TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) 鈥� Ripley, a medium-sized dog with a strong prey drive, curiously approached Brian, a large , until she got a quick zap on the neck meant to simulate a venomous viper鈥檚 bite.
Suddenly, the 2-year-old blue heeler mix wanted nothing to do with Brian鈥檚 textured brown skin or furiously rattling tail. Ripley was never in danger because Brian had his venom glands removed years ago.
Dog trainer J.J. Belcher of Sublime Canine in Tucson, Arizona, said the single shock delivered one recent morning from an electronic training collar should be sufficient to keep Ripley away from venomous snakes that can sicken or even kill a dog. Belcher said Ripley can come back in a year for a free training session to make sure the lesson stuck.
Ripley鈥檚 owners, Amber Schneider and Wendy Timm, said they opted for the training because the dog regularly hunts small animals.
鈥淲e have an acre of natural desert and respect all the snakes, but she鈥檚 very curious about wildlife,鈥� said Timm. 鈥淲e are doing this because we want to keep our dog safe.鈥�
How common are dog-snake interactions?
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says as many as 150,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States. In the emergency veterinarian Dr. Sarah Carotenuto says the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson treats four to six dogs daily for rattlesnake bites, along with an occasional cat.
Training programs from poisonous snakes are offered around the U.S., especially in the Western deserts, woods and grasslands that are home to western diamondbacks. The snakes can reach over 5 feet long (1.5 meters) and strike in less than a second when they feel threatened.
There are also classes from Illinois to Florida to guard animals against eastern diamondbacks, timber rattlers and other venomous snakes.
Carotenuto said the snakebite survival rate for pets is 94% with quick treatment, which can cost thousands of dollars depending on how much is needed.
鈥淒o bring us your dog quickly, but please don鈥檛 bring us the snake!鈥� emphasized Carotenuto. Some people have brought in the guilty snake, but it鈥檚 unnecessary to identify the exact species before administering antivenom effective against all kinds of rattlers.
Which method is best?
Carotenuto, who teaches at the University of Arizona鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine, said she鈥檚 participating in a research study there into whether rattlesnake-aversion training works, and which method is most effective.
Like Belcher, most trainers insist that the use of the electronic collar is necessary to ensure a dog will avoid poisonous snakes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very fast and effective form of training,鈥� said Belcher, who has traveled around the Western U.S. for more than two decades teaching rattlesnake avoidance to thousands of pet and working dogs, including search-and-rescue animals and the occasional police dog.
He acknowledged the growing debate about the use of electronic training collars, a method that the American Humane Society has opposed as cruel.
The ASPCA doesn鈥檛 explicitly oppose electronic collars, but insists they be used correctly.
鈥淭his type of training can be highly effective 鈥� however, we recommend that such training be conducted only under the guidance of a trainer knowledgeable in the principles of avoidance learning,鈥� said Pamela Reid, vice president of ASPCA’s behavioral sciences team.
鈥淚t is imperative to weigh the dog鈥檚 risk of a snakebite against the potential fallout from using an electronic collar,鈥� she said.
Training a dog to come reliably when it鈥檚 called and to 鈥渓eave it鈥� when it is interested in something dangerous 鈥渃an go a long way toward keeping a dog safe,鈥� she said.
Belcher said he has developed an alternative positive-reinforcement program for clients who are squeamish about electronic collars, but nobody has wanted to pay the $2,500 he would charge for the multiple sessions. A single visit with the collar costs $125.
Another trainer, Mike Parmley in Salt Lake City, teaches as many as 500 dogs every year, usually in small classes of four to six. He uses an electronic collar set on a low level, emphasizing, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to shock the hell out of the dog.鈥�
He aims to help dogs steer clear of the Salt Lake area’s Great Basin rattlesnakes.
鈥淭hey are a pretty big problem up here in the foothills,鈥� said Parmley, who owns Barley鈥檚 Canine Recreation Center. 鈥淭hey came out a lot earlier this year because of a trend of warmer weather, and we had more than 100 dogs signed up by early June.鈥�
Other steps to prevent encounters with snakes
Here are some tips from trainers and veterinarians for protecting your dog:
鈥� Learn about snakes in your area. Venomous snakes exist across the U.S., with various rattler species not only in the West but as far east as New York and North Carolina.
鈥� Clear your yard of long grass and other foliage or debris that can attract small rodents hunted by snakes. Trimming back growth can eliminate hiding places.
鈥� Stay on well-worn trails while hiking and keep your dog on a leash.
鈥� Don鈥檛 let your guard down even if your dog has had avoidance training. A viper can surprise and attack a person or pet without warning.
鈥� Seek emergency care immediately if your dog is bitten because the venom will move quickly through its body, destroying tissue.
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