Significance

• Rattlesnakes are venomous and usually armed with a very potent type of venom that could easily kill or severely injure any type of dog. Dogs, especially if they have strong hunting instincts, are often curious and like to chase animals in the wild. These two facts can make for a dangerous situation if you are out in the woods with your dog. Rattlesnake training can prepare your dog for a real encounter with a rattlesnake and teach it to avoid the snake so that it is unlikely it will get bitten.
  
  

Rattlesnake Information

• With the exception of some parts of the Midwest, rattlesnakes live all over the United States. They are found mostly in wilderness areas such as forests and deserts, and will be the most visible on warm, sunny days. Snakes are cold-blooded animals, meaning they rely on their environment to warm their body temperature. Warmth and sunlight allow them to be more active, so you may find them close to trails sunning themselves or traveling across. Types of rattlesnakes found in the United States include the eastern and western diamondbacks, the southern Pacific rattlesnake and the Mojave green. These are all larger species, but there are smaller ones as well.
  
  

Professional Process

• Professional rattlesnake training will likely involve live rattlesnakes. This will ensure that the dog will understand the sight, smell and feel of being confronted with the rattlesnake. The snake is usually muzzled during this process to protect the dog, and the dog will be wearing a shock collar to help it understand when to stay away. Each sense can be broken into a different stage of the training process so that the dog knows to avoid each specifically.
  
  

Do-It-Yourself Process

• You can train your dog to avoid rattlesnakes yourself, although you should not use a live rattlesnake unless you are trained to do so. A shock collar is still the most effective tool to train the dog with, and using a nonvenomous snake is a popular choice. Placing the dog in the snake's vicinity and shocking it when it gets too close is an important segment of the training session; this should be repeated enough times to be sure that the dog will associate the shock with the presence of the snake. You can take the collar off later and continue to train for this behavior. Have the sound of a rattle involved in the training so that the dog will understand it to be a warning sound.
  
  

Hunting Dogs

• Dogs used specifically for hunting may need extra training involving rattlesnake encounters. These dogs have also been trained to retrieve or flush animals from the woods. They will need training so they will make avoiding rattlesnakes a priority over their hunting duties. Some parts of the process can include placing a game item, such as a bird or rabbit, near a live snake and using the shock collar when the dog goes to retrieve.