Rick wrote:If you want to see folks do back-flips through their bungholes, mention "gun range" in the same sentence with "gun conditioning" on the gun dog forum of one of these boards. But I don't think you can beat a gun ranges for gun conditioning, if you have one within reasonable drive. The "trick," as if it really were one, is simply not take Pup to the firing line and start banging over him but, rather, to start out far enough away from the range that it's scarcely background noise and do thing that Pup enjoys doing to begin associating the distant shooting with good times. If Pup seems a bit put off, pack up and move even farther away. And when Pup's cool with the distant gunfire gradually move your play or walks closer until you are eventually very near or at the range.
Don't worry about the shooting not being associated with birds, neither are the fireworks or thunder it's also best that Pup not worry about. And if Pup doesn't very quickly make the association between guns and birds when you start shooting them for him, take him back to the store and demand a refund.
Rick wrote:Not saying your approach won't work, but it puts Pup's focus on the gun right off the bat, as he's surely going to be concerned about what you're up to when you leave him behind.
Darren wrote:I need to visit the local range for a story soon anyway.
Throbbin Rods wrote:Thunder and fireworks? He waits at the door to see whether there is anything out there to retrieve!
Rick wrote:Forget the scents, "good" and "bad," Harry has plenty of nose to smell bumpers without it and has learned to retrieve them. Just put some decoys out in the yard and discourage him from messing with them if need be, but don't make such a big deal about it that he comes to fear them. Then work him with the bumper as if the decoys aren't there, beginning well away from them and eventually working near and through them. Nothing to it, and moving that process to water should go pretty smoothly once he's viewing them as a regular part of the landscape. Has always worked for us.
Rick wrote:Forget the scents, "good" and "bad," Harry has plenty of nose to smell bumpers without it and has learned to retrieve them. Just put some decoys out in the yard and discourage him from messing with them if need be, but don't make such a big deal about it that he comes to fear them. Then work him with the bumper as if the decoys aren't there, beginning well away from them and eventually working near and through them. Nothing to it, and moving that process to water should go pretty smoothly once he's viewing them as a regular part of the landscape. Has always worked for us.
Weston81 wrote:Rick wrote:Forget the scents, "good" and "bad," Harry has plenty of nose to smell bumpers without it and has learned to retrieve them. Just put some decoys out in the yard and discourage him from messing with them if need be, but don't make such a big deal about it that he comes to fear them. Then work him with the bumper as if the decoys aren't there, beginning well away from them and eventually working near and through them. Nothing to it, and moving that process to water should go pretty smoothly once he's viewing them as a regular part of the landscape. Has always worked for us.
X2, I was worried as well the first time I tried but the dog didn't seem to care one bit.
Rick wrote:Sweet weekend. Whole lot more teal in your marsh than ours.
DComeaux wrote:Nice!
Looks like we may get a little front at the end of the week. Hopefully it brings some birds with it.
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