training to the sound of gunfire without a gun??

[maxgibbons]

I am currently stationed in Italy and I am with out my shotgun and I'm not to sure what the gun laws are like for a .22 starting pistol. I will be going back home to the UK soon and would like to have my little Cocker accustomed to the sound of gunfire. Any ideas?? Any help would be great

[Bluecheq]

Try taking her to a local clay pigeon shoot,just let her have a play around in the vicinity of the of the gun shots.
Regards
Bluecheq

[Dandaman_24]

Party poppers

[crackerd]

The gun laws in Italy should be attuned to that country making most of the .22 or .209 pistols in use for gundog training throughout the world.

But in any case, please don't take your pup to a sporting clay range - that's a disaster waiting to happen. See the "Petrified Lab" thread and glom onto the "gunshot by association" bit from Springfield Pointer - the association for all gundogs, including spaniels, should be birds or dummies thrown as the gun's fired.

Good luck.

MG

[Polmaise]

I am currently stationed in Italy and I am with out my shotgun and I'm not to sure what the gun laws are like for a .22 starting pistol. I will be going back home to the UK soon and would like to have my little Cocker accustomed to the sound of gunfire. Any ideas?? Any help would be great

As has been said /..association with something good or enjoyable to the dog , would be natural!...Calming ' to this situation should be quite quick!
and no need to address the situation ever again!...(one of the easiest parts of training a gundog for the first time ! ime)

[Springfield Pointers]

Chaps, you are looking for problems introducing your dogs to shot without making a clear association to birds (or dummys as a distant second)

[pontbeck]

Chaps, you are looking for problems introducing your dogs to shot without making a clear association to birds (or dummys as a distant second)

First time I have not totally agreed with your posts. I have had no problems introducing dogs to shot without using birds. I agree an association has to be made with gun shot and something pleasant, a dummy retrieve in my case. I also use a clay shoot as an introduction, the ground is vast . an old airfield, and I start 600m from the shooting and move towards it throwing dummies and giving praise. If I felt the dog was becoming unsure I would walk away, but so far that has not happened.I had a starters pistol but felt that the sound was nothing like a shotgun.

Bill