Hearing protection for gun dogs?

[skunkstripe]

Hunting season will soon be upon us and so I started thinking about something I read a while back. There is a high rate of deafness in Retrievers who have been out hunting with their masters. Not surprising, since they are at close range when the gun is fired, as opposed to other types of hunting dogs who are generally far away when the guns go off.
This is not the article I had seen, but it is similar
http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=1812

The simple solution is to offer the dogs hearing protection. Hunters use it, and there is such a thing for dogs, although it was developed for dogs how ride along in the loud cockpit of small private planes.
Warning - if you are at work, this link has a talking dog. ;)
http://www.safeandsoundpets.com/index.html

Some hunters will spare no expense when it comes to outfitting their dogs. There are catalogues with dog accessories for hunters that are almost mind-boggling.

So what do you think? Should gun dogs wear some kind of ear protection?

[applesmom]

It's an interesting concept and certainly does have merit. Even the pointing breeds are liable to develop hearing problems after many seasons of hunting.

However I can't quite picture a hunter with a dog wearing earmuffs in the field.;)

With earmuffs or ear plugs, the dogs hearing would be protected; but by the same token it's hearing would be impaired while working; which could prove even more dangerous to the dog.

On the other hand, if the retriever were trained to hand signals it could be beneficial. But the majority of novice hunters don't bother to train their dogs to hand signals.

I would imagine that if an effective set of ear plugs were to become available, over time they would eventually catch on with avid retriever hunters and competitors who do train with hand signals.

It wouldn't work for the majority of pointing breeds though because they often work out of sight of the hunter and the only means of communication is the whistle. Doggone it!;)

[sheplovr]

We take the dogs down to the shooting club just one mile up the road in front of us. They do not even flinch when guns go off. Maybe it does not effect them a few times to get them accustomed to guns, people shooting them, etc??? That is why I do it I used to target with a 22 hand gun with high power long range bullets. I wore head sets.

[happysaz133]

The majority of dogs on the island here are working dogs. Half are working farm dogs, but the other half are Labs and spaniels that are out working as gundogs. A friend of ours brings his working cocker spaniel Jack to stay in our hotel every month, and over the years, Jack has slowly but surely gone deaf. It's not really affected him, I suppose as it had been gradual over the years he is not really aware of how little he can hear now, but we really do notice it.
I can't see any of the shooters around her buying ear protection for their dogs. And as others have said, they could end up being dangerous to the dog while working.