The record-union., 1892-12-24
F." POINTERS FOR SPORPSMEN.
The Worst Case of Gun-Shyness in a
Dog Can Be Cured.
Veteran Fred. Taft's Method-He Tells
How He Has Brought Dogs to
Love the Gun.

Many finely-bred hunting dog has
been relegated to obscurity because of his
fear Of the gun and the apparent impossi-
bility Of his owner ever being able to re-
move that fear. Some dogs have been
known to hunt finely, and even to point
birds stanchly, but TO run with fear the
moment the gun is discharged.
If all dogs intended for hunting pur-
poses were taken in hand at the age of a
couple Of months and made familiar with
the reports of firearms they would, of
course, become accustomed thereto; but
many puppies are allowed to grow up
without hearing gun until nearly a
year old, and then they do not know
what to make OF it. and often conceive a
mortal dread of the weapon.
IN recent letter to J. NJ. Bassford. Jr.,
OF Nacaville, Fred. A. Taft of Dedham,
Mass, but recently of Truckee. in this
State. gives some valuable information to
sportsmen in the matter of curing gun
shyness in dogs, which the RECORD
UNION is permitted TO publish. Nh.
ait has had long experience and great
success as trainer Of hunting dogs, and
was the owner of the Gordon setter,
" Dorr," one of the best hunting and
trick dogs on the coast in his day. Poor
Dorr lost his lie in the great Truckee
lire couple OF years ago. Thus writes
Mr.. Taft:
First, puppies should be made accus-
toned to hearing mild reports of gun at
feeding time, during the first few months
OF their existence. By mild reports
mean at distance or light charges. y on
Will seldom have a 'gun-shy' one if this
is done. l will now take a dog of six
months or more that VIII stink at the
sight Of gun and run away at the re-
port, or, If restrained, lie down and trem-
bic like leaf. In my more than thirty
years Xperience-long before we had
the benefit Of the many spOrtsmen's jour
nals-I had to teach myself as well as the
dog.
Il find that an even temper, kindness
and sparing of the whip-never using it
in teaching unless you are sure that the
dog knows as well as you that it is neces-
sary. | have found that hunger, prop
erly administered, will do more than any
thing else to obtain certain results. Now
take the confirmed 'gun-shy' dog.
First, have him love you by kind treat
ment; make him as much your COM
panion as possible. Have him chained to
his kennel or in small kennel-yard.
Let him fast for a day, then approach
him with tempting food and discharge
your gun. He will probably retire to
his kennel. Call in another dog, dis
charge your gun, and let him eat the food
Leave plenty Of water with your pa
tent, and occasionally visit him, but
upon no account give him mouthful
unless he will take it willingly at the dis
charge of the gun. Two or three days
will generally bring about the desired
result. he associating the report of the
gun with the welcome food. l have sew
eral times deprived a dog of water tor the
nh n 1,r,+
/ don't like to do it, for he suffers more
than from lack of food.
when the dog shows signs of giving
in, give him but little, not more than
the bulk of n walnut or an egg, dis
charging the gun with each bit. Con-
tinue feeding i'll that way for a few days,
and your dog Will love the gun.
Il have had some very hard cases, and
viii mention two: in 1878 | had Chance
(owned by Edward Dexter, eight months
old, full brother to my Gordon, Dorr At
the sight of gun he would stink away.
and at the report it would be hard to find
out where he was. For five days he was
offered in the presence of a gum food,
and on the sixth he ate his first mouth
full. From that time he loved the gun.
In 1851 George W. Amory of boston
sent to me from England two high-pedi-
greed pointers, Bob and Sal, the former
being a litter brother to Bang Bang. and
Vii tSOi liiOAVAi9 oAU' AAC w DIS d me HlSn-
spirited dog, taking second prize at the
Boston show in strong class Of pointers
''At the discharge of gun you couldn't
see his heels for dust. At the end of a
100-foot line he would lie and tremble; no
amount OF command or coaxing would
make him move. ] saw that starvation
was his only salvation. For nine DAYS
he was visited three times a day with
gun and food, petted and tempted to eat.
ON the tenth he came out and accepted a
small bit, then another. and so on until
he only cared for the gun to love il.
with the above, l contend that any
dog of ordinary sense can be cured of
gun-shyness. Patience and an even tenn
per are necessary. Don't allow yourself
TO get mad. Sometimes the dog is the
superior"