So the other day I was at the range trying to teach a female friend of mine how to shoot with my 10/22 and another pair of shooters shows up and starts tearing through some magazines. Now I don't mind sharing the range, it is public and free, but who should show up with this group but their little dog, a yorkie if i remember correctly. It was a well behaved dog, not causing any trouble at all, but i felt so sorry for it the whole time. I certainly don't shoot without hearing protection, and when by accident i have my .45 nearly knocked me out of commission, and I don't even want to imagine how bad my AR-15 would hurt, and dogs have even better hearing than humans. It honestly encouraged me to leave earlier than I would have liked. Does anyone here have a dog at the range policy, or am i just worrying too much?
Dogs at the Range?
- Thread starter MDH90
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The Sarge
Member
Never.
Absolutely no pets allowed.
Distraction, accident waiting to happen, no regard for the pets well being (as you pointed out).
Never.
Very poor idea.
Absolutely no pets allowed.
Distraction, accident waiting to happen, no regard for the pets well being (as you pointed out).
Never.
Very poor idea.
Leverb66
Member
The range that I go to has a trap range as well and I have seen several people walking their (bird)dogs on leashes. They kept a good distance so as not to be a distraction. I assume they were trying to get their dog accustom to gunfire.
Frozen North
Member
The only way I could ever see it being anything but stupid would be to acclimate a gun shy bird dog to the noise.
A dog trainer is welcome to tell me that's stupid too.
A dog trainer is welcome to tell me that's stupid too.
I understand getting hunting dogs accustomed to the sound of gun fire, but that is rather intermittent, and only to get the dogs used to the noise, and as you said, the dogs were at a distance from the sound, not under the shooting shelter with the guns.
W.E.G.
Member
Some dogs don't seem to mind it.
If the sound of gunfire does not cause the dog to misbehave, I think it should generally be up to the owner as to whether the dog goes to the range.
From my observation of dogs at ranges, the dogs generally distance themselves some from the guns if given the choice to do so.
I would not deliberately expose a pet to large volumes of gunfire at close range.
Every mammal can suffer hearing loss if exposed to loud sounds.
If the sound of gunfire does not cause the dog to misbehave, I think it should generally be up to the owner as to whether the dog goes to the range.
From my observation of dogs at ranges, the dogs generally distance themselves some from the guns if given the choice to do so.
I would not deliberately expose a pet to large volumes of gunfire at close range.
Every mammal can suffer hearing loss if exposed to loud sounds.
I've taken my dog to the range.
First visit, she stayed in the car about 30 yards back from the skeet range with the windows open so I could see if it bothered her. It did not.
Next visit, she stayed on a five foot leash at my side while I stood off to the side of the skeet range, roughly 20 yards distance. Again, no problems.
Third visit, I was by myself and had her heel while I shot a round of skeet.
Final visit, that @#$*! shot a 24 to my 19!
:banghead::banghead::banghead:
I'm never taking her to the range again, what a distraction!
First visit, she stayed in the car about 30 yards back from the skeet range with the windows open so I could see if it bothered her. It did not.
Next visit, she stayed on a five foot leash at my side while I stood off to the side of the skeet range, roughly 20 yards distance. Again, no problems.
Third visit, I was by myself and had her heel while I shot a round of skeet.
Final visit, that @#$*! shot a 24 to my 19!
:banghead::banghead::banghead:I'm never taking her to the range again, what a distraction!
Frozen North
Member
I would like to add that a yorkie would make a horrible bird dog. I don't think it would do too good against a crippled honker. 
Inebriated
Member
If the dog isn't showing discomfort, I wouldn't be too worried.
Though I wouldn't expose my dogs to it. I just think if it bothered the dog, it'd show.
Though I wouldn't expose my dogs to it. I just think if it bothered the dog, it'd show.
Mike1234567
member
Pretty darned thoughtless and/or careless on their part, IMO.
Inebriated, you're partially right. However, ears of mammals have a way of acclimating to loud noise so it's not so uncomfortable. The only problem is that it can still cause hearing damage. So while it might not bother the dog, it could still be causing him permanent hearing damage.
The-Reaver
Member
So, taking a hunting dog hunting and shooting birds out of the sky is now wrong or should be looked at as being wrong?
I took my mut to the range. Set her off and fired some rounds. Brought her closer and closer till I broke her of the fright.
I agree with Inebriated if it hurt the dog. You will know it.
I took my mut to the range. Set her off and fired some rounds. Brought her closer and closer till I broke her of the fright.
I agree with Inebriated if it hurt the dog. You will know it.
Ringolevio
Member
If you want your dog to get over being gun-shy, you have to expose him to gunfire. But to have him with you in the booth (especially a covered one) is probably not the best idea, for the sake of his hearing and also for general range safety.
It only takes exposure to a few shots to acclimate a dog to gunfire. While there's probably no need to expose him to sustained gunfire, I think that close exposure to fireworks, and the accompanying concussion, would be much more harmful than exposure to gunfire.
