Bird Dog Development Series – Introducing your dog to the gunshot.
By Steven Weir
A question I get asked a lot is “How do I introduce my dog to the gun?”
Let’s start off by making one thing very clear: any dog showing signs of gun shyness is a direct result of improper introduction and training. No dogs are born gun shy.
If you bought your pup from a reputable breeder, it is more than likely that your pup has already had a soft gun introduction. For the sake of this article, let’s pretend we brought home an 8-week-old pup that has had no introduction. There are many ways to introduce a dog to the gun, but the method I will explain leverages your dog’s natural instincts to make the introduction smooth. It also creates a positive association with game birds.
The prerequisite for your gun introduction is that the dog has already been introduced to birds (preferably birds thrown from a bird bag). Homing pigeons and a starter or cap pistol are required. Begin by throwing birds in front of your dog and allow them to chase the birds.
While the dog is chasing the bird flying away, shoot a muffled shot (lower the pistol into the grass) while paying close attention to your dog’s body language. Ensure the dog is in “drive” and actively chasing the bird. Do not shoot the pistol if the dog is not chasing or is coming back towards you. Continue to repeat this process by throwing birds for your dog and firing the starter pistol. You can start to decrease the amount of muffle of the shot while monitoring your dogs body language. Keep these sessions short and fun for both you and the dog.
As your dog gains more confidence around the gunshot, you can then introduce the shotgun. The first time you shoot a shotgun over a young pup, you want to kill the bird. This ensures the dog remains in drive and creates a positive association with the gun and the bird. Do not put any obedience or structure around the gun introduction. The goal is for your dog to be excited and remain in “drive” during this process.
Steven is a lifelong supportor of Pheasants Forever’s habitat conservation and mentorship programs. He is a trainer and proprietor of Westrock Kennels specializing in bird dog development and training.