lreef
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by lreef on Aug 20, 2011 1:55:06 GMT -5
Our vet was telling us that there are classes out there that teach dogs how to react to rattlesnakes. Has anyone heard of this.....done it....have an opinion on it? Sandi (our lab) was bitten by a snake last week on one of her favorite trails. She's tons better now but is showing some fear of going outside after the sun starts setting. She was bitten at dusk so I completely understand why she is scared. I'm not sure if some controlled exposure to snakes will help with that fear or if seeing a snake again will make her even more terrified of them. Right now I'm going out after dark with her and giving her love while we are out there. I'm hoping she will slowly learn there is nothing to be afraid of. Any other ideas besides the snake class? My labbie shouldn't have to be afraid of her own back yard there has to be something else I can do to help her.
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Post by garrett on Aug 20, 2011 10:14:30 GMT -5
i never heaarrrrrrd of such a class..interestinng hope she's ok and moh bettah reefster. poor dawg.
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Post by dogwoman on Aug 20, 2011 15:33:35 GMT -5
Catering to a dog's fear with extra attention often reinforces a dog's fearful behavior. It is usually best not to acknowledge the fear, for the owner to act as though all is normal. I think it is a good idea to take the dog outside for now, but not good to give her the extra attention. Perhaps a few tosses of a ball for her to chase would be better, a diversion to make her forget the fear.
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Post by lalbers on Aug 20, 2011 16:16:15 GMT -5
I agree with Lorna, try not to make her more fearful. If she has been bitten once, she will remember the smell of the snake, and avoid them like the plague in the future. I'm so glad she is recovering, but she still needs to go play and have fun.
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Post by garrett on Aug 20, 2011 17:56:01 GMT -5
I JUST HOPE SHE'S OK...WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SNAKE?
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lreef
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by lreef on Aug 20, 2011 19:33:00 GMT -5
Thank you ladies! A lot of the problem right now is that Sandi is on a strict no activity restriction for the next 8 days. I totally agree a diversion would be great but it's a little hard to think of a no activity one. I went and got her a bone today and she'll get it tonight. She loves bones so I'm hoping it will occupy her. Sandi went outside with one of the beagles during the night and seemed to do better having a doggie friend with her. I'll make sure and put them out together again tonight. The snake is still hanging out at the river. We didn't hurt it and Sandi didn't bite it. I will say I have no desire to see it, or any of its cousins, ever again.
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Post by lalbers on Aug 20, 2011 20:08:36 GMT -5
Bones are great when they have to be alone and on no activity. Another one I use is a game I call 'hands' Get a sheet, blanket or towel, put your hand under it, and attack their paws. They can't see where your hands are, and try, while you know where their paws are. I do it with both Della and the cats- it's a routine around here
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Post by garrett on Mar 11, 2012 0:50:08 GMT -5
missing ya'lls reef and labs.
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bella
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by bella on Mar 11, 2012 14:16:35 GMT -5
Speaking of the dreaded snake....some of the southerners told us when we moved here that if there is a cooperhead nearby, they will emit the scent of cucumbers. Anyone else ever heard that?? Methinks that is them pulling our legs; like the 'snow snake' stories we in the north used to tell southerners.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 12, 2012 23:29:25 GMT -5
Snow snakes? Last year when we passed through AZ & NM it was 27F, snowing and blowing. I saw lots of signs at the Welcome centres (which were closed due to weather) about Snakes but for some reason they weren't around
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Post by marielouise on Mar 13, 2012 0:02:25 GMT -5
Haaaa-- never go hunting with my middle brother---he will find a rattle snake on top of mountain in dead of winter with snow on the ground!!! One year we were up dang near top of Baldy he stepped out of truck, and onto a rattler coiled up --was sunning on a rock surrounded by bout 4 inches of frozen snow and ice ! It was very torpid cuz of cold air temps but the dang thing did buzz and I jumped into the back of the truck til they killed it. yep snow snakes--hahaha--- sounds funny but they do come out onto the sun warmed rocks .
