LIFE SAVING TRAINING FOR YOUR CANINE COMPANION
Our Training:
Understanding snake behaviour helps explain your dogs snake awareness training better. Snakes are very defensive creatures, and very good and putting on a good show in order to defend themselves and try to scare off predators. They do not like to be disturbed, particularly by large perceived predators such as humans or dogs.
Main predators of Australian snakes are birds of prey and other snakes. So the feeling of a large animal hovering over the top of the snake, can scare them.
Snakes have a snake length radius of "their space" around them in which they do not like anything entering this space. This is why it is so important to stay back, give the snake space and respect if we were to encounter one. This will encourage them to feel safe and less likely to react to a perceived threat.
By teaching the dogs to keep a wide distance around the snake, this helps the snake feel less threatened and less likely to try to bite.
Snakes often show physical displays to try and look larger, in an attempt to intimidate. These displays are often rearing up in an "S" coil position, flattening the throat out (also known as hooding), lunging forward as well as making vocal noises such as hissing.
These displays are sometimes combined, and as a last resort the snake may bite. They will always try to escape or hide out of the dangerous situation.
Envenomating a predator is a huge waste of energy for a snake. They need their venom to help take down and digest prey. They will try to "bluff" as much as possible in order to conserve their venom for when they really need it, hunting for food.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What kinds of snakes do you use?
We use a range of live non venomous pythons in accordance with the regulations from DEECA. We use seven different snakes during the session, all different species of pythons. Some are small and some are larger, some move and some do not. We use this wide range in order to create an over all association with snakes. Even if they are moving or laying still, the dog will know to avoid them. On our revisit session we bring a different team of snakes to ensure the dogs have built an over all association.
We have venomous snake sheds which we also use in the scent detection component of the training. Through our experience we have found that the over all smell and movement association, dogs will avoid venomous snakes when trained with pythons – venom glands do not hold any scent and therefore there is no distinction.
2. How does the training work?
We do use a remote training collar in our snake avoidance training. In order to create a clear avoidance, a negative association needs to be created with the snake. As the dog safely approaches our trained snakes on lead, they will receive a low-level stimulation from the collar, we will then train them to come away and rest at a safe distance from the snake. We repeat the process if needed, however most dogs only require one to two corrections to associate the snake in a negative way. Once the dog has averted from the snake, we reward the dog for coming away with lots of treats and praise.
3. How long does the session take?
We allow one hour per session; it is a very stimulating training for the dog’s brain and they will be very tired afterwards. For this reason, we need full focus of the dog so please refrain from intense walks/exercise before our training session to we have all their energy.
Snakebites can be lethal to dogs, and unfortunately all snakes found around Victoria are venomous. It has been reported that there are thousands of dogs bitten by snakes across the country every year alone. Treating them can be heartbreaking, expensive and sometimes despite the veterinary professionals best efforts, unsuccessful. Snakeguard Dog Training aims to teach dogs to avoid snakes, and ultimately save their life by never coming into contact with a snake in the first place.
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Owned by an experienced dog trainer and qualified veterinary nurse, Georgia Kourtis. Georgia has been working within the veterinary industry since 2015 and has worked at a range of clinics throughout Victoria, from general and mixed practices to an exotic specialist clinic. After seeing first hand the devastating impact snakebites can cause to out beloved pets, she created this business to try to reduce the impact of snake bites to pets and their owners.
ABOUT US
