Dogs and their owners gathered on the outskirts of Bend, Oregon, for an annual rattlesnake aversion training. The training, which has been running for 15 years, aims to teach dogs to recognize the sight, smell, and sound of a rattlesnake and stay away.

How the Training Works

During the training, dogs are taken with their owners and a trainer into a field where there are live, muzzled rattlesnakes. The snakes are humanely muzzled so they cannot bite the dogs, and the process does not harm the snakes. Trainers use a remote collar at a low level to create an association for the dog: snake equals danger.

The dogs are then exposed to different aspects of a rattlesnake encounter, including odor, the sound of a rattle, and different-sized snakes. This helps prepare dogs to recognize a rattlesnake even if it is hidden in a rock pile, tall grass, or other brush.

Importance of the Training

Dr. Byron Maas, a veterinarian with Bend Veterinary Clinic, said the training is especially important as more people and dogs spend time outdoors in areas where rattlesnakes are present. He noted that bites to the neck can be more serious because of the location, and owners should seek veterinary care right away if their dog is bitten.

The training is not only for working dogs but also for family pets that hike, camp, or live in areas where rattlesnakes may be present. Hank Minor, a dog owner who traveled from Princeton, Oregon, said the training is part of being responsible as a dog owner.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.