Before introducing gunfire, make sure your GSP is:
Super excited about birds, wings, or retrieving
Confident outdoors
Showing strong pointing or chase instincts
A GSP with high drive will naturally ignore noise once they associate it with birds.
With your dog chasing a wing, quail, pigeons, or even a bumper:
Let them run and get fully focused
While they’re excited, have someone far away (150–200 yards) make small claps or light pops
Completely ignore the noise — act like nothing happened
Goal: Dog is too busy having fun to care.
A GSP responds great to this progression:
Helper stands 100–150 yards away with a blank pistol
Dog is chasing a bumper or live pigeon
Fire ONE blank while the dog is running
If the dog doesn’t even look, move a little closer next session.
Go back to more distance and more excitement. Never punish or comfort — just keep it fun.
Over several days:
150 yards
100 yards
50 yards
20 yards
10 yards
Always fire during excitement — not while the dog is standing still.
Once the blank pistol is no issue:
Start 100 yards away with a 20-gauge or light 12-gauge load.
Dog is chasing a clipped-wing pigeon or running a bumper retrieve.
Fire once while they’re focused.
Work closer over additional sessions until you can shoot right as the dog finds or chases a bird.
GSPs learn fast when you pair noise with birds.
Plant a pigeon or quail
Let the dog point
When the bird flushes and dog chases → fire a shot
Dog will associate gunfire with flying birds (which they love)
This step makes most GSPs gun-solid for life.
Avoid chaotic opening days with 20 shooters blasting.
Choose:
A quiet field
Only one gun
Light shooting
Lots of bird opportunities
Keep the experience exciting and positive.
Dog becomes so excited about birds/retrieving that soft distant sound is totally ignored.
Day 1–2:
Let the dog chase a wing, bumper, or live pigeon.
Have a helper 150–200 yards away clap wooden boards or tap two rocks together.
Only ONE sound at a time.
Ignore the noise completely — act like it didn’t happen.
Day 3–5:
When the dog is fully focused and excited, have the helper make the sound from 100 yards.
Day 6–7:
Work down to 75–100 yards.
Increase excitement: faster retrieves, birds, something the dog LOVES.
Signs You’re Ready for Week 2:
✔ Your GSP never flinches
✔ Stays focused on birds/bumper
✔ Tail stays high and wagging
Dog hears small-gun pops from a distance and stays excited.
Day 1–2:
Have a helper 120–150 yards away with a .22 blank pistol.
While the dog is chasing a bumper or bird → helper fires ONE shot.
Only one shot per retrieve.
Day 3–4:
Move to 100 yards if the dog has zero reaction.
Day 5–7:
Move progressively to 75 yards, then 50 yards.
Always shoot ONLY when the dog is excited and in motion.
If the dog pauses or looks unsure:
⬆️ Increase distance
⬇️ Increase excitement
❗ Never comfort or “poor baby” them
❗ Never shoot again that day
Dog associates gunfire with birds flying — the most powerful conditioning for a GSP.
Day 1–2:
Blank pistol at 30–40 yards during retrieves.
Day 3–4:
Blank pistol at 15–20 yards.
Day 5–7:
Plant a pigeon or quail
Dog points → you flush the bird
When bird flushes and dog begins chase → fire ONE blank
This step locks in the mental link:
🔥 Gun = Birds = FUN
Most GSPs become totally gun-solid here.
Dog stays confident around actual hunting gunfire.
Day 1–2:
Helper stands 75–100 yards away with a 20-gauge or light 12-gauge load.
Dog is chasing a bird or bumper → fire ONE shot.
Day 3–4:
Move to 50 yards.
Day 5–7:
Plant birds again.
Dog points → flush → as bird flies, shoot once.
Keep excitement high and minimize pressure.
Choose:
A quiet field
One shooter
Few shots
Lots of birds
Calm, positive environment
Avoid big “all-day every-gun-blasting” hunts for the first few times.