Dogs instinctively react to sight, sound, and smell, but can also be conditioned or trained to react in a specific manner in specific situations. Training a dog to respond to the sight, sound, and smell of snakes is not a difficult process. What's more, snakes are not the only animals that a dog can learn to avoid. We’ve worked with rattle snakes, poisonous toads, centipedes, scorpions, aligators, and black widow spiders. If you can get the scent for an animal, you can train your dog what to do (move away) when encountering that scent by using the games in this program.
This class uses your dog’s intelligence, his fantastic nose, and his ability to navigate the environment via that nose. Your dog will learn self-control when investigating new or interesting things, impulse control when movement catches his attention and kicks in the need to chase, the understanding of what to do when encountering a specific scent, sight, and/or sound, and how to alert any humans to the presence of a dangerous animal.
Snake avoidance is purely about teaching a dog that the sight, smell or sound of a rattlesnake is to be avoided. This is no different than teaching a dog not to cross the street without our approval, rush the open front door, beg at the table or poop in the house. It’s also a lot easier then teaching a dog to alert someone to an impending seizure or a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels.
Training a dog is all about teaching it what to do when. It doesn’t matter whether that when is a word, a signal, a smell (detection and medical alert dogs), an object (agility and fly ball), or a shock (avoid pain). If training a dog what to do when wasn’t possible, guide dogs, bomb sniffing dogs, cadaver dogs would not exist. Very few of these dogs were trained with the use of a shock collar and even the small percentage that are is lessoning as everyone embraces the fact that dogs are a lot smarter than we’ve given them credit for in the past.
Does it work? Yes. Just two days ago, as I write this, we encountered our first rattlesnake since moving to our current property. I had not yet finished the avoidance training with my own dogs. What they did as soon as the rattle started was: Brynda and Asher ran away and as soon as I opened the back door ran into the house. Micah was barking up a storm at this creature from about five feet away. This is Micah’s normal response to just about anything new or that he feels doesn’t belong in his space. Temperance was trying to herd it in high heeler fashion, but still staying about five feet away and mostly behind Micah.
A frantic, emotionally charged, high pitched “COME” from me pulled the two of them away and into the house.
Come join us in a six week class where we meet once a week to teach not only snake aversion, but self control, impulse control and how to ignore distractions.
Moving back to Florida after spending 16 years in Arizona, I realized that there are more creatures that are more dangerous then rattlesnakes here in Florida. Florida's fascinating and diverse wildlife sets the state apart. One doesn't need to look far to find beautiful wading birds, brilliant green turtles and adorable manatees. But not all of the Sunshine State's animal residents are cute and cuddly.
Here are 8 potentially dangerous wild animals you might meet in Florida, other than the three species of rattlesnakes, that you can train your dog to avoid..
American alligators live around fresh and brackish water in every county in Florida. They’ve attacked 410 people in the state since the FWC began keeping records in 1948. Twenty five of those attacks have been fatal. On average, the state sees about seven unprovoked bites per year.
For all but the most massive gators, an adult human is too big to be considered a menu item. They prefer to go after prey they can overpower easily,
Unfortunately, that means most alligator attacks are on small children and pets. People walking dogs near bodies of water should be especially aware of the danger, even if there are no warning signs posted.
The Southern Black Widow Spider Has A Nasty Bite
Two types of venomous spiders inhabit Florida. The black widow spider is easy to recognize. It has a black body with a bright, red hourglass pattern on its back. They can be found almost anywhere in Florida and typically build large webs to trap flies.
Brown recluse spiders can be more difficult to spot. They earned their name because of their desire to hide in dark spaces. They are brown with a violin-shaped marking on their back.
Although widow spiders are shy, if intimidated to the point of biting, they will inject a neurotoxic venom that can cause extreme sickness and, in some very rare cases, death.
According to statistics, spiders and insect bites are more dangerous in Florida than snakes and aligators.
Coral Snakes – An elusive, burrowing, red-and-yellow snake that happens to be one of the most poisonous animals in Florida, the coral snake has a powerful neurotoxin that can cause respiratory failure over the span of about 18 hours.
Water Moccasins (Cottonmouth) – These water-loving snakes are typically brown, black or yellow, and primarily forage after dark. They can be found near swamps, streams, creeks and lakes, but rarely slither up trees. Serious symptoms can occur within an hour, and fatal symptoms can appear in less than 24 hours.
Copperheads – Copperheads, which are typically brownish tan, have a very painful bite that’s typically less life-threatening than rattlesnakes. Sometimes, they will “dry bite” without injecting venom, but it’s best to assume that the bite was poisonous and get your pet medical attention immediately.
