Leave it: Dog trainers help pets avoid poisonous snakes

A dog named Ripley, a 2-year-old blue heeler mix, recently learned to avoid poisonous snakes through a training session led by dog trainer J.J. Belcher in Tucson, Arizona. During the session, Ripley approached a large western diamondback rattlesnake named Brian, which had its venom glands surgically removed. When Ripley came too close, Belcher administered a brief electric stimulus to her neck, simulating a venomous snake bite. This action startled Ripley, causing her to retreat immediately. The training, which took place at Sublime Canine, a local dog training facility, aims to prevent future encounters with venomous snakes that could harm or even kill the dog. Ripley’s owners, Amber Schneider and Wendy Timm, chose the training because their dog frequently hunts small animals. They live on an acre of natural desert land and acknowledge the presence of various wildlife, including snakes. However, they expressed concern about Ripley’s curiosity toward wild creatures. “We respect all the snakes,” said Timm, “but she’s very curious about wildlife. We’re doing this because we want to keep our dog safe.” The incident highlights the broader issue of dog-snake interactions in the United States. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, up to 150,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes annually. In Arizona, a state known for its high concentration of rattlesnakes, Dr. Sarah Carotenuto, an emergency veterinarian at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, reports that the clinic treats four to six dogs daily for rattlesnake bites, alongside an occasional cat. Rattlesnakes in the region can grow over five feet long and strike within a fraction of a second when threatened, making them particularly dangerous to dogs. To mitigate these risks, training programs are available nationwide, especially in areas where venomous snakes are prevalent. These include the western diamondback rattlesnake in the West, the eastern diamondback in the Southeast, and the timber rattler in the East. Training sessions often take place in states ranging from Illinois to Florida, offering courses designed to teach pets to recognize and avoid venomous snakes. Dr. Carotenuto, who also teaches at the University of Arizona’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is involved in a research project examining the effectiveness of rattlesnake-aversion training. She noted that while some methods exist, the use of electronic collars remains a topic of discussion among professionals. Most trainers, including Belcher, advocate for the use of electronic collars, citing their speed and efficacy in preventing dangerous encounters. Belcher, who has been conducting such training for over two decades, travels throughout the Western U.S., providing lessons to both pet and working dogs. He emphasizes that the technique is essential for ensuring canine safety. However, he acknowledges the ongoing debate surrounding the use of electronic collars, a method that has drawn criticism from organizations like the American Humane Society, which considers it cruel. The ASPCA does not outright oppose the use of such devices but recommends that they be used under the supervision of trained professionals familiar with the principles of avoidance learning. Pamela Reid, from the ASPCA’s behavioral sciences team, stressed the importance of balancing a dog’s risk of snakebite with the potential consequences of using an electronic collar. “It is imperative to weigh the dog’s risk of a snakebite against the potential fallout from using an electronic collar,” she said. The goal, she added, is to find a method that ensures safety without compromising the well-being of the animal.