With rattlesnakes being so common in our area, I am frequently asked about rattlesnake avoidance training. Many people are surprised to find out that the vast majority of this training is done by putting shock collars (also called “e-collar” or “stim collar”) onto the dogs in the class, and delivering a shock when they notice the snake. Proponents of this training believe that it’s worth putting the dogs through this experience in order to save their lives. However, there are problems with this plan:
There is no way to guarantee that the dog will make the intended association between snake and shock.
The dog may actually associate the trainer, their owner, the other people, the other dogs, or the location with the shock - or even a random noise or scent that they sensed right before.
There is no guarantee that this will keep your dog from being bitten by a snake, even if they do make the intended association.
Not all rattlesnakes rattle before they strike - especially if they don’t have time because something has suddenly stumbled right onto them. So then the sound and sight are not cuing your dog to move away.
Your dog may be upwind of the snake, so the smell is not cuing your dog to move away.
Using shock (or any other form of pain or intimidation) is not recommended and simply not necessary to train dogs.
It is a standard of practice in many professional behavior organizations and with many certifications that trainers follow the Humane Hierarchy, which requires use of antecedent management, positive reinforcement, and other techniques before turning to aversive methods.
Dogs who are trained using aversive methods experience greater stress and are more likely to exhibit aggression.
The snakes are also harmed during this training, as they are muzzled or defanged and repeatedly put into situations in which they perceive the need to act defensively (rattle) to protect themselves.
The good news is that there are alternatives - positive training methods can teach dogs to move away from rattlesnakes, too. Instead of using live snakes, trainers may use shed snake skin, recorded rattles, fake snakes, or even dead snakes. As above, there are no guarantees, but it is just as effective and now you are not risking serious fallout from the use of shock. The owner is an active participant in the process, which means that the dog’s responsiveness to and bond with their owner grows.
The bad news is that the shock collar trainers have really cornered this market, and it can be challenging to find local positive trainers offering classes or seminars. As soon as I hear of something in our area, I will add the info here!
Online training for rattlesnake avoidance
Fortunately there are online resources that you can utilize on your own schedule, and follow at your own pace:
There are other ways to protect your dog, too. [to be finished!]
vaccine info
understanding rattlesnake behavior
decreasing rattlesnake habitat on your property