Cane Toads – Also known as bufo toads, they are the most dangerous frogs for dogs in Florida. Frogs dangerous to dogs obviously don’t bite or sting but have a toxin in their skin. Dogs and animals that play with them or lick them can be dead in minutes. Be extra cautious while letting your dog play outside after a harsh rain. If they come into contact, immediately flush the area with running water as much as possible for about 15 minutes. Try to make sure the dog doesn’t swallow the water. Then, call your vet.
Colorado River Toads – I thought I'd left this toad behind in Arizona!!
This toad is similar to the cane toad, though the cane toad is not a native species and the Colorado River Toad is. It secretes a white ooze behind its eyes that’s highly toxic and can cause permanent neurological damage when ingested. Again, flush the area with running water while avoiding pushing the toxin to the back of the pet’s throat.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes – Named “diamondback” for the unique pattern on its back, this massive snake can strike up to two-thirds of its body length. That’s often several feet! It tends to prefer pine flatwoods. It doesn’t necessarily rattle before it strikes.
Eastern Timber Rattlesnakes – Another type of rattler, this large snake has a reddish-brown stripe down its back and camouflages easily with its surroundings in pine flatwoods.
Pigmy Rattlesnakes – This small, thick rattlesnake is found in lowland prairies as well as along the borders of freshwater ponds, lakes and swamps. Its rattle sounds like a quiet buzzing insect, and it’s known to protect itself. While it’s small, the venom still packs a punch!
Fire Ants – These stinging insects are a pain, and they love pet food! They crawl around on your pet’s skin and sting them. It also can be hard to use insecticides in areas where your pet roams around. According to Texas A&M, there are a few all-natural ways to handle fire ants, thankfully.
Florida Bark Scorpion
This species is found in the more tropical parts of Florida.
As the largest of all Florida’s scorpions, the average length is between two and four inches.
This scorpion is reddish brown to black. The legs are lighter in color, ranging from yellowish to orange to reddish.
Florida bark scorpions are fast and flighty.
The sting from this variety of scorpion can be very painful.
Hentz Striped Scorpion
This is the most common scorpion in Florida. This type is found almost everywhere in the state.
The average length of the Hentz striped scorpion is between two and two and a half inches.
This species is tan to dark brown. The abdomen often has yellowish green strips across its width. The length of this scorpion’s body may have a pair of dark stripes.
Guiana Striped Scorpion
Another common type of scorpion in Florida is the Guiana striped scorpion. Here are a few distinguishing characteristics of this type of scorpion:
This variety is commonly found in Monroe, Collier and Miami-Dade counties.
I have been playing games with my dogs from your Rattlesnake Avoidance Without Shock book. We are not yet through the six weeks of games. Last night we were able to use "leave it, away and outside" in real world application. My dogs were sniffing and acting unusual at something on the carpet. I didn't know what it was so I said "leave it!" and got off the couch to investigate. It was a scorpion! I yelled "Away!" as taught in the book, they backed up. I called for my daughter because I had no shoes, four dogs surrounding me, interested in the commotion, a tan scorpion on tan carpet, and nothing to kill it with. She came in to help me and I asked her to put the dogs out quickly. She said "outside" and they walked outside; we didn't have to chase them around or drag them out. I killed the scorpion and then used it for more avoidance games, just to be sure. Thanks for my training! I could have had an emergency vet visit! The avoidance games, whether they are for snakes, toads, or scorpions really work.
I do not think I would have been brave enough to let her off leash to start but the ghost game let me know she was going to be ok.
Jamie , I want to thank you for this class. You have helped me relax and trust my dog. Like you said prey is harder than avoidance but the games you showed us and the work we have put in has really really helped my dog (and me)
I am not sure if I will be silver or bronze in prey 1 (as per our discussion ) but I shall be there working on the sidelines. I hope the snow does not interfere.
Take care and see you on FB
I just want to apologize for not posting any Wk 6 videos. Speaking of the randomness of life, some issues cropped up at home that demand most of my attention this week. However, I have worked through Wk 6 Games 1-3, some of which are familiar to him. And I especially like game 4, the drunken walk. I have a whole lot of distraction toys tucked away that he's never seen and I love the idea of confronting him on a winding walk, around each turn.
I want to thank you so much for the detailed steps you've taken to give the dog the skills needed to make good choices, and to respond quickly when choice is not an option. We will keep working away and I have no doubt Deacon will become very trustworthy around snakes.
Love the approach to teaching avoidance based on fundamental skills that have already taken us far. I am confident that applying these skills will serve us well and I will have a dog who understands what to do when confronting a snake. I also look forward to applying these principles to add other things to avoid.
I really had fun, even though I had some set backs to keeping up with the games each week due to my busy schedule and then illness. I really enjoyed it, and more importantly my pups really enjoyed it. Would take it again any time. Highly recommend it. Learned some very fun games that taught my pups just what they needed in rattlesnake avoidance. Sharon, California
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