timid dogs

[jstbob]

My dog yager is starting to get scared of everything. I had him out about two weeks ago and was shooting over him, not huntin but just in the field. He was fine then but the next day we had a quial hunt at a club and he worked great flushed the bird just like he was soppose to Ias soon as I shot he rolled over on his belly then walked behind us the rest of the day.he still flushed birds but he wouldnt chase. But I also had like 4 other dogs there after the first 4 birds. Yager is 6 months old, I know hes still young but he is starting to run from people, kids even, and from leaves other dogs.
I just wonder if anyone has a timid dog, and if they had any problems training em. I would think that it will be a pain makin him get cripples.

[SBE II]

Hmmm a bit young to be shooting over let alone hunting...I would say patience is the key

[shoreboy06]

work on positive reinforcement when he does'nt run praise him with lots of excitement or rewards....but if he does run don't scold him too much you want to reinforce the behavior that you want

[labman13]

My dog yager is starting to get scared of everything. I had him out about two weeks ago and was shooting over him, not huntin but just in the field. He was fine then but the next day we had a quial hunt at a club and he worked great flushed the bird just like he was soppose to Ias soon as I shot he rolled over on his belly then walked behind us the rest of the day.he still flushed birds but he wouldnt chase. But I also had like 4 other dogs there after the first 4 birds. Yager is 6 months old, I know hes still young but he is starting to run from people, kids even, and from leaves other dogs.
I just wonder if anyone has a timid dog, and if they had any problems training em. I would think that it will be a pain makin him get cripples.

it's always hard giving dog advice on the internet so much of it is seeing the dogs reaction. From the sounds of it, I wouldn't have a gun around that dog for at least a couple months. Get him really excited about retrieving and then re introduced the gun. Most people these days introduce the gun from as far away as 100 yards or more and work in their way in toward the dog. They fire the gun while someone throws the dummy or bird in the air with the thought being the dog will be excited for the retrieve it wont be focusing so much on the gun as well as a couple other reasons(this is already too long). Although a lot of people still will tell you to fire the gun while the dog is eating your better off doing it the other way most retriever folks will tell you. Your dog probably isn't getting retrieves that far which is not a big deal, so you will need someone 100 or more yards away with a gun and a thrower closer to you and your dog. I guess you could throw if you can't get the people. Might not be a bad idea to go backwards to a 22 instead of a shotgun. Little by little work the gun towards the dog and if he ever shows any sign of fear have the gun go farther away.

You would be surprised at how a lot of dogs get turned on by cripples and chase em down, I wouldn't worry about that right now you might have ruined your dog forever by making him gunshy. He might not ever get to see a cripple. Let me also add that if your dog is scared of something the best thing to do is act like you don't notice. You or your family might be sending him a message some how that he should be scared...Just ignore it 100% always and it will show him your not scared so he shouldn't be!!! Although it doesn't make sense to us it makes sense to a pup. Take it slow around guns from now on, and hopefully he'll come around. You need to do a better job socializing him it sounds like with people ect. There are a lot of good books out there that are cheap. Pick a couple up. Once a month I try to get out to DesPlaines near Wilmington and train if you ever want to meet me there just PM me. Good luck!

[jstbob]

hes not gun shy I had him out yesterday. was shootin about 100 yards away my grandfather said he didnt even move. Ive had other dogs huntin at six months. I ran him bout a mile yesterday he was following my older dog thru all the brush even in the bottom of the creek which is the hardest thing to teach an upland dog.

[SBE II]

hes not gun shy I had him out yesterday. was shootin about 100 yards away my grandfather said he didnt even move. Ive had other dogs huntin at six months. I ran him bout a mile yesterday he was following my older dog thru all the brush even in the bottom of the creek which is the hardest thing to teach an upland dog.

Bob,

100 yds away does not guarantee he is not gun shy...you know my number...

Timid is a socialization thing and until he is sitting, healing, retreiving marks...I would wait to introduce the gun..Obstacles are a different part of training..

[leitnerfarmlabs]

dog insight 101 ....yes I would still shoot around him with a gunner out about 50 yds ...with a 209 primer pistol...every retrieve would be a with a shot ...is he Forced fetched ? collar conditioned ? many forget that obedience is the key to it all ....do you send him on his name or say fetchem up ?...when dogs dont retrieve its usally not always caused by confusion ...you have to do yard work for him to be able to do the work in the field ....we always teach the dog in the yard before we take it to the field !!!!! ALWAYS !!!!!!
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