We haven't seen any yet but two different neighbors have told us about snakes they keep seeing around our building. Maybe its because I don't know anything about snakes, but I am freaking out. Rugby goes outside at night basically by himself all the time, and potties primarily at the edge of the woods out back. We set up jumps and training equipment in the middle of a field across the street. With multiple dogs, they each get put on down stays while the other works. Sometimes we go out in the field to get some late-night zoomies out. There is no way either of us could see a snake early enough to avoid it!
Now I keep imagining a giant snake bitting Rugby every time we are outside for anything. I follow his every move when he goes out to potty (with the hopes that I can spot a snake quicker than he can). We haven't been out in the field to train for a couple weeks and our late-night zoomies have been replaced by heeling sessions in the parking lot. Maybe Rugby should just stay on the couch forever!
Am I being irrational? Anyone have any snake tips for us?
Sound like the best place to be with snakes about!
ReplyDeleteyou should ask the neighbors to describe the snake. It very well could be the rat snake which is harmless.
ReplyDeleteIf the snake is black - no need to worry.
copper head is the most dangerous, I think. you should be able to hear the rattle snake's warning.
here is the link for more info: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/vsnakes.asp
I've been terrified of snakes since I was a kid. Most snakes you'll see are just harmeless black snakes. We have Copperheads (which don't have rattles) and rattlesnakes in Maryland. Usually they are around streams or rocks in wooded areas. I always thought they only came out in the day, but I found some articles on the web and they said that most poisonous snakes do hunt at night. I went to the site Yulia posted and it did mention tall grass, so if the field has short grass you will probably be okay since you should spot the snake. Unless you outright step on it the snake will probably slither away. Yuk
ReplyDeleteI like snakes! As long as they are not poisonous. :)
ReplyDeleteSnake avoidance trainging is done with an ecollar and is relatively inexpensive as compared to a snake bite. Out here in Arizona a lot of us active in obedience, hunting or just living in the sticks invest in it. I had a 4 month old puppy get bit, all my older dogs were already "snaked" and gave it wide berth. Here's a link to Lola' adventure, http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150192830081559.307318.637071558&l=648de1937e. If need be drop me a line and I can tell you more about the training. The late great Pam Green trained me and she had her dogs "snaked" as well once one was bit! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd make sure Rugby is supervised when he's let outside. It's also best if you do not let him do his business near any bushes or the woods. Even if you get him "snaked", one could just leap out from somewhere without him knowing. And a snake bite on a small dog is quite fatal.
ReplyDeletesnakes generally try to avoid people however a small dog is at risk. If you go out with Rugby, I would take a walking stick. Usually the vibrations of your footsteps scare them away but you could make more vibrations with a walking stick to assure the snakes quick departure from the area.
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