Rattlesnake avoidance and alert training in Utah!
Are you in or around Salt Lake City and looking for rattlesnake safety training that does not use shock collars? Look no further because It is absolutely possible to train dogs to avoid rattlesnakes without shock collars and I can help you!
Jamie Flanders CDBC FPPE CFDM
Dog performs an auto recall and at handler alert when he detects the scent and hears the rattle.
Compilation of dogs putting it all together and rocking it!
Traditional rattlesnake aversion classes are taught using shock collars. The dogs in the class are presented with a live rattlesnake and are then delivered a painful shock. The idea behind this is to associate rattlesnakes with pain so that the dogs will fear the snakes and avoid them. In theory, and often in practice this is an effective strategy.
However, for many dogs, this fear conditioning results in unwanted side effects, behavioral fallout, or even the opposite of the intended effect! Because the trainer cannot be in control of what connections the dog is actually making, you run the risk of the dog making unintended associations with the painful shock.
After going through traditional aversion snake training, dogs have been reported to be; fearful of leashing, distrusting of their handler, fearful of men in hats (the trainer at that time was a man in a hat), or fearful of noises similar to rattlesnake rattles such as the sound of sprinklers. There have been reports of dogs panicking and running off uncontrollably after finding a snake. And in some cases, instead of the intended “flight” response to the snake that the training is aiming for, dogs learn to attack the snakes instead!
When I asked Ken Ramirez, one of the leading experts in the dog training industry who is spear heading the positive reinforcement rattlesnake avoidance and alert training, if he had any experiences he could share regarding the use of shock aversion, this is what he had to say;
I grew up on a ranch in southern New Mexico where rattlesnakes were common and many of my family's dogs and neighboring rancher's dogs were injured or killed by rattlesnakes over the years. Over a period of 10 years I was familiar with 17 dogs who had been trained to avoid rattlesnakes using a shock collar. Of the 17 dogs, 9 were successfully trained that way - by successfully, I mean that the dogs avoided snakes the way the trainers intended. The eight that were not successful failed for various reasons. For three of them, after their first encounter with a rattlesnake (while on a cattle drive) they raced away just as they had been trained. But their fear response was so great that they refused to go back out on a cattle drive EVER again. Two developed a fear response to any sound they heard on the trail or in the house, they were fearful messes and could not work again and it affected the quality of their life after that. One became so aggressive that he attacked the first rattlesnake he found and died from the multiple bites he obtained from the experience. And the last one came back from the trainer a nervous wreck, fearful of everything including his owners.
When we compared these results to the results of the previous 10 years, when they never did any snake avoidance training, these same owners had 15 dogs among them over the 10-year period. Only three of the 15 dogs ever got bitten by a rattlesnake and they did not die. Based on that comparison, the ranchers in the area concluded that aversive rattlesnake avoidance training was not worth it. Prior to the training they had zero deaths and the dogs had long working lives. After the training, only 55% of the dogs were successful - almost half of them failed miserably. The ranchers determined that it was better not to train the dogs than to use the aversive techniques. I came along a few years later and we managed to convince several of the ranchers to try the positive reinforcement technique. The initial project was with five dogs. All were trained successfully and have encountered live snakes and responded appropriately, it has been eight years so far and their dogs continue to do well. Other training using positive reinforcement techniques have been done with other dogs in other locations in the years since. Over 50 dogs have been trained using positive reinforcement techniques. Of those 50, only one dog was unsuccessful, but he never developed problems like the dogs trained with aversive techniques - Ken Ramirez
Positive reinforcement rattlesnake avoidance training aims to teach dogs to remain calm so that they can make good decisions, avoid the snakes, and perform an at-handler alert to the presence of the snake. In my training classes we also have the privilege of having access to rattlesnake experts who will teach you about the local rattlesnakes, where they are found, and about their behavior. Understanding these creatures better can help alleviate some of the fear you may have that comes from the unknown. Another benefit to this type of training is that it can be applied to more than just rattlesnakes!
