{"id":14453,"date":"2023-04-14T19:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T23:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/?p=14453"},"modified":"2023-07-01T19:53:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T23:53:21","slug":"snake-avoidance-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/14453","title":{"rendered":"Snake Avoidance Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many people haven\u2019t heard of this life-saving training, but it is a topic worth discussing as warm weather approaches and the critters emerge from their winter slumber. When John and I were in search and rescue, my German Shepherd, Cooper, had snake avoidance training. I definitely want Eli and Jake to have this training too. Look for the video at the end of the post.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs do not naturally fear snakes as humans do and need to learn by association. Approximately 150,000 dogs are bitten each year by venomous snakes. The cost of veterinary care can be thousands of dollars, and it is estimated that only 5% of dogs recover. Training your dog to avoid snakes when encountering them could save you a lot of heartache and money. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who should do snake avoidance training with their dog? Anyone whose dog goes outside attended or unattended. Dogs stick their noses in all kinds of places. How many times has yours peeked under a bush where you could not see? Maybe you have a yard with a fence where they run free? A snake can sneak in anywhere, even places where they previously have not been seen. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Photo courtesy of Outside Bozeman<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most training involves a dog handler, a trainer, an e-collar and long-line for the dog, and a few snakes staged in cages throughout a training area. Some facilities have an observation area for the dog owner, and others allow you to walk with the trainer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"20230414_091259\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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At the trainer\u2019s direction, the handler will perform a series of encounters with the snakes with your dog, ensuring that the dog smells and hears the snakes if rattlesnakes are involved. The trainer will offer \u201cstims\u201d or negative reinforcement at appropriate times, letting the dog know this smell\/sound is unpleasant. The handler is instructed to \u201crun away\u201d from the snake, indicating to the dog that it should flee and not fight. After repeating this training sequence several times, the dog will naturally avoid the scent and sound. After your dog\u2019s initial training, you should repeat it in six months, and then once a year is usually sufficient. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following video shows the result of Eli and Jake\u2019s training. We encountered rattle snakes after this training and both dogs gave the snake a wide berth. Eli also prevented me from going to an area where I later saw a rattle snake. The training WORKS and I have peace of mind knowing I have done all that I can to protect them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partner\u2019s Dog Training<\/a> in <\/span>Cave Creek, AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trainer: Christopher Oosthuisen<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"christopher-oosthuisen\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handlers: Claudia with Eli and Sierra with Jake<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"HandlersClaudiSierra\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snakes: didn\u2019t have names.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WesternDiamondBack\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many people haven\u2019t heard of this life-saving training, but it is a topic worth discussing as warm weather approaches and the critters emerge from their winter slumber. When John and I were in search and rescue, my German Shepherd, Cooper, had snake avoidance training. I definitely want Eli and Jake to have this training too. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[458,4],"tags":[879,215,875,1193,1194,1192],"class_list":["post-14453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fur-kids","category-general","tag-andy-and-candy","tag-arizona","tag-black-canyon-city","tag-eli","tag-jake","tag-snake"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/WesternDiamondBack_thumb.jpg?fit=674%2C674&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3hvz5-3L7","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14113,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/14113","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":0},"title":"Chehalis TT, Napavine, WA","author":"Wendy","date":"June 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We have finally arrived in Washington state and have a few days before John goes to work at the JBLM in Tacoma. The campground sites here at Chehalis TT are very private with trees and thick vegetation between the sites. Eli and Jake are relaxing outside as we finish setting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/20230531_154933_thumb.jpg?fit=383%2C288&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14652,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/14652","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":1},"title":"Beartooth Pass","author":"Wendy","date":"July 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, we are homeless for the day. The RV is staged and ready to go into the garage to have it\u2019s oil pan replaced. For us, it\u2019s time to go adventuring. We are heading to Red Lodge, MT and the Beartooth Pass. Red Lodge is a quaint area that we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230706_102158_thumb.jpg?fit=820%2C616&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230706_102158_thumb.jpg?fit=820%2C616&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230706_102158_thumb.jpg?fit=820%2C616&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230706_102158_thumb.jpg?fit=820%2C616&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11793,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/11793","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":2},"title":"Agate Fossil Beds National Monument","author":"Wendy","date":"May 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When we first arrived in the area of the agate fossil beds we thought we were going to find some great rockhounding. Oops. The name \u201cAgate\u201d comes from the Agate Springs Ranch which was owned by James and Kate Cook. They had bought the ranch in 1887 and with in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200523_101253.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200523_101253.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200523_101253.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200523_101253.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5022,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/5022","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":3},"title":"Cooper 2000-2011 R.I.P.","author":"Wendy","date":"August 21, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Let me start out by saying that up until getting Cooper, I was strictly a cat person. Stereotypical girl thing I know, but cats are easy. You feed them, water them, clean the litter box, open the door to let them in and out, and pet them on the rare\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/photos\/mcooper_1.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15062,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/15062","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":4},"title":"Fishing and Hiking Custer State Park","author":"Wendy","date":"July 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we are heading to one of the many lakes in Custer State park here in the Black Hills area of South Dakota so Jim and John can do some fishing, and Becky and I are taking the dogs on a hike. Jim is coaching John on fly fishing techniques\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230711_124057.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15141,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/15141","url_meta":{"origin":14453,"position":5},"title":"Deer Lake Drive","author":"Wendy","date":"July 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Jim wants to scope out some other fishing spots for John and him. Custer State Park has a multitude of lakes and fish-able streams. Deer Lake is near Flag Mountain where there is an abandoned fire tower or lookout or something, so we are going to turn this into an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230713_121326_thumb.jpg?fit=892%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230713_121326_thumb.jpg?fit=892%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230713_121326_thumb.jpg?fit=892%2C670&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/20230713_121326_thumb.jpg?fit=892%2C670&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14453"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14458,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14453\/revisions\/14458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}