Rattlesnake and Sonoran Desert Toad Avoidance Training

Rattlesnake Avoidance FAQ with Jill Cruz Dog Training, LLC

 

How often should my dog get trained?

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It depends on the dog; a small percent never need training again while another small percent need it every year. I see most dogs fall in between and should get retrained every 2-3 years or so. I trained 2 dogs (same household) in 2019 and saw them for the first time since, in April 2024. 5 yrs had passed and one dog remembered the other did not and had to be retrained.

 

My dog approached a dead rattler- did training work?

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More than likely YES! Anything dead starts to decompose quickly, especially in this heat. This rotting meat smell is totally different than a live snake. Dogs are attracted to this rotting scent and will roll, mark or try and eat it. Or all of the above. They are dogs!

 

Does this work on ALL snakes?

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This is rattlesnake specific; the venom makes up part of the snake's scent, which bull and king snakes do not have. Some dogs know the difference between a gopher and rattler. Other dogs are afraid of a coiled garden hose as well as all snakes, or anything resembling them.

 

Will my dog alert me if there is rattler nearby?

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It depends; I have 5 dogs, all trained the exact same way and 2 naturally alert (funny bark and circle the snake from a safe distance).

The other 3 walk away casually. I teach AVOIDANCE, not an alert. It took me 200 hours to train my shepherd a specific alert to an odor and only 10 minutes to teach him to avoid.

 

Does my reaction to a snake we encounter affect the dog?

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YES! If you make snake a good thing (ie treat the dog and say "good boy you found the snake") then you just made my aversion training null and void. Keep it a bad thing- say GET AWAY FROM IT! LEAVE IT ALONE! Yell at your dog. Even if you keep it neutral (ie stand there and take photos of the snake) the dog will think "hmmm, my human isn't concerned, maybe it's not so bad..." THESE ARE TRUE STORIES PER CLIENTS!

 

Remember, we are trying to teach your dog to RECOGNIZE that a rattler is a bad thing. Your dog should avoid it if he knows it's there. He cannot avoid it if he doesn't realize it's in the area- this is where the wind blowing in the wrong direction makes a difference. No dog will recognize an odor if it's blowing the wrong way. Sound is important but remember, they do not always rattle. Sight is important, but if a snake is laid out straight, it is more difficult to see than if it's coiled and upright. We want to give your dog the best chance possible, but please still remain vigilant! We want everyone to be safe out there