Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs New English Setter in the family. Could use some advice.

Easier and cheaper to take a fired shotgun hull and drill out the primer pocket with a 1/4" drill. You just slip in a primer by hand and after fireing, just tap the edge of the rim and the fired primer falls out.

I'll do that. It will save time and money. I'm working with a 2 1/2 Y/O rookie right now. She doesn't seem gun shy, but I want to work into the report of the gun softly.

She is very birdy with a lot of pointing instinct. Molly is a dog given back to me by a very good friend who learned of Ms. Scarlet's death; she is Scarlet's granddaughter and her clone. Molly was a backyard pet, but she is a dead-serious hunter...good instincts.

Thanks for the tip.

Just an update on this setter. Unfortunately she has definitely been made gun shy. I was disappointed but grateful I have all spring and summer to work it out of her.

Its frustrating that people don't take time and prevent gun shyness. I've never had a dog that suffered from it.

I have no doubt that you can work it out. Sounds like she has drive, so working the gun sounds around birds will be the way to go.

Well after a week and a half of work we have made a little progress. Not a ton, but some at least. Still working in pretty heavy cover with lots of birds toting a 22 rifle. This morning was the most promising. Eight or ten shots over the space of a few hours and many birds produced some notable progress. Like I said, still got a ways to go but am encouraged.

Other than this gun shyness she has been nothing but pleasurable. The vet gave her the once over and thinks she's three. Makes sense as she has more history than we first expected. She made the transition into our home easier than I would have thought. She's even been to 2nd grade show and tell.

Still getting used to the soft nature of these setters. Have had labs, gsp's, and heelers my entire life and this is definitely the most sensitive dog I've ever worked with. Coincidentally it's also my wife's favorite. In the past she couldn't have cared less about my hunting dogs. Now she cares a great deal about this one.

I took some pictures this morning and am going to try and get some posted just for kicks.

Thanks again for the help and encouragement.

Scott

Luv2 safari very pleased for you. must of seemed like xmas and winning the lottery when the new dog showed up. best of luck . Magnum Man

Thanks Much, Magnum!

Molly is a typical setter and just tried to be my lap dog a second ago, as I was paying too much attention to the keyboard and not nearly enough to her belly.

That sounds very familiar.

You poor man...

Yes, yes it does. Happy belated birthday to the "kids!"

Don't go from a 22 rifle to a shotgun. Go from a 22 rifle held just off the ground and fired and as she accepts it raise the barrel higher. From that go to a blank gun with crimps and. Crimps are a lot quieter than blanks. From there go to 22 blanks but fire them behind your back at first and then come around the front as she will allow. When you get to the shotgun, make sure she's off a ways first and use target loads.

Most are not born gun shy in fack most dog accept the gun with no problem. Dogs that are gun shy are generally made that way by the owner going to fast with the gun. A dog that come's shy from the factory is not really gun shy but rather timid to a fault. Not much help for those.

Side note about firing a 22 blank gun, don't fire it inside your pocket. Watched a guy do that once and it caught his jacket on fire. Funny as hell!