EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

We made a hunt last night, and long story short, I carried my pistol for only about the 5th time in about 5 years of hunting.  Never had the need to use it either, until last night.  Now, I still didnt use it, but had a couple of really good oppurtunities to use it.  My question that ran through my head as I drew my gun and cocked it was "What are the dogs going to do if I shoot?".  I know many of you prob carry and use it as well, and I also figure it depends on the dog and if they have to get use to it or if they will continue to work.  Our bay broke the first time, but we eneded up with two.  Im just wondering if anyone has some input as to what the dogs would more than likely do.  They had all already left out again when I had two pigs come out of the briars maybe 15 foot from me.  Any input would be great on how your dogs react to a gunshot.

I've seen mine go both ways. Some will just flinch and jump right in on the hog when it goes down... some will flat out leave the country. Start shooting around them at the house as much as you can and they'll get used to it.

Before i got a tracking system, i used my pistol as a means to bring my dogs back with in eye sight. At hm if telling/yelling dont shut the nieghborhood dogs and my dogs up, i shoot my .22 n it all goes quiet for a while. In the woods, and the only time iv done it while the dogs were bayin, a group of 10-15 came runnin by n i started plunking away n it didnt phase the dogs.
You situation is an experimental 1, like mike said shoot around them at hm n they may get used to it. Try it in the woods during a bay n see how they react, it could be good or bad, wont know till you try

I had a friend that liked to carry a gun on his utv and he was worried about what the dogs would do to so he took the dogs on a mock hunt and he shot while the dogs were baying the gun shot didnt seem to bother them

Ive got one dog that runs back to the truck, one that goes just out of sight, and another that immediately catches.   I always try to start calling them in as soon as you shoot.   Let them know everything is alright.

Mine will leave the country and that is the way I want it.  If for some reason my dogs do get shot at I want them to leave the country.

LOL I have owned all types. The first ones I could shoot into the ground and they would catch any hog. Some would run straight back to the truck as soon as they saw the gun. They are all different. Got some neighbors that thought if they shot up in the air the dogs would be quiet well as soon as they hear the gun they go crazy? who knows, until you try just make sure they are collared up so you can track them just in case.

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Can go either way. Mine are usually to focused on the hog. The shot may startle them but they usually go strait to them if they break. I would start shooting around them at feed time. Start at a distance and then move closer. Until they pay no attention to it.

Buy you some .22 lr subsonics. CCI makes some. They are significantly quieter than regular .22. Then move up to bigger guns if they do well. Maybe shoot a few while they are in a bay pen or in an actual bay so they will be distracteded  and link the shooting with something they enjoy. I started my female squirrel dog on subsonics because she crawls under my feet if I shoot regulars. Subsonics don't seem to bother her anymore and she is getting used to the regular ones now. She is timid dog.

My male was leary about .22s when I first started him but now I can go dove hunting and shoot a 12ga right over his head and he don't care.

Great advice.....I agree 100%. I have always carried a firearm of some sort.....I've said this before.....if you hunt with dogs long enough you will run into the situation where you need a gun......sooner or later. Our dogs are quite used to gunfire and to them it means someone has seen a hog. If you start shooting around them as pups you shouldn't have any trouble with them being shy of it later on. Just don't use fireworks.....bad deal there, not good for dogs at all. If they're gunshy now, use the 22 subsonics or CBs as they're called sometimes. Just be calm and give 'em time to adjust, then move up to 22 shorts, then on to centerfire stuff. You'll have to have patience and not get aggravated if it takes awhile to get them used to it. If they're really gunshy try shooting a ways off from them at feeding time, you can't start to softly,.....but you sure can start to loudly. Good luck.

Saturday night was the first time I used mine but I don't go without it.  I shot thinking it would scare my dogs but they rolled over and bayed another one

i crack a 6 ft bull whip at feeding time to get mine use to the pop it seems to be working