Refresher Rattlesnake Training

[Diane Margetts]

Dakota had a terrible morning. We went back to Rattlesnake Avoidance Training for his first annual refresher. It was the same location this year which is a hunt club about an hour drive away. It was a much more disappointing experience than the initial training. First, Dakota remembered the bad things that happened last time so he was very scared and wary --tail down and head between my knees while we waited our turn. The instructor even commented that his attitude may cause him to make a mistake.

The whole thing lasted about 5 minutes. When he was led to the baby snake, he refused to make eye contact with it which is how he responded last year. This year, his behavior was considered as avoidance which is the goal so no correction was needed and they moved to the next challenge. This time it was a snake skin and Dakota did sniff it so he was zapped--that was a fail. Next was the hidden snake rattling behind a rock. He doesn't like strange noises anyway so he correctly backed off. I'm not sure if they took him back to the skin or not. Before I knew it, The instructor was telling me to call him to me. There was a large snake between Dakota and I. Dakota had that "get me outta here" look on his face and he actually go closer to the snake than I would have liked--probably within 3 feet. He did stop at that point and wouldn't cross the snake to get to me. He finally figured out a path to me going through and under some benches.   . . .Then it was over--the instructor said he passed all but the skin. Hmmm . . .

Dakota's behavior showed me that he wants nothing to do with snakes so I think we'll consider his training complete. IF, we did do this again, it would have to be in a new setting--his memory is too good!!! --No pictures. My husband was home because he is recovering from surgery and I decided that rattlesnakes AND a camera would be a bit much!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am so glad you decided against pictures, because just reading this has given me palpitations; if there had actually been pictures of snakes, I would probably be shaking.

Kudos to you Diane, for going all out to keep Dakota safe. Honestly, I couldn't do this, I'd have to have a friend or relative take JD for the training. 

It does sound to me like Dakota's rattlesnake training is complete. Sniffing the skin doesn't really seem like a big deal to me; I would think a dog could tell that it's not alive. Unless they use a fresh skin every time, it probably doesn't even smell like a snake any more. Maybe it smells like people and other dogs. :-)

I hope your DH recovers quickly. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

yikes-garden snakes freak me out.  good for you to make the effort to protect Dakota...I am also glad Long Island is not rattlesnake country.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think Dakota showed great common sense and is fully trained.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Living in Michigan, I've never heard about rattlesnake training before now. What a great idea this is to protect your dogs! Is rattlesnake training common in states where these critters live?
I've learned so much new and interesting information from all around the world in the 7 months I've been on DK!!! Thank you all for sharing and answering questions.

[Diane Margetts]

I didn't really know that much about Rattlesnake Aversion training either until we had two Rattlesnakes, within one week, almost come into our garage at our lake house.I looked into the training and found it to be "available" in snake prone regions but its usually at hunt clubs in rural areas. It's not "easily" available, we had to drive an hour to get there, and you have to be will to adjust to their limited schedule: Dakota also gets an annual Rattlesnake vaccine.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Two, that close, wow! I think I would have done the same thing you did even with the troubles you've had. Hopefully you won't have more surprise snake visits for quite some time!!

[JoAnn & Dakota]

Thanks, Diane for posting this. I've come across rattlesnakes while hiking with other dogs and it scares me to think what my Dakota would do. I had never heard of rattlesnake aversion training. I'll have to look into it in this area. (Idaho)

[Diane Margetts]

JoAnn

Don't know if this is in your area but it looks like a good session to consider . . . http://snakeavoidance.org/

[JoAnn & Dakota]

Thanks Diane, I live in Boise so that would work out well if we are here that weekend.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am not comfortable with snakes even though my sons have had them as pets. I admire you for having Dakota take the training.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

We had a similar experience with Gracie Doodle on her third avoidance refresher class.  She also wanted no part in any of it. When we made a turn onto a dirt road and drove up to the training facility...different from last year, she immediately started acting not so excited.  Some how she knew.  She didn't want to get out of the car and then she also tried to pull us back to the car.  They put the shock collar on her and took her out into the field.  She did everything right and they brought her back to us.  They like to repeat it again in about 15 minutes so we had to wait around with her while they did another dog.  Now for the real p*****...they left the collar on Gracie but forgot to leave behind the hand held shocker control.  They took a dog out in the field that really was a ditz and as they shocked the dog, it was Gracie getting shocked instead.  We couldn't figure out why she was jumping up and pulling and crying.  This happened about three times before we realized the other dog was not getting shocked and Gracie was.  We were so DONE at that point.  They didn't even seem to feel bad that they had screwed up!!!  Needless to say, this year we didn't refresh.  Also, this year we didn't do the Rattlesnake Vaccine because we found a big knotty lump on her hip right where they give the injection.  After having the shot and boosters for the last three years, she developed a calcium deposit which was the lump.  That required surgery and so now we are done with all vaccines.  We don't have rattlesnakes where we live so not big deal.  I was just doing it as a precaution so we could take her anywhere and know she had some sort of training.  These Doodles do NOT forget!

[Diane Margetts]

Grrrrr  . . . there's no excuse for that kind of negligence. I agree they don't forget and I agree that Gracie and Dakota are DONE!! They are official "No Rattlesnake" Zones !!!!!!