Snake Proofing for Dogs

As more and more humans and their pets move into the desert areas of the Southwest, they come into contact with the "locals".  These locals: scorpions, spiders, bees, wasps, centipedes, toads, and rattlesnakes, often carry lethal poison or venom.  We offer effective training that teaches dogs to stay away from the most dangerous of the locals--rattlesnakes. 

The type of training we offer is often referred to as "snake proofing, or sometimes snake breaking".  However, to be perfectly accurate, the training should be called snake aversion or rattlesnake avoidance training.  The idea behind this method is to have the dog associate the smell (and perhaps the sound) of a live rattlesnake with a negative correction--a shock from an electronic collar.  The dog is not harmed and very quickly learns to stay away from live rattlesnakes.

In the United States, approximately 15,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes every year. The highest fatality rates occur in Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas.  In dogs, 70-80 percent of bites occur on the face and head, and 20-30 percent occur on the legs, with only rare cases occurring on the body.  Among the venomous U.S. snakes that bite dogs, rattlesnakes top the list at 80 percent.

Puppies can be trained between 4-5 months of age. The timing of the training depends on the puppy.  A very immature puppy would benefit by waiting until it's five months old.  While a wise old four-month-old would do just fine.  Big breed puppies mature slower than the smaller breeds.  If the puppy has an attention span greater than a Barlett pear, can walk on a leash, is curious, and sticks their nose into everything, they are a prime candidate for training.    There really is no cut off point for old age.  If the dog is out and about and likely to come in contact with a rattlesnake, they should be trained.  I've heard too many sad stories of people losing their old dogs to a rattlesnake bite.

In the desert regions of Arizona, there is no true hibernation season for rattlesnakes.  They can be active any time during the year.  Veterinarians in Carefree and Anthem (AZ) have treated dogs for snakebite in January and February.  If you live in a area where there are rattlesnakes, the best time to train your dog is now!

We offer very flexible, individual training times.  In other words, one-on-one sessions, no big distracting group classes.  We can accommodate most schedules. Your training time can be scheduled during the week, after work hours, or on the weekend.

 Call 480-215-1776 to enroll your dog for this important training. 

 For more information about our training and prices click here