Can you train a dog to avoid snakes?

[Greybeard]

Boman's post raised this question as we will be spening more time down in Arizona - rattler country. Suggestions? Books? Greybeard/

[SeniorCoot]

Absolutely-- had our two labs done 2 wks ago on ay to Choteau, MT. Guy does 100's each year-- very effective-- all you need is snakes- e collar- and stake and rope--

[REM]

I’m sorry to say there isn’t anything you can do to keep you dog from avoiding snakes.

Now there are some really fast dogs that can catch snakes, but if a dog sees a snake move it just wants to know what was that?

[SeniorCoot]

Sorry REM but read my post above- how many rattlers do you have in Indiana? we live almost 1/2 mi from rattlesnake butte out side of Choteau MT it's aptly named and snakes a re moving NOW! dogs stay away from them now like the plague.

[REM]

Better look us up, we have timber rattlers, diamond back, cotton mouth oh yes we have snakes in Indiana

[SeniorCoot]

Sorry--I hought your state was paved--I still stand by ones ability to teach dogs snake avoidance no matter where.

[REM]

I agree if you stake out and can keep your dog with in eye sight you and have you dog on an e-collar you may be able to keep you dog off of snakes, but if you’re hunting your dog sometimes, sometimes they gets out of your sight a lot! I don’t know about you but my dogs leave my sight a lot when I hunt, and that’s the times when I really have no control.

[SeniorCoot]

Put collar on dog-tie to rope on stake and have rope you hold also tied to him also-put live defanged snake on ground and let dog go to check it out-hit him with collar on highest setting-when he calms down throw snake on his back and hit again--that's it let him free-put snake in another area and take dog for walk--when he smells /sees snake he will RUN to you- later take him to place snake was initially and he won't go near it-that's what collar- rope and stake are for.

[Hi Ball]

Well, I for one have hunted with dogs that have been trained by E-collar to stay back from Snakes!!! Now I do mean, say stay back from the snake, NOT avoid those snakes, I have seen NO DOG trained yet, that will totally avoid a rattlesnake or any other snake in the field, if it gets wind or sees the snake.

Most of those trained dogs will in fact stay 4 or 5 feet back but will bark at that snake and alert others that their is a snake there. NOT just go off like nothing happened savy!!!.... Now I for one would be very reluctant to put one of my E-collars on one of my two year olds and with the collar set on the highest setting mind you as OLD COOT stated, then hit him with a charge.

I use the best and strongest DOG-TRA COLLAR on the market and you just might end up with a dog who then develops problems from such a "shock". Now who is going to defang that RATTLESNAKE may I ask Senior COOT???
I am sure not going to handle those poisonous snakes in order for me to have a defanged snake to train my dogs on.

I have also talked to some older fellows, who trained dogs to stay back from rattlesnakes. Some dogs train out OK and some dogs just don't grasp the lesson plan, either because they are to high strung in breeding and maybe it's natures thing to survive in the dog.....again I don't know 100% facts on why it happens.

I have never seen any trained dog or any dog, just walk away like it is supper time once it has come across a snake. I had 5 dogs bit this summer by copperheads and one by a pigmy rattlesnake........I almost lost that dog. A double dose of Benadryle and trip to the VETS.

I can pull my dogs back from a snake, when they have their E-collar on with my whistle and voice command but only if I am close enough to do so. My dogs will run out anywhere from 50 to 250 yards in front of me, if I so desire them to be that distance in front. It is hard to keep 3 dogs in front of you all the time and know just where all are at during every minute.

[Hi Ball]

REM.......Now 2 years ago, the Missouri State Conservation Commision turned lose some 1,200 rattlesnakes down near Cherry Creek Missouri. Now please don't ask me why such a thing was done in the Mark Twain Forest. I have NO CLUE why anyone, with half a brain, would subject hikers, campers and hunters to Poisonous RATTLESNAKES!!!:eek::eek::mad:

I wonder how that person would feel if their gandson or daughter came back with a rattlesnake bite.......Duh!

