Walking Your Dog

First and foremost, good leash etiquette and a general awareness of your surroundings can help prevent accidental encounters. Training your dog to heel – or walk at your pace along your left side – can make walks more enjoyable and safer. If you need help learning how to stop your dog from pulling on the leash or teaching your dog to heel, our master trainer can help in as little as one session.  

Even if your dog is capable of heeling off-leash, we recommend utilizing a short leash on walks during rattlesnake season as long leashes or off-leash activities can greatly increase the likelihood your dog encounters a snake.

Being mindful of where you walk is also critical to maintaining your safety. Rattlesnakes are ectothermic animals, utilizing external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature, so they are naturally drawn to the warmth of asphalt. However, going off the sidewalk may not be a great alternative as dense brush, rocky areas and tall grass can be prime hiding spaces.

Aversion Training

Even with great leash training, a dog’s natural curiosity – their desire to explore new scents, sights and sounds – and his or her lack of innate fear may lead to an encounter with a rattlesnake. That is why some pet owners choose to pursue rattlesnake training for dogs. Not all methods are created equal. Though many owners tend to prefer positive reinforcement dog training methods focusing on rewards, the most effective approach in rattlesnake aversion training is to create a negative association with rattlesnakes using a combination of visual, auditory and olfactory cues. 

While reward-based training may appear to be more desirable, in a dangerous situation – that could potentially be life or death for your dog – it is worth considering using negative reinforcement – like shock collars – to simulate a snake bite to reinforce the training and ultimately save your dog’s life. Sometimes trainers pose the question like this: Would you rather implement a small zap and teach a lifelong lesson or provide treats or praise that may prove ineffective over time?

When searching for a rattlesnake dog trainer, consider hiring one that prioritizes safe and humane practices. Live rattlesnakes are needed to produce the smell and sounds of a real rattlesnake, but they should be muzzled for everyone’s protection. Defanging a snake or stapling a snake’s mouth shut are both inhumane and unnecessary practices. We only support working with trainers who treat all animals with respect. Ideally your trainer will also be certified in Pet First Aid. Lessons are typically quite short – 10-30 minutes. 

The efficacy of rattlesnake training can vary due to a variety of factors – the most significant being the methodology utilized. The breed and temperament of your dog may impact how quickly they learn and how well they retain their training. Some dogs may require an annual refresher course. Puppies are not typically ready for rattlesnake training – most qualified trainers will highly recommend waiting until at least 6 months of age. 

The good news is, rattlesnakes typically avoid confrontation, striking most often when they feel threatened. When a snake feels threatened they will typically warn you – coiling up and shaking the rattle that gives them their name. Most encounters can easily end with a slow, calm retreat.

Rattlesnake Bites

In the unfortunate event your dog got bit by a rattlesnake, seek immediate medical attention – a veterinarian can provide antivenom, pain relief and other care as needed. It is important to immobilize your pet as quickly and effectively as possible after a bite to help slow the spread of snake venom in your pup’s system. Though a bite may cause swelling, severe pain and damage to tissue avoid icing or applying a tourniquet. 

Do not interact with the snake after a bite. If you are in a group and someone is able to stay and monitor the whereabouts of the snake, you can call the local authorities to safely and humanely remove the snake from the area. But if you are alone your priority must be getting your dog to safety and treatment as quickly as possible. If you are with one other person, both should focus on getting the dog to the veterinarian – with one of you driving and one of you monitoring the dog. Antivenom is most effective when offered within four hours of a snake bite, and you want to do everything you can to avoid the venom spreading throughout your dog’s body. 

According to Sabino Veterinary Care, “reactions to snake bites vary on the location the animal was bitten, the type of rattlesnake and even on the amount of venom injected. As many as 20-25% of snake bites are “dry” bites, meaning no venom has been injected; 30% are mild, meaning they cause local pain and swelling in the bite area but no systemic symptoms; 40% of bits are severe with approximately 5% being fatal.”

The faster you are able to seek veterinary care, the higher likelihood of a positive outcome. Many vets will recommend your dog remain in their care for 24-48 hours of monitoring following a bite. When you are able to return home, your dog will need to take it easy. Avoid exercise beyond necessary walks for a couple of weeks.  

Rattlesnake Vaccine

You may have heard of the canine rattlesnake vaccine, Crotalus Atrox Toxoid. This vaccine is developed from a deactivated form of rattlesnake venom that is designed to trigger your dog’s immune response and reduce the severity of symptoms if your dog is bitten. There are several things to take into consideration when determining if the vaccine is right for your dogs – the age of your dog – they should be more than 4 months old when they receive the first dose – as well as the general health of your dog – immunosuppressed animals may not be a good candidate. Even a vaccinated dog should seek immediate treatment if they are bitten because the vaccine does not yield complete immunity.