Traditional rattlesnake avoidance training utilizes, muzzled or maimed (defanged) and stressed snakes, I find this to be unethical and inhumane to the snake. Did you know that rattlesnake fangs grow back? That means they have to continually pull out their teeth to subject them to the training!
Positive reinforcement rattlesnake avoidance training only requires fake snake facsimiles, rattle recordings, and biological samples of the snakes. For my rattlesnake avoidance safety program I am partnered with several Utah organizations that are all helping in providing my classes with the biological samples we need.
Are there guarantees?
No. Regardless of which training method you choose, there are no guarantees that your dog will be completely safe from being bitten by a rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes do not always rattle when threatened, are often hidden, and if the environmental conditions are not right, your dog may not catch the scent of the snake or may not be paying attention to the environment enough to notice. Training, regardless of the method you use only improves your odds.
The one guarantee that you have with using positive reinforcement to train your dog to avoid rattlesnakes is that you will not be at risk for the psychological and behavioral fallout that you are at risk for with the traditional shock style.
Prepare before you go
If you are going to be hiking with your dog here are some suggested emergency supplies to pack in case of a snake bite:
• First aid kit.
• Benadryl (1 milligram per pound of body weight once every 4 hours).
• Emergency rescue harness. Example: https://mountaindogware.com/dog-carrying-harness-usa.html
• Your cellphone fully charged and a backup battery.
• Basket Muzzle – When in pain your dog may bite you. If you suspect your dog may bite the veterinary staff, muzzling your dog before you arrive can help avoid the staff having to waste time trying to muzzle your dog. If your dog was bitten on the face do not attempt to muzzle.
If your dog has been bitten by a rattlesnake
If your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake remain calm, about 95% of dogs survive rattlesnake bites. It largely depends on the size of the dog and how much venom, if any, was received.
• Seek emergency veterinary care immediately. The sooner a dog receives emergency care and, if possible, anti-venom, the greater the chance of survival.
• Call the clinic ahead of time and let them know your dog was bitten by a rattlesnake so that they can prepare for your arrival.
• You may be asked to identify the snake but do not waste precious time trying to locate and photograph/identify the snake. The most common snake in Utah is the Great Basin Rattlesnake.
• Do you what you can to keep your dog calm. The slower their heart rate, the slower the venom moves through the blood stream. Do not run your dog back to the car.
• If able to do so, carry your dog to your car. Putting an emergency rescue harness in your hiking pack is recommended if you have medium or large breed dogs. If you cannot carry your dog, walk slowly to inhibit the snake venom moving through your dog’s body.
Recognize the symptoms of a rattlesnake bite in your dog
• puncture wounds (possibly bleeding)
• severe pain
• swelling
• restlessness, panting or drooling The following symptoms may manifest quickly, or over the course of a few hours:
• lethargy, weakness, sometimes collapse
• muscle tremors
• diarrhea
• seizures
• neurological signs including depressed respiration
Utah veterinarians who carry antivenin
Always call ahead to make sure they have it on hand. Be prepared for a costly veterinary bill close to $2,000-$3,500. Each dose of antivenin is very expensive and your pet may need multiple doses. Many Pet insurance companies will cover some of the cost of snake bites.
Blue Pearl Cottonwood Animal Hospital 308 W 7200 S, Midvale, UT - 801-871-0600 .
Open 24 hours.
Cottonwood Animal Hospital 6360 Highland Dr, Murray, UT - 801-278-0505
Open 24 hours
Advanced Veterinary Care 1021 East 3300 South, Millcreek, UT - 801-515-2074
Open 24 hours
Rattlesnake informational resources
https://www.clickertraining.com/snake-avoidance
https://www.alongtheway.org/rattlesnakes/close.html
https://www.wildawareutah.org/utah-wildlife-information/snakes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgnHkh0wcoY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ODACANcE7Q