Jane Trains
“Rattlesnake Avoidance Training -
My dog and I took the Rattlesnake Avoidance Training at Jane Trains.
There are two methods to teach a dog to stay away from Rattlesnakes, one is a sharp shock with a stimulator collar (Aversion training) and the other is training an alert behavior (Avoidance). I chose the method where the dog alerts the owner when a snake is present and they both avoid the snake.
My dog Vinnie and I participated in the Rattlesnake Avoidance classes offered by Jane Gerard at JaneTrains.The series lasted several weeks as we went step by step to learn the behaviors Vinnie needed to alert me to the presence of a Rattlesnake. The result has been mind blowing, Vinnie now knows how to warn me if he sees, hears or smells a snake.
He won't go near it, but instead backs away, barks and comes to me and barks again. Although we used decoys in class, the sound was real, the smell was real from an old dried snakeskin, and the visual was a realistic rubber snake. We practiced a lot with various scenarios and I am confident that Vinnie will reliably avoid Rattlesnakes encountered on our walks.
This is serious work but Jane makes it enjoyable by encouraging the class and giving her full attention to each pair of us.
Jane's Positive Training method makes for calm, attentive dogs (and people), There is never punishment or fear for the dog, only a cookie and praise. And we can always get a do-over.”