Yeah, but it'll get down voted like a mofo here...

Not my dog, but a guy on my lease. He had a new dog and it was gun shy. First day of season it literally ran off.

We caught it and had the "That's tough luck conversation".

He says, "screw that."

He brings the dog the next morning and ties it to the blind. We bust off on some teal and the dog damn near tears down the blind, but doesn't get away. After it calmed down, he unleashed it and it went for a retrieve. Next group comes in and that dog goes wild again. Literally choking itself out trying to pull away from the collar.

Anyway, that goes on for a few more weeks. People started avoiding the situation and refuse to go to the blind with him. Like it was bad. A lot of yelping and brush rattling.

The guy stays after it and the dog gets a lot better. By the end of the year he was fine.

The dog is now 6 or 7 years old and a decent retriever.

Only one I've ever seen have their feet held to the fire, but he sure enough over came it. I know of quite a few others that just became back yard pets because the owners just gave it up day 1.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by TheCurmudgeon

Not where I want to be

Member since Aug 2014

1481 posts

Posted on 6/1/17 at 6:36 am to Clyde Tipton

It's all about acclimation. When a Border Collie is scared of the sheep when young, it gets put in a "pack pen". Basically a stable stall with 5-6 sheep and the dog. Dog couldn't get away from the sheep. I'd sit on a chair in it and read a book.

Sometimes it took 1/2 hour, sometimes a couple hours, but it didn't fail, dog would realize the sheep weren't something he needed to be scared of.

I've not trained a gun dog, but if it were mine he'd spend a lot of time hearing a lot of gunshots. Maybe start him 50 yards away, then move him 10 yards closer in steps once he realizes noise won't hurt him?

1 ...

Report Post

Outdoor Board - Replies to Post

Return To Board

Page 1

Return To Board