Training with rattlesnakes

[bakSovrbar]

I've been struck at a few times while photographing them, but I'm pretty good at knowing how far back I need to be and I like to keep about a foot of extra space between the end of their strike range and myself.

I haven't taken the dog out with me yet when looking for snakes, but I plan to this summer when I head to Arizona and of course, a few shorter trips around here. But first, a stop in New Mexico to do aversion training with the electric collar.

I'm looking forward to it.

And thanks, I thought he was the cutest pup ever when I saw him. I love his wolfish look but lab temperament.

[Mntngoat]

We did snake awareness with our GSP Rex. i believe it needs to be done again as its been a couple years, but we did not encounter any this season either.

ML

[Whitewing]

Haven't read the entire thread but have a suggestion for training the dog to stay away from rattlesnakes.

Equip the dog with a shock collar. Find a decent-sized live rattler and put him on ice for a while. This will slow him down considerably but he'll still move and smell like a live rattler. If he can rattle, all the better.

Place the rattler where the dog can see him. When he gets fairly close to the rattler....as in being able to smell him......shock the daylights out of him.

Problem solved.

[Mntngoat]

The snake awareness we did was through quail unlimited.

Rex was about 8 months old and they wetted him down good placed a live rattler in a cage where he could not get to the dog directed Rex towards the rattler and when he got within striking distance jolted the bejebus out of him. on this return trip back he made a wide berth around the caged snake. Directed him in again and no dice he wanted nothing to do with it. He needs a refresher this next fall. just to remind him.


ML

[Whitewing]

Well, if I do go the hunting dog route, which I'm seriously considering for my place, I'll need to do something along those lines.

We've got plenty of quail, and plenty of rattlesnakes as well. They're generally realitively docile, but I lose one or two head of cattle most every year to them. It'd really hurt to lose a beloved hunting hound.

[bakSovrbar]

So, as some of you know, I publish a newspaper for a living.
Last week, I came out of the closet in regard to my snake and spider hobby.
I thought some of y'all might get a kick out of reading it.

http://thebadger.ca/2011/01/03/great-legs-are-sometimes-hairy/