dog not gun shy but shotgun shy need help!!

[Dobermanhunter]

my Doberman is not gun shy when I take him with me when I go out and shoot my 22, compound bow and he wasn't even shy skeet shooting before the normal goose season opened and he didn't seem to be stressed or scared when about six of us went skeet shooting the day before the normal goose season opened.but ever since I took him out for the first day out for goose I can be cleaning my shotgun he will leave the room I'm cleaning it in. that's not really a major thing but it is something I noticed after I took him out with me when I went to goose hunt my grandmothers farm. which after shooting some three inch goose shells I noticed he had wondered off where I found him sitting on his own shivering, which I didn't think much of at first I just assumed he was cold as he had went off the end of the dock into the water. then on the second outing I noticed similar behaviour from him. I'm wondering how/if this can be fixed and also if maybe the sound of either the larger shotgun shells being to tough on him or maybe even the goose calls being to loud for him? I haven't shot with him ahead of me or even beside me. he always just used to hang around a couple of feet behind me. its not like its his first few outings with firearms, I have had him around all kinds of firearms from the day after I got him at 9 weeks. which I now find confusing on why he has become shotgun shy? i was wondering about bringing some treats and working him between shooting like his sit stays and stuff like that and giving him a treat when he listens but I don't want to reinforce the fear of shotguns, I've also let him sniff full and empty shells and the shotgun barrel after I shot and then UNloaded and took the barrel off the shotgun, thinking that maybe if he had an idea of what it was he'd be alright.....any help or ideas would be awesome.

[Sharon]

I have no easy answer. I would say the gun - shyness hasn't come from one event. Quite likely he never did like the shooting really , but tolerated it and at some point said, "That's it. I've had enough."

Hard to fix for a non - bird dog. Bird dogs are fixed- when possible- by making the bird retrieve worth putting up with the shot.

If it were me, I wouldn't shoot over him anymore at all this Fall , and start again in the Spring with a programme that might work.

[mainlymallards]

Carry the gun with you at all times when possible especially when doing things the dog considers fun. He needs to associate the gun with fun which at this point he does not.

As time goes on slowly work him towards an out of site partner shooting rounds. Start at distance x and work him in slowly. Once you are close enough have your partner be in the open.

I have broken one guy shy lab and it was a long and difficult ordeal. This also turned out to be one of the best retrievers i have ever gunned over. Take your time and don't rush him and ensure the gun is associated with fun.

[swampsinger]

There is a lot of difference between a 2 3/4" skeet load and 3 1/2" waterfowl shell.

[Dobermanhunter]

Mainlymallards that's kinda of what I was thinking on doing itd be a real shame to have lost a hunting companion and wasted many hours of bumper training Swampsinger Im well aware of the fact there's a difference between the 2 3/4 and 3 1/2, I also wasn't using 3 1/2s I was using 3 inch. And there's no way 6 guys shooting skeet is quieter then one guy shooting 3 3 inch shells

[Sharon]

Ahhhh. You didn't say in your original post that he was retrieving for you.

"My Doberman is not gun shy when I take him with me when I go out and shoot ....."

I thought he was a companion animal.

Other than bumpers has he been retrieving birds? If the answer is yes , than shoot farther away from him alone , ( not others) and increase the reward greatly = more birds.

[Dobermanhunter]

Sorry Sharon I should have added that besides being my companion he was also used for hunting. I haven't taken him out and been successful yet but I'm confident he will pick up a bird. He would grab squirrels last year when I took Em out for treeing them. I feel like while most guys on here are gunna disagree but a Doberman trained right will work as good as a bird dog... But then again maybe I just have a redneck Dobbie haha

[Dakota Creek]

Am always amazed how owners ... Yes, even retriever owners .... Think their dogs will naturally pick up anything with wings that flies! "I've been training with pigeons and he won't pick up a duck, goose, etc". First question .... Has the dog been exposed to whatever you are expecting the dog to pick up? If the dog has only been trained on bumpers, ducks smell and feel different in their mouths, as do pheasants, and geese different again and talk about a size difference! It takes less time to make the quick introduction of a new species to your dog than to stand there in the field yelling fetch it up while the dog circles around this new "thing" you are asking them to pick up. ��

To the OP, I would take the time and step back and introduce birds to this dog in a training situation (not just ducks if you are thinking of working him on geese as well). Hopefully you can get him excited about retrieving with hand throwing birds for him to retrieve. Then I would be tempted to add a duck / goose call before sending him for the bird. Then add someone at a greater distance with you calling, and them calling then throwing the bird and sending the dog. At this point if all has gone successfully, I would add a gunshot from the thrower after he calls and throws. If all continues positively, slowly move the gunner closer to where you are running the dog from. Like anyone trying to initially introduce gunfire to a young dog, do not rush this process as you try to discover the anxiety your dog has experienced (gunshots, calls, etc).

You may be asking too much of this dog, particularly if you are expecting to work this dog in colder temperatures (and particularly over water), but wishing you good luck in your training and with your hunting season.

[Dobermanhunter]

Wasn't planning on working him over water and I know it's gunna sound very city ish but I got him a coat about mid winter last year after the massive temp drop... I do have a spot where I could get a couple pigeons really quick. Never thought about that, if the weather isn't extremely horrible I may try to get some tonight. Should I first rub the dead bird on the bumper to help get him used to the smell of a bird? Thanks for all the advice

[Dakota Creek]

Sent you a PM