Snakes and Dogs!

ARE YOU AND YOUR DOG SNAKE READY?
Snakes are a part of everyday life in Australia.  The best protection for your dog is careful management of the dog and the environment.
Don’t ever enter the false sense of security of thinking that your dog has been trained and desensitised  and this is a guarantee.  This training is not aimed at dogs being unsupervised in the backyard or alone whilst you are away.

Total management is your best friend when it comes to snakes & dogs..

STEPS TO GET TO VET EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
* If you see your dog in proximity to a snake (living or dead) - present the animal to Emergency Vet - they can run tests to check for envenomation.
* The vast majority of dogs who are envenomated will survive if presented promptly for care (and given antivenene when appropriate).
* Pet insurance is encouraged (most vets have it for their own animals) - because sometimes bad things can happen to anyone.
* Make sure you take all the dogs with you - not just the one you think is in trouble.

SIGNS OF SNAKE BITE
* SYMPTOMS of possible envenomation - (if you are worried do not hesitate to contact your local vet or local ECC - always call before you go - so they are prepared - or they may redirect you to a Vet Team that can help.).
    * Collapse (sometimes emesis (vomiting will be observed) followed by "apparent" recovery
    * Lethargy.
    * Muscle tremors, shaking and reduced eye blinking.
    * Dilated pupils. (Pupils are larger than normal)
    * Sudden onset of weakness/wobbliness (ataxia)
    * Complete paralysis.
    * Inability to control bladder and bowels.
    * Blood - Irregular bleeding from the nose, bite site , mouth. Blood in urine.

USEFUL INFORMATION:
* The vast majority of the time - the snake/ dog interaction is NOT observed by their humans.
* Occasionally people will see a dead snake in their yard.
* Most of the time snake/ dog interaction is accidental - the dog is not hunting the snake. No training protocol can cover for that - that's the truth.
* The best protection for your dog is careful management of the dog and the environment.
* Short lead ON in areas that are likely to be snake populated (in summer - any water sources).
* Make sure grass around the home is short
* Make access under the house and in the garage and sheds impossible (snakes like cooler spots in hot weather - and will actively seek water when it's dry.
* CLEAR up around the yard.
* Making the environment unwelcoming for snakes is helpful too.
* Have the dog area sparse of garden beds.  
* Allowing a space for snakes outside the dog area will help them gravitate there.
* Provide a water source away from the dog yard so the snakes don't have to come in for a drink.  
* Have the garden beds on one side of the house, the dog play yard on the other side.  
* Check the yard before letting the dog out
* Snakes don't want to meet dogs, so make it very unfriendly to the snake and they'll likely try to avoid the dog.
* Snakes are vulnerable in the open.
* Screens on doors/ windows.(make sure the screens are well fitted) keep them closed)
* Preferably keep dogs indoors when you are not with them.  If this is not possible then Create a snake proof enclosure for your dogs if they are out when you are not supervising. (but still keep the areas within the enclosure clear and check regularly).
* If you have a long haired dog keep their fur slightly long during snake season to create a barrier and therefore decrease the chance of a bite penetrating the skin. Snake fangs are not very long.
* Snakes are habitual and territorial.
* So where ever you have sighted a snake or your dog has found one you should absolutely make it a no go zone.
* Snake venom appears to be more potent in Spring when they are in mating season, coming out of hibernation ?
* Baby and Juvenile snakes are just a deadly.
* Never handle a dead snake, skin, excrement (snake poo) without protective equipment because a fang can still envenemonate.
* Definitely NO doggy doors for either the dog or the snake to use .
* So definitely no water bowls left down outside .
* Know first aid for snake bite .
* Have your elasticated bandages ready in the car and home.
* Apart from that, many dogs (and people) are bitten by snakes because they didn't see the snake and stood on it, etc.
* You may actually hear them hissing, before you see them or come upon them.
* Do Training because it certainly won’t hurt. A dog needs to know basic commands such as recall and leave it!
* No course is going to be a guarantee of the preferred outcome.
* There's a difference between a supervised and an unsupervised dog; and between a dog on a lead and not on a lead.
* Keep your home and yard free of rodents and other snake food sources.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT OBEDIENCE TRAINING AND SNAKE AVOIDANCE TRAINING USE THE CONTACT FORM.

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