BajaNomad - Anti snake training for dogs...........

Anti snake training for dogs...........

Debra - 8-20-2007 at 02:33 PM

Halboo brought up a really good point thast I hadn't thought about. Training your Dogs to stay away from Snakes.

He mentioned training with shock collars, while I'm sure it works very well, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it. Does anyone else know of other training methods?

Thanks, Debra

Get yourself a rattlers tail

Cervisin - 8-20-2007 at 02:53 PM

I do in no way believe in training a dog with any kind of force, electric shock collar or other means. I had 4 German Shepherds the last 40 some years and my experience is: you can associate a command with a noise. It just needs lot of time to get there.

I used to live in San Diego Eastcounty and my second last got bit by rattler right in lip. He got a head like a soccerball, went 4 days under the house in his "cave" only come out to drink, was fine after.

He was trained to stay away from them and did so, the one that bit did not had chance to rattle.

Would not know how to train for other snakes..., yet are there others here on Baja ( I mean dangerous ones) ?

bancoduo - 8-20-2007 at 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cervisin
I do in no way believe in training a dog with any kind of force, electric shock collar or other means. I had 4 German Shepherds the last 40 some years and my experience is: you can associate a command with a noise. It just needs lot of time to get there.

I used to live in San Diego Eastcounty and my second last got bit by rattler right in lip. He got a head like a soccerball, went 4 days under the house in his "cave" only come out to drink, was fine after.

He was trained to stay away from them and did so, the one that bit did not had chance to rattle.

Would not know how to train for other snakes..., yet are there others here on Baja ( I mean dangerous ones) ?

What are the names of the other dangerous snakes in mexico? Snake avoidance classes teaches them to avoid Rattlers even though they don't rattle. Your dogs bite could have been avoided with proper training.
:fire:

Halboo - 8-20-2007 at 03:25 PM

This is the ONLY aversion training my dogs have had.
They are smart, well behaved dogs and I want them to have a LONG happy life.
It has to be a lesson they will not forget and it's been proven time and again it works.
I guarandamntee the 1 or 2 shocks they get from the collar do not hurt anywhere near as bad as getting tagged by a rattlesnake............ and they aren't going to die from it..

Bajagypsy - 8-20-2007 at 03:34 PM

I agree with halboo, the shock collar isn't as bad as people think. Mr. Gypsy tried it on himself before putting it on our dog. It smarts just enough to make you not want to do it again!

Debra - 8-20-2007 at 03:35 PM

You are totally right, I'm just hoping that someone knows a way that dosen't involve make this softy cry during the training.

DENNIS - 8-20-2007 at 03:35 PM

There's a business in San Diego that offers this training. I've seen articles written about them. Can't recall where but basic research should tell you. The price seemed very reasonable and they do use a shock collar, as well as defanged rattlers.
I've zapped myself with a shock collar and there is no pain. It's such an unusual sensation for a dog that it gets their attention. That's a small price to pay if you live in snake country.

Cypress - 8-20-2007 at 03:41 PM

Dogs usually recover from snakebites and just about any other trauma that comes their way. :spingrin:

loretta - 8-20-2007 at 04:00 PM

Most shock collars also have noise only feature.............. at least mine and others I have seen do. I never use the shock feature and my dog has been trained to leave things alone with just the noise being applied during the training. LOL guess you'd have to get some defanged rattlers to d.i.y........ good luck with that.......... better let your dog warn you where they are before you defang em.

DianaT - 8-20-2007 at 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Dogs usually recover from snakebites and just about any other trauma that comes their way. :spingrin:

We took both our dogs to snake avoidance training classes this year. I DETEST the idea of using a shock collar, but, we knew that our big curious Tom would try to play with a snake, and little crabby Maggie would try to attack it---so, better the training.

I almost cried---well did shed a few tears, but the wife of the trainer stands there with her arm around you, explains everything, and is reasurring. She assured me the shock collar really does not hurt---- I still had a hard time.

They suggest doing it two years in a row, but we don't think we will do it with Tom---it really took. He is very cautious about things moving in bushes now. He is so curious that he tried to get near all three snakes---one that rattled, one with no rattle, and one in a bag----the experience really upset him, and me, but it was better than being snake bit --- I have known some dogs who have not survied bites.

Maggie is a different story. She may have to go back. First of all, unlike Tom who would go with anyone, Maggie did not want to go with a stranger----she stayed focused on us and Tom. Also, she is a mouth breather because her tongue does not fit all the way in her mouth so her sense of smell is not as strong. The focus was not there---we will have to do it differently next time.

Oh, we also had our dogs vaccinated. As our vet said, it is not the final answer and if they are bitten, they will still need care, but it helps----she vaccinates her own dogs. Since in Baja we are so far from any type of vet care.

Just how we handled it.