Now talk about a dumb thing to do in my humble opinion. I guess the person who sits in the chair at the state level has never seen a person 3 or 4 days after a rattlesnake bite or ever witnessed someone going through several medical operations to restore the use of their arm, leg, hand etc. Not mention all the pain one goes through during that ordeal. This act was total BULL CRAP!!! :mad:

[ncboman]

:)

I have no exp with shock therapy.

My dad was a bird hunter and understood dogs. As a result I was raised with some very fine buddys.

I've seen dogs that are agressive with snakes and I've seen dogs that cower and avoid snakes. Both kinds of dogs from the same litter on more than one occasion. It's the way they were put together, as my ol man use to say.

fwiw, I find it distasteful to read of training dogs via shock collars although I'm sure it sometimes/often works. My old man would never approve regardless. :D

[Hi Ball]

NCboman,.......All I can say is that I am not going to try to train any dogs with an E-collar to avoid snakes etc. I know for a fact, sooner or later, the person handling those snakes is going to get bit and I don't care how good you are or if you have a PHD in front of your name. It will happen and I don't need the worry of getting over a snake bite or come away missing fingers or a hand because of a snake bite.

I would like to know, just how much this person charges to train a dog to avoid snakes? Also would like to know if there is refresher course that must be given at a later date???

Dogs that get bit good by a rattlesnake, even if you have the "anti-venom" with you and can administer it quickly have a 50 x 50 chance of survival and I know of several folks, who's dog had lost a leg from such a bite. Something I don't even want to relish thinking about period. :eek:

[SeniorCoot]

Now Now HiBall- who ever said any official in US Govt. had even 1/2 a brain??As for avoidance--our boys now stay way away from snakes-- will not go near rocks where they have been etc- rattlers are now on move to winter dens abnd soon will be gone for this year--many go to rattlesnake Butte about 1 mi from our place. As for shock to dog--they do not blame collar nor handler but blame the snake hence their avoidance reaction later on --as for de fanging-- lots of folks around here hunt snakes for fun & food-,kill all they can find, or de fang them for various purpose-- guy who did ours Butch nelson- well regarded brittany trainer- does many each year for clubs as fund raiser.

[ncboman]

My *!,>!! dog has gone crazy over snakes since her last fiasco.

I killed a nice copperhead while walking Sunday and laid it headless and quite dead on my wood pile intending on skinning it. Puppydog saw it and tore it to pieces before I could stop her. :mad:

[Hi Ball]

Senior COOT......Now how much does "Butch" charge for curing dogs of going after snakes???

Now for one thing, those dogs may avoid the Montana rocks but hear in Missouri, Arkansas and Illonois, we have lots of grass and those rattlesnakes and copperheads are out their in those fields, not just on rocks etc.

I killed a big copperhead that was wound up in a big tuft of fecue grass. I was standing right next to it within 2 feet and could NOT see that snake while the 2 dogs of mine were barking up a fit.

Finally the female Ali just reached in and grabbed that snake quick and threw it out on the cut strip I had mad with the mower. She was lucky she didn't get bit, she is very very fast. Then the male grabbed him and got bit as Major bit and shook the snake! Glad it was NOT a rattlesnake or I may have lost a great dog. :eek:

[SeniorCoot]

Charge--$25 bucks/dog and we got a evening and am of great BS--Snakes are everywhere in MT around here esp now that they are moving to their winter denning areas and sun/watnth is a bit more sporactic.

[Hi Ball]

Now that is a mighty cheap price, if it really works. I'd give the guy a try with a dog or two but it is just to far for my wants to Montana.:eek:

[SeniorCoot]

Well I can't say as we have been lucky and avoided snakes so far and with cold weather here probably wilol not- BUT he has been doing several hundred dogs each year for MT dog clubs as fund raisers and is no Charlatan-also is Nationally know trainer of French Brits-and judge and trialer himself. a very nice host/person also.