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Advocates for Positive Training » Group Forum

I think I found it!

  
(Page 2 of 2: Viewing entries 11 to 16)  
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The- LabraMutts

Justy, Homer- (angel) &- Bobbi-Girl		 
 
Barked: Mon May 26, '08 8:19am PST 
Thanks, Nick!

I understand what you're saying about "Leave It", but because various frogs & toads occurred often when I was around to see them & give the cue, it became habit rather quickly for the dogs to completely avoid ALL frogs & toads. The type, size, & other characteristics doesn't seem to matter.

I'm not sure we could have the same result with snakes of any/all types because it is a quite a bit more rare that we see one together. So far no water moccasins in the pond, but I keep an eye out - hard to believe there have been none in the 6 years in this house.

As to the gators, well, I'm at a total loss at how to teach avoidance. I would love to think that last summer's gator encounter was scary enough that all 3 would avoid a gator at all costs, but, alas, they are dogs. We just manage the situation as best we can. They still do a sit-stay at the back door while we light up the darker areas of the backyard with a big flashlight (floodlights always go on before the dogs go out). Once we're sure their aren't any unwanted visitors inside the fenced yard, they are released. As I told you previously, during Homer's off-leash walks he stays away from the pond with just a "leave it" from me at a distance.

I'll have to think about the snake factor some more. I have a friend at the nature center near here. Maybe she could provide some "safe encounters" for us with the "bad boys".
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Hugo

669414
 
 
Barked: Fri Jun 20, '08 3:22pm PST 
I've been looking to do rattlesnake avoidance training with the dogs, but haven't been able to find a trainer who utilizes the methods such as Nick described, nor have I been able to “rent-a-snake”. So by default, I've modified our walking/hiking to maximize the chances of NOT encountering a rattler.

Yesterday morning, I let the dogs out into the yard. Ernie started barking and Jasmine joined him. I called out for them to be quiet as I made my way to the door to see who they were "greeting" this time. Hugo was right there on the porch. Ernie was down below, barking away. I wondered why he was barking at Jasmine. But he wasn’t barking at her, he was barking at a rattlesnake!!!
eek
Ernie was about 5 feet away from it on one side and Jasmine was about 4 feet away from it on the other! Fortunately, it appeared to have eaten a couple of mice, it wasn't coiled and was looking pretty lethargic.

I called them and Jasmine came. Ernie wouldn't come or stop barking at the snake. When I went to get Ernie, he ran around me and all the way around the other side of the house to bark at the snake from the other direction. I was able to lure him with some treats, scoop him up and get him inside. All the dogs got lots of praise and treats, as I looked them over from head to paw for puncture wounds or swelling. I feel very fortunate that the dogs are alright.

The snake was a juvenile, and it coiled and hissed at me when I put a bucket over it. One call and it was relocated for a mere $30. Finding a rattlesnake in your yard will wake you up faster than a cup of coffee!
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Nick, CGC, WETX

I like wet, fowl- smelling things		 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 21, '08 5:07am PST 
Hugo, wow that would scare me too! I'm glad your dogs weren't bitten.

I have a couple of thoughts for you. Whomever you called to dispose of the snake obviously has access to them. You could explain to them what you want to do and ask them if they would put a fake snake in with a few live rattlers just so the snakes would transfer the scent onto the fake snake (you can get a pretty realistic looking snake at a Halloween costume store, realistic looking to a dog anyway). Once you have a scented object you could teach avoidance both for scent and probably sight too.

For sound you might want to experiment with rattles or even ask the snake removal people if they would record the sound of the rattle.

You may also be able to buy a small bottle of rattlesnake scent on-line for a few bucks. Check out the National Scent Company, if they don't carry it they may know who does.

I know all this may sound a little elaborate but if you can get some avoidance at any level (particularly scent) it will really be helpful.

Hugo

669414
 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 21, '08 9:55am PST 
Thanks Nick - good ideas.
The couple I called just relocate the snakes - they do it more as a community service than anything. They don't keep them in any kind of facility - they immediately tranfer them to an unpopulated area in the forest (we're surrounded by national & state forests). I'll talk with them about it though and see what we can do as rattlesnake season is far from being over!
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Hugo

669414
 
 
Barked: Wed Jul 2, '08 10:24am PST 
I talked with our trainer yesterday and her friend used to be the one R+ rattlesnake avoidance trainer in CA, then she moved to UT. But before she left, my trainer learned how to do it. So we're going to work our connections to the responsible gov't agencies to see if we can get a few dead rattlesnakes, get them to a taxidermist, add the scent and sound and voila! Rattlesnake avoidance with a positive reinforcement trainer! Yippee!
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Fancy-Kehley- r

Road Runner		 
 
Barked: Wed Oct 1, '08 7:20am PST 
I have been putting off hiking a mountain here due to rattlesnakes. In another month or so they will not be a problem. I would love to find someone here to teach Rattlesnake avoidance.
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  (Page 2 of 2: Viewing entries 11 to 16)  
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