Az and N.M. and Texas ,do have the warning cuz of the lights at night --- lights draw rattlers ---and the fact there's water at the centers . Desert areas can warm up enough for snakes to crawl around in winter especially like this past winter that has been mild for them. Actually they are less able to move in the heat--- gets too hot for them out in the desert flats , they have no way of cooling their bodies , so the during heat of summer --temps above 90s-- you are less likely to see them unless you go in cool caves or cool shady places where they hide during the day or roll over big rocks or logs, they hide under rocks & logs--anywhere its cool . Evening and nights are worse for running up on one thats why you see the warnings in the centers . Take the warnings seriously!
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bella
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by bella on Mar 13, 2012 0:16:07 GMT -5
Yup, bluelace...snow snakes. The deal was, that up north, there is (or was; not so much this year) quite a bit of snow all winter; and the mice and various rodents would tunnel under the snow. Then, about Feb. when it got to be mid 30's and 40's, the top of the tunnels sunk in, and left little winding trails in the snow. We told a visitor from the south that the snow snakes were out, and he said there was no such thing in winter. When we pointed out the trails, he seemed absolutely stunned....he really believed it. ;D Thanks for that info, marie...didn't know rattlers were attracted to light; wonder why. I'm finally learning to be watchful for snakes when in the woods, etc. Their camo is perfect for hiding in the leaves, etc, and hubby did find one by the woodpile last year. I do not like snakes; never have. *shudder*
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Post by marielouise on Mar 14, 2012 22:07:16 GMT -5
Yes & you are welcome ! when we lived in the desert, we had yard lights but in summer time Mom and Dad, would not leave them on for any length of time for that reason ..
so are the water moccasins , also attracted to lights --- ask any one who has ever gone night fishing or running trot lines after dark and had a water moccasin drop off a limb or been pulled into the boat while hooked onto the lines . Ole boy couldn't swim and had one flip off the line as they were pulling it up-- the guy pulling the lines up saw the snake --yelled "" snake! bail out "" but ole buddy couldn't swim and tried beating it off with his flash light -- one of them big long lights that have upteen batterys in 'em-- - they kept yelling at him to turn the light off and bail. He kept yelling I caint swim--- they told him the water was only 3 foot deep on that part of the river they was standing up--- so he bailed off the other side in a DEEP hole!!! they stilll laugh at him.. Ohhh yes next time they went trot lining he KNEW how to swim...... I don't know why they are attracted to lights---thought maybe it was cuz of bugs flying around light and then other small animals like birds and lizards coming there for the bugs... But the moccasin was first in the front of the boat when he turned on his flash light so he could see where the snake was at --- then it went straight to the light that he was holding .
I can see how that "" snow snake"" story got started---- haaaaaa--- thats funny!!!
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Post by garrett on Mar 18, 2012 9:49:20 GMT -5
snakes been active here.
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Post by marielouise on Mar 19, 2012 6:57:53 GMT -5
Speaking of the dreaded snake....some of the southerners told us when we moved here that if there is a cooperhead nearby, they will emit the scent of cucumbers. Anyone else ever heard that?? Methinks that is them pulling our legs; like the 'snow snake' stories we in the north used to tell southerners. As many copperheads as I have found and killed I don't recall any cuke smell. And we had a real problem the first few years we lived here. No longer find them as much as back then. I can smell watermoccasins--- they do have a very strong musty smell especially when they get mad. Its almost like that old damp rotted smell like in a closed up old cluttered basement that stays wet and moldy but with a sharper tang to it... Jim cant smell it but the 2 boys do, which is good cuz they both spend a lotta time down at the creek and in the woods . My soninlaw says the stump tail moccasin is stronger smelling than the cotton mouth. He also spends a lot of time in the woods and around the rivers and creeks , that mainly where the moccasins hang out,. But they will head to higher ground when it floods.
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bella
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by bella on Mar 19, 2012 17:39:47 GMT -5
I've only seen one copperhead; near our woodpile...the guys made short work of that one. ;D The kids have a creek in back of the property, and I do worry that the little ones will happen upon a snake, but they know to be careful, and so far, so good.
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Post by garrett on Mar 20, 2012 10:50:08 GMT -5
smiles
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