I've wondered that also, Brood. I've only had one gun shy dog, and I was his second owner. I'm thinking that it was trauma from the previous owner, possibly while hunting, or around guns, that made him that way, not necessarily the 'bang' itself.

The second night my current lab was at my home (he was only 50 days old) there was a HUGE thunder/lightning storm. I mean, biblical, rattle the windows, hurt your ears type storm. He never even wimpered, but I lay awake all night thinking "is this scaring the beejeebus out of him?". Nope... loves guns, and is a great dog.