ah, thanks guys...I hunted with dogs my whole life and never saw a dog that was gun shy, ever...they knew when a gun went off, they were fixing to be fed
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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For those of you who have fired weapons near your dogs (cops, military, hunters, whoever), what do you think of the gunfire effects on a dog's hearing? I'm still learning to shoot and I have only fired with ear protection. One instance when I didn't get my ear protection on soon enough when someone fired off a round a few feet away from me, it hurt my ears and a ringing in my ears was a result.
What about dogs? Can they be deafened permanently or lose some hearing by the sound of gunfire close by? I ask because at some point I'd like to practice target shooting elsewhere other than a shooting range and would like to have my dog with me a few feet away (tied to a tree and judged for reaction for several sessions).
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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As long as we don't ask a vet that hates guns . His opinion may be biased. I would like to hear a vet's opinion as well, however. It's just that I'd like to hear opinions of those who deal with their dogs everyday, dogs that have been exposed to gunfire often enough for the handler to have a good idea as to whether there's any loss of hearing in the dog.
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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Thanks Mike, but I wonder if it's the same for dogs. I've never been able to get a definitive answer about gunfire and dogs' hearing. Many dogs are exposed to gunfire and would sure like to know some specifics.
I got to wondering about gunfire and hearing loss in dogs and remembered this post. I suck at searching and lost a good portion of my life that I'll never get back looking for this post. And no answer. Anybody?
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
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The best I can offer is anecdotal at best. Lots of gunfire, dogs on the range, hundreds of ground burst simulators, M-80's and god only knows how many rounds of blanks, a few in combat situations (of course I was trying to cover us with dirt) and I've just never really noticed a loss of hearing.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
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Mike,
I can't back this up in any way except for common sense. We as humans suffer from hearing loss after firing weapons without hearing protection ( after all my combat tours I'm hard of hearing, to be sure ).
This affect is most likely intensified in canines who have a much wider audio range than humans do.
Older dogs becoming deaf is not an unusual case in most vet's officies, and I'm sure that a close study of Police Patrol K9's would reveal a significant amount of hearing loss in their older years.
Of course....how would you test for this?
"Ok, Fido....raise your paw when you hear the sound....."
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Re: Training with Gunfire.
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. His opinion may be biased. I would like to hear a vet's opinion as well, however. It's just that I'd like to hear opinions of those who deal with their dogs everyday, dogs that have been exposed to gunfire often enough for the handler to have a good idea as to whether there's any loss of hearing in the dog.
Brenna
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