gun shy 1 year old choclate lab

Question
Hi it is very nice to be able to chat with someone that knows their business aboutt this stuff. We got this 1 year old lab and my husband wants to use her for a duck hunting dog , and she is so affraid of gun shots. What can I do about this. Every time we shoot a 22 she gets jumpy, when we shoot a 20 g she hauls but. Please give me some pointers to try. These shots are bout 40 yards away. Thank You very much for your time and help  

Answer
Thanks for the kind words.  I am not into hunting, and never worked with a gun shy dog.  Try the methods I would use on other things.  Do you have a shooting range in the area?  Park a ways away from it and start towards it.  If he becomes agitated, go back a little and work him.  Stay matter of fact.  Fussing over the poor dog rewards it for showing fear.  Be confident your self.  If he isn't obedience trained, do so.  Likely I already told you, you can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat.

After working him for a while, again try to approach the shooting.  Retreat and work him again if you have to.  If you both lose interest in that, brush him.  Labs always need brushed.  Keep working closer and closer.  If you don't get him to it the first day, try another.  Also at home, let him sniff the guns and pat them and praise them.  ''Good gun!''  (Better done at home than at the range where anybody will hear you.)