Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

[PatMarlin]

Anyone here know how to train your dog to avoid Rattlesnakes?

My Catahoula pup is about 1.5 years old now. There are some rattlers down at the creek and he sneaks down there for a dip every once in awhile.

They have training classes, but none up in these parts. I can't protect him from this, and if he got bit chances are there could be a few hours before I would know, then it's 1hour and 45 minuets to the nearest vet.

Any thoughts would sure be appreciated.. :drinks:

[carpetman]

Take your dog to Alaska---they will avoid rattlesnakes there.

[jackley]

Our vet advertises a vaccine for snake bites.

Jerry

[redneckdan]

Take your dog to Alaska---they will avoid rattlesnakes there.



This is the best idea...IMO

[wills]

Defanged rattlesnake and electric shock collar.

[Boz330]

I'm not so sure that some dogs don't go near them instinctively. I had a collie sheperd mix years ago and we killed a rattler and put it on the ground near her and she would watch it but not go near it. And we don't have many ratlers around here, that is the only one I've ever seen.
Last night when I got home from work my wife had found a snake skin on the lawn while mowing and put it on the porch. The dog heard my car come home and came running from the neighbors and she went into instant caution mode when she smelled the thing. Every muscle in her body was set for reverse if needed. I've never seen her as much on guard as she was with that molted skin. She really didn't like that thing on her porch.

Bob

[XBT]

Defanged rattlesnake and electric shock collar.


That is the method I have seen used around here.

[txbirdman]

I've lived around rattlers all my life, in fact killed a 4 footer this week. I've only had 1 dog that was bitten by a rattler and fortunately for her I had some vaccine that a vet friend had given me. The rest seem to know instinctively to steer clear. I had an old Lab that loved to go dove hunting and would retrieve most anything you shot except a rattler. I've seen her stick her nose to the nose of a coiled copperhead and jump out of the way before the snake could strike her but she wouldn't play that game with a rattlesnake. If your dog gets bitten by a good sized rattlesnake and you're that far away from medical help you better get ready to dig a hole.

[PatMarlin]

If your dog gets bitten by a good sized rattlesnake and you're that far away from medical help you better get ready to dig a hole.

I think I had that one figured out all on my own.

[KCSO]

We had a terrier on the farm one time and he would hunt them down and kill them. My mother loved the dog for killing snakes but hated that he always brought them into the yard. Here on the reservation they have scads of dogs and scads of rattlers and none of the dogs ever seems to get bit. I think dogs just naturally stay away from the snakes.

[montana_charlie]

I had a 'free' Laborador bitch who got bit in our front yard. I had found her out on the hiway two days before, and brought her home. Probably a year old, she was friendly and playful.

She was playing with a thrown ball, when I stopped to talk (for a couple of minutes) with a visitor. Next time I looked at her, it appeared she was trying to swallow the ball. I opened her mouth to get it out, and discovered the cheek was swollen out to look like she had the ball in her mouth.

Suspecting snake bite, I took her to the vet. His examination confirmed my suspicion, and he asked what I wanted to do.
I asked what the options were.

He said, "Well, we have your $35 dollar cure...and we have your $100 cure. The high-priced cure is a dose of antivenin. The low-cost one consistes of a shot of antihistamine, and I send you home with a mixture of Predef and DMSO to apply to the swelling."

Well, this dog was new, free, and it was still unknown if I would keep her. I had not developed an affection (yet) worth $100...so we took the $35 dollar cure.

Within three days, you could not tell she had been bit.

CM

[clodhopper]

If your pup is still around he just might have it figured out already.

[JeffinNZ]

I'm really glad we don't have any snakes in NZ......well, not the reptile sort anyways. [smilie=1:

[MtGun44]

Jeff and I think along the same lines.

When I saw the title to the thread, I thought - well,

just don't vote for them again! [smilie=1:

Bill

[chaos]

Defanged rattlesnake and electric shock collar.

My father used to "train" people's bird dogs in this fashion