Training with rattlesnakes

[bakSovrbar]

Hi all!

I have a pup I have raised from nine weeks old - great dog. Doesn't have a head foe cows, but plan ignores them which works for me.

He's half chocolate lab, half husky. But the husky was also a mutt, so I really have idea what else might be mixed up in him.

His name is Halo, he's the best dog I've ever had. Never barks – well, I've heard him bark three or four times I guess. Anyway, he trains very easily based on my experience thus far.

I live in Canada, near rattlesnake country. But moreover, I actually have a rattlesnake hobby. I like to find them, photograph them and move them off the road if they're in danger of being hit. (Next month I am going to Texas on a snake trip and I try to get to Arizona as often as I can)

Have any of you ever trained your dog to stay away from rattlers by yourself? How so?

I'd actually like to train mine to hold still and point (he has the pointing instinct.) Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.

I have thrown in a coupla' pics.

Thanks!



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[Faster horses]

Now that is one different-looking pup.
He's so homely, he's cute!!

Thanks for the pictures. Glad you have a good pup.

[Justin]

he's kinda cute, but i'm not sure how long it's gonna last. we certainly have different policies when it comes to rattlesnakes.... you move them off the road so they don't get hit, i'll take the ditch to make sure they do get hit.

[MsSage]

[bakSovrbar]

I know the risks - but I also believe everything has its place in this world.

And, I also know the problems that gophers cause to pasture land and the difference between land with rattlers and land without is like night and day.
As a result, the ranchers in this part of the world have more of a head for conserving them than killing them. As a result of having few gophers, the badgers are rare too in snake country here and most have not lost many or any critters to the snakes, so everyone seems to get along in these parts.

Yeah, I am pretty excited to see Texas. I have a ranching friend there who is also into weird critters, so I am sure we're going to have a blast.

How many of you have lost a dog to a rattler?
And how many cattle? I guess depending on where you are, a calf or cow might die because different species have different venom strengths.
But in North and South Dakota, Montana, and the other northern states, it sure shouldn't be often as we share that species and its bite is especially potent to cattle or other large mammals.

Anyway, different hobby, I know. But they also do a lot of good for us too.
I know of a trainer in New Mexico I can see, but that's a pretty far drive from Canada.

I guess y'all not so fond of tarantulas, either?

Anyway, my dog has kept all his colours and has turned into a very stately lookin' dog, very handsome.

Thanks all!

[MsSage]

[per]

[bakSovrbar]

Why are you getting a bunch at the prison? Can you take a pic? I'd love to know what species they are. Probably mature males looking for a female - they have a limited expiry date once they mature.

I'll try to keep my geekiness to a minimum from now on.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I dunno...but your best bet on the time of year to come to Texas lookin for rattle snakes would probably be the first part of March. They catch them by the thousands for the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. That's when they are comin outta their dens. Well...maybe just prior to their coming out. Because they do catch them by the den fulls.

We had tarantulas like crazy growin up in West Texas. Also.....found out that the itty bitty red velvet bugs that we called "rain bugs" (because they were only out after a good hard rain) were actually baby tarantulas. I caught some and took in to the science teacher to look at. We played with those things carried em around in our hands when we were kids. They were soooo soft!

And I like your pups color.....very unique

[bakSovrbar]

Thanks! He's really a great dog.

I've heard that's a good time to go as well. But, they have just given birth to babies, and they are really cute when they're new, all wobbly like a kitten trying to walk.

Plus, I really need to get away and if I can still find rattlers in Canada in October, I surely won't be skunked in Texas! (I hope, lol)

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I dunno....it's still perdy hot down here. Usually ya don't see em except at night on the roads. Maybe it's coolin down enough at night out there now that you might find a few. You should be able to find some tarantulas out on the highways at night as well.

[bakSovrbar]

Yeah I imagine it will be a lot of night hunting, plus we're going to some higher elevations as well for some mountainous species, I imagine it's cooler there.

I can hardly wait to see Texas - have been so many places in the southern U.S., but not there. I will post some pics for sure.

Thanks!