First of all, COMPLETELY quit firing the gun around your dog for now. At feeding time, start out by banging two metal pans together, then immediately giving the dog it's food. This will help the dog begin to associate loud noises with something pleasurable. If at first the dog cowers, lowers its tail and ears, or jumps, do not reassure or pet the dog. This may sound harsh, but if you do so, you are giving positive reinforcement for the undesirable behavior. Once the dog no longer reacts to the pan banging noise, you've made a step forward. Now, buy a training pistol that shoots blanks. Many large sporting goods stores carry these, or you can mail order one from Cabela's or other supplier. This time, have a helper. Before feeding, have your helper fire the training pistol at some distance behind you, towards the ground, then immediately feed the dog. Each time you have no reaction, have your helper close the distance until you are able to fire the pistol in the air near the dog and feed. Again--pleasurable association of feeding accompanying the noise of the gun.

Next, I would suggest buying some training birds. Quail or chukar would be best, but pigeons will do in a pinch, if that's all that's available. Take several birds and plant them in a field or area where such birds would normally be found. Don't let your dog see you put them out. Once the birds are planted, take your dog "hunting" for the birds. Let him/her find them on his/her own. Repeat this exercise A BUNCH of times until the dog begins to associate going out in a field with you with finding birds. If he/she chases, so be it. No pressure right now on steadiness. Just get the dog completely fired up about finding birds.

When your dog begins to look forward to these forays afield with you and is very excited every time you go, it's time for the next step. When you take your dog out to the field and he/she finds and/or points the bird, flush it. When the bird flushes and the dog begins to chase it. fire the training pistol towards the ground behind your back. (Or have a buddy do it for you). Again, this will help the dog associate the noise with something pleasurable (when the gun fires, the bird goes and dog gets to chase it). If the dog reacts negatively to the sound (cowers, tucks tail, runs away, or returns to you, ignore it). Move on to the next bird and do it again. Repeat this any number of times until there is no reaction from the dog upon firing the training pistol.

When you no longer see a reaction, repeat the exercise with a .22 caliber fired behind you. If there's no reaction to this, next time try a .410 or a light load .20 gauge fired at the ground some distance behind you. If there continues to be no reaction, have the gunner move closer to you when firing, and gradually close the distance, ending with firing in the air or at the bird. If gunner can hit the bird and give your dog an opportunity to retrieve it, so much the better. Again, the dog learns to associate the noise of the gun fire with something pleasurable--getting to retrieve the dead bird.

If this is successful for you and your dog, great. If not, you can either enlist the aid of an expert trainer dealing with such problems, if you wish, but personally, I'd neuter the dog, find him/her a nice pet home, and start over with a well-bred pup and introduce noise and gun fire gradually to the new pup the way I've described above.

Some dogs seem to have a genetic predisposition to sensitivity to noise and/or gunfire. Generally, however, problems like these can be avoided with a gradual and well-planned introduction to it such as I've described above. Gun-sensitivity may have a genetic predisposition, but gun-shy dogs are MADE, not BORN, for the most part. It's a much easier problem to avoid, than fix later on. Good luck!

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