Disclosed is a method for operating a shaft furnace, in which a top zone of the shaft furnace is charged with raw materials which sinks inside the furnace under the effect of gravity. A portion of the raw materials is melted and/or reduced under the effect of the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace while a processing gas that has at least some influence on the atmosphere prevailing in the shaft furnace is introduced into a bottom zone of the shaft furnace, the introduction of the processing gas being dynamically modulated regarding the pressure and/or the volumetric flow rate within a period of 40 s. Also disclosed is a shaft furnace that can be operated using such a method, resulting in improved fumigation of the shaft furnace.