx 25-30 yards) to where we sight all our rifles in this pup doesn't even flinch at a gun shot anymore.

I've never personally dealt with a gun shy dog other then this one but i wouldn't give up on one immediately.

-Tim

I think this all came about New Years Eve, my neighbors had a huge fire works show. They where shooting fireworks off 50 ft from my pen, needless to say my pups freeked out. I hope they come out of this, and im sure they will after talking to a few people that have delt with the same thing.

Next fireworks show you might want to have a radio playing to distort some of the bang. JMHO

It isn't much of a hastle to bang there feed dishes around when you feed them or to use a 22 to get them use to shooting around them, if the desire to run a rabbit is in them this wont take long to break them of being gunshy

i have a 3yr.old if she is in the race she doesnt pay any mind if not she will come to me and stay awhile . i will take pups ouy with a 22 get a good wats from them and shoot then move
up to a 410 . it usually works .

a gun shy dog is just as bad as one that will not hunt by its self but people dont shoot them. I won't own either its all in how much you like the dog if you want to work with him or not if not bill has a good sugestion

I won't keep a dog if I can't break it from bad habits either,ex.(back tracking, taking trash, babbling, gun shyness, and etc.) but I will work with them to break them from those things if I can.

see, he answered my ??? u can try to fix the promblem, but in most cases it's very difficult to cure. next time i would talk to the neighbor, and move the pups before the show. good luck.

I've heard some old timers say to break a gunshy dog they would go out to feed when the dogs came to the bowl and started eating they would shoot a 410ga or something if the dogs ran into the house they would take the feed away and try again the next day they said that the dogs would eventually get hungry enough they wouldn't pay any attention to the gun shot.hope this helps it can't hurt trying