Good luck, Here is the link to the outfit we used. He conducts these classes in different locations. We ended up in Lakeside.
Rattlesnake Avoidance for Dogs

Tears, well that is the hard part

Diane

[Edited on 8-20-2007 by jdtrotter]

Halboo - 8-20-2007 at 04:57 PM

Quote:

Dogs usually recover from snakebites and just about any other trauma that comes their way

That's a gross generalization that has no basis in fact.
Kind of like;
People who live in Idaho are usually white supremacist tax dodgers :lol:

DENNIS - 8-20-2007 at 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Halboo

Quote:

Dogs usually recover from snakebites and just about any other trauma that comes their way

That's a gross generalization that has no basis in fact.

Maybe not but, my vet agrees with this thought, given a healthy dog. There are so many variables that can enter into it but, it's a comforting idea.

bancoduo - 8-20-2007 at 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Halboo

Quote:

Dogs usually recover from snakebites and just about any other trauma that comes their way

That's a gross generalization that has no basis in fact.

Maybe not but, my vet agrees with this thought, given a healthy dog. There are so many variables that can enter into it but, it's a comforting idea.

Your vet sounds like my ex-lawyer :lol:

Cervisin - 8-20-2007 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduo

Quote:

Bancoduo: you are probably right and I/dog was lucky.

Curious -> Ex Lawyer - he meet a snake?? :coolup:

Immunological training for dogs

Frigatebird - 8-20-2007 at 05:39 PM

Red Rock Biologics

CERVISIN

bancoduo - 8-20-2007 at 05:45 PM

He meant me. I thought he was supposed to help snakes. He just stole all my venom. Now I have nothing.

:cool:

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by bancoduo]

DianaT - 8-20-2007 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frigatebird
Red Rock Biologics

Yep, that is the vaccine our dogs received along with the avoidance training.

Yes, I know of several dogs who have survived snake bites, but not always. Good friend lost his 5 year old very healthy Lab---got it on the nose.

Diane

bancoduo - 8-20-2007 at 06:09 PM

Avoidance class is MUST if you live in snake country. The vaccine helps but is not a cure-all. Especially if you live around "Mojave Greens" The vaccine is ineffective if bitten by a GREEN, a very venomous and aggressive rattler. Avoidance training is the only answer.

PS. Try the collar on your wife. Turn it up to the highest level. YOU ARE NOW IN CONTROL! :lol:

DENNIS - 8-20-2007 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduo

Try the collar on your wife. Turn it up to the highest level. YOU ARE NOW IN CONTROL! :lol:

What? No silk whips?

toneart - 8-20-2007 at 09:42 PM

He-e-e-r-rs Paco!

I have the Invisible Fence system to contain my dog here in the High Sierras. He was trained at about one and a half years old. There is a sonic tone that warns him before he crosses the line. If he gets into the field he gets a shock. My dog learned well the first time. He wants no part of the line. He has inadvertently rolled into it while playing, but quickly retreated.

The reason I am telling you this is because the system requires he wear a battery collar which picks up the signal. My dog has always been sensitive to touch. Fortunately you can adjust the intensity of the shock and my dog only needed the lowest setting. I have given myself the shock and it is like a buzz that reverberates through your body. Not hot and doesn't hurt. It just is a big surprise to the dog.

So, I am sure it would be effective in rattlesnake avoidance training. He will associate the shock with the snake and not want to have anything to do with it.

I have heard that the anti-venom does lessen the virulence of the snakebite, but it needs a booster often to remain effective.

Thus far, I haven't given my dog snake avoidance training yet. I really need to because he is both curious and playful. He loves grabbing sticks off the ground. I try to watch him closely and not let him get too far ahead while off leash. One of the commands I give often is "NO EATING!. He is quick to pick up food left by the side of the road or in a field. Part of the locals' method of reducing the dog population is to put out poison, usually masked in hot dogs, or dog food.

Dogs' wellbeing is a big responsibility.

On a lighter note, I may have posted this before, but here it is anyway: I always carry plastic bags to pick up after my dog. The locals must wonder, "What does he want it for; what does he do with it?
:biggrin:

Libbie

bajaguy - 8-20-2007 at 10:10 PM

Our 4 year old Yellow Lab, Libbie, AKA: Flan Breath, has been through the snake avoidance training twice.

First year it took two shocks before she got the message. About 2 weeks after the training she was barking at a hunk of re-bar laying on the ground.

This year for the retraining, she wouldn't even go near the first "bait" snake.

We also get her the anti-venom shots each year....slows down the snake bite effect, but you still need a vet.

Avoidance training was $60, unknown price for the anti-venom..........both well worth it!!!!!!!!!!!

Baja Dogs

Bedman - 8-21-2007 at 12:06 AM

Halboo, One of, if not, the best breed I have even owned.

Toneart, Paco looks like a TWO bagger!!

Daisy is our second Viszla. Her predecessor was Will. He graced our lives for 14 years. My heart still hurts when I think of him.

Daisy. (trying a new hosting site, hope this works)
http://server6.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=Daisy234.jp...

well...

Bedman - 8-21-2007 at 12:11 AM

That didn't work...lets try it the old fashioned way...

Daisy.... I hope

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by Bedman]

Daisy234.jpg - 47kB