English pointer with rooster pheasant flushing out of a grass field.
(Picture Credit: JMichl/Getty Images)

What Does ‘Gun Shy’ Mean For Hunting Or Bird Dogs?

There is a group of dogs referred to as “gun” or “bird” dogs. They typically assist hunters in retrieving game, usually birds. For a hunting dog, being “gun shy” means they are going to spook easily by sudden loud noises: for example, a gun shot.

In most suburbs, life is relatively quiet, and loud noises can startle people and dogs. A…

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