Pistol shot - Page 3

Prager, I test with a 22 caliber, never anything larger at this point. I'm looking for the initial surprise reaction and will base my evaluation on that. If the puppy startles and then recovers in a matter of seconds, that's the response I'm looking for. If the puppy startles runs a few steps and stops and recovers his composure, thats ok and I believe this puppy is of fair nerve, if the puppy runs away and hides I consider him a failure. I can and have conditioned puppies to noise from the time they can hear, a cd recorded with various noises and volume levels played over a few weeks will condition them to most any noise, but you loose the ability to test and evaluate the surprise element, which in my opinion is a true test, not a conditioned response.

I agree completely with you about whip pops and gun fire in protection work, once the dog makes the association
between  the noise and the bitework it's hardwired in his brain. I'm not an expert but I think this sometimes occurs when a line of  back tied dogs or puppies are worked by a single decoy moving up and down the line with continious whip pops, some need more some need less it varies with the dog in my opinion.

I enjoy reading your opinions and experiences, although we may not always agree, I respect your opinion and I am old enough to know there's more then one way to skin a cat.                                  Michael