Ok, here goes... So it's that time of year again when I start thinking about going hunting and all that stuff. I start thinking about getting a 2nd dog. Ideally I'd like a dog that'll go hunting / hiking / camping with me every once in a while, be good with cats, and can be teachable to not be gun shy (if that exists)... The wife wants, an older dog with a little less energy, also good with cats, and can basically be a family dog from a shelter.

We've got a bloodhound mix now (mostly bloodhound, but he's got a setter body type (really narrow, and tall), and he points and fetches), and he's the best dog I've ever had (he's about 4 now), but he's super scared of loud noises. For example I was snacking on something the other day and I burped the ziploc type bag, and he freaked out, left the room, and I had to coax him back with food. He's pretty hypersensitive now to any loud noise. I'd like to get him over that to show him he's not in any danger, so we can go hiking with a gun (hunting) together. Which I tried a couple years ago and that was not a good experience for either of us, it was the first time I found out he was gun shy.

So the questions are: Do I give up on trying to acclimate my current dog to loud noises, and get another dog? Or is there something I can do training wise that'll get him over it? Let me know what you guys think.