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Many dog owners do not realize the risk snakes can pose to their pets, whether at home or outdoors. An encounter with a rattlesnake is one of the most troublesome experiences for dogs and humans, but all it takes are a couple good sessions of training and education to avoid harmful consequences. Rattlesnakes are known to inhabit a wide variety of terrains, from mountains to plains to deserts and can be found in all 48 contiguous United States. There are 32 species of rattlesnakes, and all of them share two traits – the famous rattling sound and venom! A bite can cause extreme pain, threat to life, and permanent damage to dogs, in addition to the high cost of treatment can run in the thousands of dollars.  Most people understand the gravity of the situation, whereas dogs are far more likely to be bitten by a rattlesnake due to their curious nature. A rattlesnake bite can cause extreme pain, threat to life, and permanent damage to dogs, in addition to the high cost of treatment. To ensure that no dog or family member faces the risk of such life-threatening encounters, GetRattled has been conducting an exclusive Rattlesnake Avoidance Training for dogs for the last 19 years, having trained tens of thousands of dogs to avoid rattlesnakes. “At our training classes, we create a course with different stations and expose your dogs to a variety of scenarios that draw their attention to various aspects of rattlesnakes, focusing their awareness on the sight, sound and smell of rattlesnakes. There are countless different scenarios in which your dog may find a rattlesnake, so we like to prepare for a wide variety of these,” Says John Potash, Founder and Owner, GetRattled. Rattlesnake Avoidance Training is conducted in small groups of dogs on a per hour basis, with most sessions lasting less than an hour, though keeping a full hour aside is recommended. The group will be given a brief educational presentation with Q & A by one of our instructors at the front of the hour. From there each dog undergoes the training one at a time with training tailored to the individual based on prior information about each dogs unique and specific character. This allows for complete attention to your dog in a safe and secure environment using tried and true methods developed over 19 years of providing this life saving service. Over 40 such classes are held each year in six states. Training sessions have been successful in teaching dogs to avoid rattlesnakes in breeds ranging from Great Danes to Chihuahuas. “A common question is, when is the best time to train your dog? The answer is NOW!” says John Potash. This is on most people’s mind in Spring when snakes are most active, but Fall training is equally valuable to better prepare them for the next season. The training is designed to last for years and often the lifetime of the dog, though periodic reinforcement training is sometimes recommended. Another unique aspect of GetRattled is that the training sessions also ensure the safety of rattlesnakes employed. “To us, the rattlesnakes are team members and not just tools. We take the best care of our snakes and will keep them till the day they die. We still have 4 of our original 5 snakes, each over 20 years old. They are retired from dog training but we still use them for other educational displays and presentations,” says John. Besides rattlesnakes, GetRattled also offers avoidance training for porcupines (Get Quilled), and poisonous toads, and is aiming at including skunks too (Get Skunked). Potash is licensed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and has spent over 25 years dealing in areas of animal control, wildlife rescue and public education. GetRattled works with local host businesses and organizations to offer these life saving courses to the communities. North Ogden Animal Hospital will hold the Rattlesnake Avoidance Training sessions as per the following schedule: Date: Saturday, June 1st
Venue: North Ogden Animal Hospital Durations 8am-5pm **We will be filling our morning times first then the afternoon Cost: $130 for new clients, $90 for retrain. To Register: Call: 801-782-4401 Email: [email protected]
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