How to Walk Dogs Through Rattlesnake Territory
A trot with your dogs through the sultry deserts or plains of the great Southwest can be grand. However, it can also turn into a deathtrap if you are not on guard for rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes will strike faster than you can blink an eye, if they feel threatened. They 'll definitely feel threatened when getting stepped on, sniffed at or batted with a dog paw. You can walk dogs through rattlesnake territory with nary a nick if you follow a few helpful tips.
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Instructions
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Get the dogs trained. Areas rife with rattlesnakes, such as southern Arizona, have plenty of trainers and organizations that offer rattlesnake avoidance classes for your furry friends. Trainers use a real, live rattlesnake that has had his fangs extracted. Dogs are trained with a shock collar to learn that going up to a snake is painful.
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Keep your dogs leashed. The best way to keep your dogs away from snakes is to keep them where you can see what they are encountering. Letting them run off into the tall weeds is just asking for your faithful friends to stumble upon a rattlesnake lair.
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Stay on the path. If there is no path, try to stick to the shortest grasslands with the most open area. This is not to say rattlesnakes will never venture on a path, but at least you will be able to see them and go around. If your dogs don’t see them, they are more likely to step on or near one, causing the snake to strike.
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Watch what you—and your dogs—touch. Dogs who like to dig (which is just about every dog), should not be digging in rattlesnake territory. Pretend every hole has a rattlesnake in it and pull your dogs away from them. Likewise, be wary of touching or moving rocks, logs, piles of debris and other places snakes could be hiding. You can poke at things in your path with a walking stick to make sure no snake is lurking near it.
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Know rattlesnake habits. Snakes are most abundant in August and September, which is their breeding season. They will generally go to cooler areas in the blazing sun, like a beneath a shady branch or rock. Rattlesnakes are generally out during dusk and dawn in the summer. In cooler weather (70s or 80s), they can hang around all day long, usually on a rock or other sunny perch.
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React with caution. If you do run across a snake, react cautiously. If you or your dogs are within striking distance, tell the dogs “stay” or “stop” or whatever makes them stand still. You do the same, and all of you back away slowly. If you are not in striking distance, turn around and run as fast as your and your pets can go.
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Tips & Warnings
If you see your dog approaching a snake, use a shake can, hand clapping, a boisterous “No!” or other loud noise to divert your dog’s attention from the snake. Immediately call the dog to you, getting him out of harm’s way.
If you or the dogs are bitten by a rattlesnake, get to the vet or emergency room immediately. The quicker the bite is treated, the better the chance of a full recovery.
Listen to a recording of the rattlesnake's rattle so you will recognize the sound in the wild.
Don't try to be the rattlesnake killer hero. Avoiding the snake is your goal, not killing it.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo of Western Diamondback by Ryn Gargulinski
