| If you own a dog, especially a hunting dog and live in | | | | copperhead or cottonmouth without endangering |
| a part of the country that has poisonous snakes | | | | yourself you should do so. In snake country you will |
| then you should train your dog to avoid all snakes. | | | | find dead pit vipers on local roads which will provide |
| Unlike people dogs cannot wear snake boots to | | | | the material you need for advanced snake avoidance |
| protect themselves from the fangs of a pit viper | | | | training. It is recommended that you remove the |
| that lives nearby. Dogs by their nature a curious | | | | head of the poisonous snake before you bag the |
| about everything including snakes. It only takes a | | | | body in a zip lock bag in your freezer. The dead |
| second for a dog to be struck in the muzzle or the | | | | snake parts are thawed out and are placed in a bag |
| eye and you have a serious problem. | | | | with the non poisonous snake for 30 minutes to |
| Hunting dog training that includes snake avoidance will | | | | provide the odor of a pit viper to it. Then the hunting |
| reduce the chances that your dog will be bit by a | | | | dog training process outlined above is employed to |
| poisonous snake. Snake avoidance training is a | | | | achieve the desired effects. The dog's sense of smell |
| specialty that requires the trainer to be very | | | | will help it avoid pit vipers in the wild. |
| comfortable in handling snakes. Several hunting dog | | | | Some trainers use live rattlesnake to teach snake |
| training specialists located in the South and West train | | | | avoidance. This is not recommended unless you are |
| their prize hunting dogs during the regular obedience | | | | very comfortable working with poisonous snakes. |
| training. They would never risk their dog and all the | | | | This process requires the removal of the |
| time and effort they have invested by ignoring this | | | | rattlesnake's fangs with a pair of needle nose pliers. |
| serious problem. | | | | Again the hunting dog training process outlined above |
| We have bird dogs and during their early hunting dog | | | | is used. The major benefit to this method is to |
| training we introduce them to snakes. In many case | | | | provide an association of both smell and the sound of |
| catching a local non poisonous snake is the first step | | | | the snake rattling with the snake. Again this should |
| in snake avoidance. Placing a freshly caught snake in | | | | not be attempted unless you are experienced in |
| front of puppy will cause the snake to strike the dog | | | | handling snakes. |
| repeatedly. It is important not to say anything to the | | | | It must be understood that hunting dog training that |
| dog during this avoidance training. Frequently this will | | | | includes snake avoidance is no guarantee that your |
| cause the pup to avoid snakes for the rest of their | | | | dog will not be struck by a poisonous snake. In many |
| lives. However this procedure frequently needs to be | | | | cases as the dog works the cover it will surprise a |
| followed up with additional training methods. | | | | snake and be struck. However frequently these initial |
| A more intensive method of teaching snake | | | | strikes do not carry a large dose of venom and are |
| avoidance is through the use of an electronic training | | | | used by the snake to warn the intruder off. An |
| collar in addition to a fresh caught non poisonous | | | | untrained dog will frequently turn on the snake and |
| snake. You want to select fresh caught snakes to | | | | be struck again with a full load of venom which may |
| assure that they snake will strike the dog repeatedly. | | | | kill or blind a dog. In most cases a trained dog will |
| Snakes that are handled frequently seldom will | | | | immediately leave the snake alone and continue |
| provide the proper striking response that you need. | | | | hunting. |
| Again the snake is placed so you dog will encounter it | | | | In every case whenever your dog encounters a |
| however when the snake strikes you will use the | | | | snake it should be examined closely. Hunting dogs |
| electronic collar to provide a shock to the dog. | | | | should be put up and observed for any swelling or |
| Applying the correction at the same time as the | | | | signs of a bite. Many Vets will provide you with the |
| snake strikes the dog is important. Again do not say | | | | first aid medicines that you need to treat your dog in |
| anything during this process as you want the dog to | | | | the field. If you have any doubts about a snake bite |
| associate the pain of the correction with the snake | | | | you should contact your Vet immediately. If you love |
| and not you and the training collar. | | | | your dog then you will invest in the time and effort |
| It should be noted that non poisonous snakes do not | | | | to properly train it in snake avoidance. Hunting Dog |
| smell the same as pit vipers. Should you have the | | | | training that includes snake avoidance only make |
| opportunity to kill or capture a rattlesnake, | | | | sense and will save you heartache, time and money. |