I routinely take my dog (a GSD) with me when I go to the outdoor range (where the firing line is under a roof). I keep him in the vehicle or, in hot weather, tied up a fair distance away, but where I can see him. He would indicate by his behavior if he were uncomfortable, but it doesn't seem to faze him, nor does his hearing appear to have suffered.
On a related note: 'Ever notice how some dogs will howl when they hear a siren? Lots of folks say that it's because "it hurts their ears". I've observed enough dog behavior to know how a dog acts when sound makes him uncomfortable (putting his head on the ground and trying to cover or shield his ears). I believe that howling when he hears a siren is because the siren sounds like another dog howling, and the dog is "answering".
My dog "sings" along with me, and believe me (despite what anybody might think of my singing!), it's not because my singing annoys the dog.
It only takes exposure to a few shots to acclimate a dog to gunfire. While there's probably no need to expose him to sustained gunfire, I think that close exposure to fireworks, and the accompanying concussion, would be much more harmful than exposure to gunfire.
I routinely take my dog (a GSD) with me when I go to the outdoor range (where the firing line is under a roof). I keep him in the vehicle or, in hot weather, tied up a fair distance away, but where I can see him. He would indicate by his behavior if he were uncomfortable, but it doesn't seem to faze him, nor does his hearing appear to have suffered.
On a related note: 'Ever notice how some dogs will howl when they hear a siren? Lots of folks say that it's because "it hurts their ears". I've observed enough dog behavior to know how a dog acts when sound makes him uncomfortable (putting his head on the ground and trying to cover or shield his ears). I believe that howling when he hears a siren is because the siren sounds like another dog howling, and the dog is "answering".
My dog "sings" along with me, and believe me (despite what anybody might think of my singing!), it's not because my singing annoys the dog.
El Mariachi
Member
Our two dogs will sit behind the range tables 25 feet away all day long and never flinch once. One is a Great Dane/Lab/Pit mix, and the other is a half Korean Jindo something-or-other. The first time we took them to the range we were a bit worried about their reactions and hearing but they seemed fine the whole time. Second time we tied them back a bit further behind us----and they cried 'cuz they couldn't see us real well. So we moved them back up a bit and they just played around with their chew toys and food and again never flinched. That was about 6 months ago and today both of their hearing is perfect. Like they can hear the mice in my garden at night, or when the baby raccoon that's been living in the avo tree behind us moves around.
We don't take them to the range anymore but why their hearing is not damaged is beyond me......
We don't take them to the range anymore but why their hearing is not damaged is beyond me......
Inebriated
Member
KennyTHX said:
True. I do wonder how much damage could be done over the relatively short life span of a dog, and if it is any worse due to their more sensitive hearing.
Not trying to defend shooting around them more than the occasional hunt, just curious.
Gryffydd
Member
A relatively few number of shots fired in the open from (typically) a long barreled shotgun is a far cry from sustained fire from high pressure center fires under a covered area.
Bravo Sierra
Member
I can frequently find the local range in the national forest empty.
The last time I went, there was a couple guys with their dog. The dog was kept back from the firing line, but the dog was obviously not liking the gunfire.
What bothered me more was they were drinking beer while shooting.
The last time I went, there was a couple guys with their dog. The dog was kept back from the firing line, but the dog was obviously not liking the gunfire.
What bothered me more was they were drinking beer while shooting.
Sav .250
Member
Some people just don`t think! Sad.
MyGreenGuns
Member
My pup came shooting plenty of times. He doesnt seem to be bugged by it, since he tries to be underfoot when I shoot. I took him out with friends one time. They were amazed he wasnt barking at all, he just laid down on my coat and watched us. He isnt tied up and could get farther away if he wanted. I do wonder if it could eventually hurt his hearing. At the same time, he hunts moles moving underground, so hes ok right now.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Moved to the Hunting forum. More on topic there it seems.
Mike1234567
member
No one stated that dogs shouldn't be used as hunting helpers. The difference is that range time will expose the animals to many times the number of shots fired and there are more reflective surfaces rather than open field and/or absorptive surfaces. All this adds up to a very big difference in how much damage is done to the dog's hearing.
buck460XVR
Member
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Apparently not many folks here have hunted behind a pointer when hunting tight holding birds such as woodcock, quail, pheasants and others. Many times the dogs are only feet in front of the gun when it goes off. Same is true for retrievers when hunting from a pit or laydown blind. The dogs are generally at your feet or beside you when the gun goes off. I tend to think a shottie shooting 3 1/2'' mags is as loud as most centerfire rifles. Many times in these situations the dogs are exposed to hundreds of shots in a day. Does it bother them? Generally not. Does it hurt their ears? Maybe, but my dogs never complained and they never went deaf either. Maybe it has something to do with their ears covering their ear canals, I dunno. But if a well mannered dog enjoys going to the range with it's owner and it is not showing distress nor is it hampering or bothering the other shooters, what's the big deal? Sheesh........some folks get irritated at the smallest of things.
rjrivero
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