snake proofing

Post Reply
kperry
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: tyler,tx

snake proofing

Post by kperry » Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:55 pm

I have a question about snakeproofing a birddog. I don't have issues around here with rattlesnakes, but we do have plenty of copperheads and water moccasins. If a dog is proofed on rattlesnakes, does that carry over to other species or do they have a different scent that the dog would not associate with the proofing. Also, is a vaccine available for the non rattlesnake species that I deal with around here. Sorry for all the questions I just was trying to cover my bases if possible.
Keith

User avatar
zrp
Rank: Junior Hunter
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:16 pm
Location: Oklahoma

Re: snake proofing

Post by zrp » Thu Apr 28, 2016 10:53 pm

No good vaccines exist for the other species. Luckily, they're generally not as life threatening as the rattlesnakes. Snake avoidance training will certainly help avoid a dangerous encounter.

reba
Rank: 4X Champion
Posts: 626
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:50 am
Location: Central Coast of CA

Re: snake proofing

Post by reba » Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:40 am

Snake Proofing or the Rattlesnake Avoidance training method involves a dog, a shock collar and a rattlesnake.

If a dog approaches a snake the trainer stimulates the dog. The dog sings an unhappy tune or does a back flip.

I took one of my dogs for a refresher course. Several rattle snakes had been placed in the field. She caught the scent of the snakes, turned around and ran back to the truck. Very smart dog.

I bought my first electronic training collar to stop my dogs from running livestock. My verbal command is "NO SHEEP" without regard to the type of livestock. I use the same command on deer, antelope, SNAKE, etc.

Back to snakes. The real problem with running dogs is that they might run over the top of a snake, get bit and you will not know it.

I hope this information gives you some ideas.

I do vaccine my dogs; however the vaccine does not work on all types of rattlesnakes.

kperry
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: tyler,tx

Re: snake proofing

Post by kperry » Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:57 pm

Thanks for the information

User avatar
Spy Car
Rank: 3X Champion
Posts: 552
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:53 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: snake proofing

Post by Spy Car » Sat Apr 30, 2016 11:58 pm

There is no science-based evidence that the so-called "vaccine" has any effacacy on rattlesnake bites. To the contrary, dogs that has gotten the shots require exactly the same emergency treatments with the same odds of recovery as dogs not given the shots. There is zero advantage to the shots.

Leading veterinary schools recommend against it, because it just doesn't work.

Aversion therapy "works," but a dog that lives in rattle snake country that become unglued every time it smells a snake, and for example runs back to a truck in fear, isn't much use in the field.

Bill

User avatar
hi-tailyn
Rank: 4X Champion
Posts: 608
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:26 pm
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Re: snake proofing

Post by hi-tailyn » Mon May 02, 2016 8:24 pm

Have a friend in Big Bend in west TX and his vet will argue that.
He see hundreds of snake bites every single year on local dogs and pets. Those that have taken the vaccine come through a lot faster and easier and less medication then those that have not had the vaccine.

User avatar
Legband
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:44 pm
Location: Central California

Re: snake proofing

Post by Legband » Mon May 02, 2016 9:50 pm

Spy Car wrote:There is no science-based evidence that the so-called "vaccine" has any effacacy on rattlesnake bites. To the contrary, dogs that has gotten the shots require exactly the same emergency treatments with the same odds of recovery as dogs not given the shots. There is zero advantage to the shots.

Leading veterinary schools recommend against it, because it just doesn't work.

Aversion therapy "works," but a dog that lives in rattle snake country that become unglued every time it smells a snake, and for example runs back to a truck in fear, isn't much use in the field.

Bill
Great point on breaking back to the rig when they wind a snake Bill.
In the lower Sierras and adjoining foothills where I hunt my dogs often I could never get though a hunt.
The snakes are just to thick my female GSP got hit last fall , her leg was swollen pretty bad and she laid low for a while but made a full recovery and she's doing great.

User avatar
ezzy333
GDF Junkie
Posts: 16625
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:14 pm
Location: Dixon IL

Re: snake proofing

Post by ezzy333 » Mon May 02, 2016 10:01 pm

Legband wrote:
Spy Car wrote:There is no science-based evidence that the so-called "vaccine" has any effacacy on rattlesnake bites. To the contrary, dogs that has gotten the shots require exactly the same emergency treatments with the same odds of recovery as dogs not given the shots. There is zero advantage to the shots.

Leading veterinary schools recommend against it, because it just doesn't work.

Aversion therapy "works," but a dog that lives in rattle snake country that become unglued every time it smells a snake, and for example runs back to a truck in fear, isn't much use in the field.

Bill
Great point on breaking back to the rig when they wind a snake Bill.
In the lower Sierras and adjoining foothills where I hunt my dogs often I could never get though a hunt.
The snakes are just to thick my female GSP got hit last fall , her leg was swollen pretty bad and she laid low for a while but made a full recovery and she's doing great.
I agree with Bill on running to the truck but in all my years I have never seen that happen and have never heard any of my friends say they have had that problem. That just isn't the way the normal dog responds.

User avatar
oldbeek
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 766
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:47 pm
Location: Lancaster CA

Re: snake proofing

Post by oldbeek » Sun May 15, 2016 2:39 pm

My dog was snake proofed twice. Today in training she was going into an area with mouse holes in the ground. Something spooked her totally as she veered away from the area. I tried to bring her back later down wind of the area and again she would have nothing to do with it. There must have been a buzz tail in one of them holes because usually she is a mouser. Last week she alerted me of a king snake in my yard but stayed way clear of it and was happy to get into the house to her safe place. She may have seen the king snake out in the open because I have seen her almost step on gopher snakes in the yard and run right past them.

tobytx
Rank: Junior Hunter
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:04 pm
Location: Texas

Re: snake proofing

Post by tobytx » Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:31 am

From what I've seen in my dogs with different snakes, a snakes a snake whether it's a garter snake or copper head they react the same. I have not done snake proofing as I seen no need. I do the vaccine.

Timewise65
Rank: 2X Champion
Posts: 492
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:30 am
Location: Missouri

Re: snake proofing

Post by Timewise65 » Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:24 am

Living in Missouri we have the risk of all types of snakes, rattlers, copperheads, and water moccasins... Our trainer uses a big black snake to teach dogs not to touch any snake, although all our retrievers are collar conditioned and Force Fetched prior to this training. The use of force (pain from the collar) for snake conditioning is not the primary training technique (which is always true when using the collar for training).

Our dogs learn the "leave it" command as pups so that you can stop a dog from picking ANYTHING up. Comes in handy if your drop something that you dog should not eat....or if you see your dog about to pick up something that is dangerous, like a small battery, toad stool, etc.

The snake proofing is just an extension of this command. Starting in a cut grass situation where the dog can see the snake prior to scenting it, then progressing into taller grass and cover until the dog avoids both the scent and sight of any snake. I do not want the dog to learn to 'run' just avoid! Pressure is only used once you know the dog understands the command 'Leave it' and refuses to follow that command.....In time the dog learns to avoid the snake without being told to do so.....

Good Luck

User avatar
SubMariner
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 863
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 7:47 am
Location: Tampa, FL

Re: snake proofing

Post by SubMariner » Tue Jul 26, 2016 10:50 am

With the number of venomous snakes down here in FL, most Clubs run snake avoidance training classes yearly. Both our dogs have been through it. Since none of the indigenous venomous snakes have been used to manufacture the vaccine, it's basically useless. I'd rather put the $$ into more training.

JMHO,

Post Reply