The training is still working

orezok · Apr 27, 2019

This morning I look out onto the rear patio and I notice my dog running away from something with a worried look on her face. I get closer and see that it is a Diamondback rattlesnake. When we got her as a rescue 2 years ago we took her to rattlesnake avoidance training. Kind of a necessity out here in the desert. It cost $75 to train but it probably saved me a $500 trip to the vet not to mention the suffering of the dog.

I captured the snake and called the trainer. They will take them and use them in future training.

Big Barn · Apr 27, 2019

You are right $75 was a bargain. I’m glad the dog is okay!

k0ua · Apr 27, 2019

orezok said:
This morning I look out onto the rear patio and I notice my dog running away from something with a worried look on her face. I get closer and see that it is a Diamondback rattlesnake. When we got her as a rescue 2 years ago we took her to rattlesnake avoidance training. Kind of a necessity out here in the desert. It cost $75 to train but it probably saved me a $500 trip to the vet not to mention the suffering of the dog.

I captured the snake and called the trainer. They will take them and use them in future training.

That sounds like a good deal. I am glad it all worked out good for you and the dog.

dieselcrawler · Apr 27, 2019

Rattle snake avoidance training? Never even heard of it... not that rattlers are all that common in my area. Now copperheads, thats a different story.

How do they train the dog to avoid them? Glad Fido remembered...

orezok · Apr 27, 2019

The training would work with any snake. Training is localized for the common snake in your area. Here its western diamond back and Mojave rattlesnake. The short story is that the dog is fitted with a shock collar and then introduced to 3 snakes one at a time. First is rattle removed so only sight and smell is noted. Second is in a bag so rattle and smell is noted. Third is just in the open so all three senses are noted. Each time the dog approached the snake it receives a significant shock strong enough to make some dogs yelp or howl. After the third snake, the dog wants nothing to do with the sight, sound or smell of a snake.

Slowpoke Slim · Apr 28, 2019

It usually works. Depends on the dog. Some take more than one training session. Some never learn.

Had a good friend in AZ with a GSP that never did learn. She was a "top bloodline" dog, paid a lot of money for her. She was good on birds, but never did stay away from snakes. I think he had her "trained" 3 different times, from 3 different "pro" trainers, each progressively more expensive than the last. Each was told that the previous training didn't "take" on the dog. I think we rushed her to the emergency vets at least 4 times from getting struck while bird hunting.

Her final demise was she licked a toad one weekend at home. It took a while to figure out what she did, and by that time, she was past the window of treatment to save her.

Some dogs are just mule headed.

orezok · Apr 28, 2019

Slowpoke Slim said:
It usually works. Depends on the dog. Some take more than one training session. Some never learn.

Had a good friend in AZ with a GSP that never did learn. She was a "top bloodline" dog, paid a lot of money for her. She was good on birds, but never did stay away from snakes. I think he had her "trained" 3 different times, from 3 different "pro" trainers, each progressively more expensive than the last. Each was told that the previous training didn't "take" on the dog. I think we rushed her to the emergency vets at least 4 times from getting struck while bird hunting.

Her final demise was she licked a toad one weekend at home. It took a while to figure out what she did, and by that time, she was past the window of treatment to save her.

Some dogs are just mule headed.

Your right. Our previous Golden was trained at an early age and never forgot for her final 10 years.