Something about avoidance training...of rattlesnakes.
Unfortunately, rattlesnakes are all over Southern California. They dont come out in the winter so much cuz its cold and they like to hibernate...but now that its been getting warmer they are waking up and coming out to get warm in the sun.
Since I like to go on hikes with Mom, there's a pretty high likelihood that we'll run into one. That's kinda scary, so Mom decided to enroll me in a training class. Its happening this weekend, and Mom's a little nervous about it cuz they use something called a 'remote' collar. Mom says that's just a nice way of saying "shock" collar.
Mom has really mixed feelings...she says she read lots of information about remote collars. Some peoples say they are a really good training tool (Mom has a good friend who has 3 danes who were all trained using a remote collar. None of them seem bothered by it and they sure are well behaved doggies!), others say they should never be used cuz they can cause psychological harm to a doggie. Mom isn't sure what to believe...but after some long, hard thinking and research, she feels the risks of using a remote collar to do Rattlesnake Avoidance Training are less than the risks of being bit by a snake. Especially since I'm such a dope. Last year, when we were on Fiesta Island...a big snake came out of the grass. I din't know what it was so I went over to investigate. I picked it up in my mouth and got quite surprised when it wiggled!! I dropped it right away and left it alone after that. Fortunately, it was a California Kingsnake. Non-venemous, although its bite mighta hurt if it had decided to bite me!
So, based on that experience, Mom thinks its best that I go thru this training. Along with the training, Mom has been considering the Rattlesnake Vaccine for me. Again...Mom is a bit torn on this one. The vaccine has only been available since approximately 2000, so in medical terms that's not very long. Not even a full 10 years of use to show whether there are adverse reactions from it! Mom's leaning a little more against the vaccine, mainly because enough is not known about it. The company who makes it (Bed Rock Biologics) claims it is safe...but why wouldn't they? They want to sell it! Several other sites Mom found on the web question its efficacy and safety. According to one site, the vet school at the University of Davis won't even recommend it because of its “questionable efficacy, cost, and no substantial difference in acute therapy if bitten…”. For now, Mom says...just the avoidance training. Then she'll base her decision on the vaccine on how I react to the training. I don't like shots, so hopefully I won't have to get this one!
.jpg)
Posts
10 comments:
Wow, that's a lot to think about. I didn't realize rattlesnakes were really around anywhere outside the prairie. Luckily, the only wildlife we deal with in Chicago are rats and pigeons.
I hadn't heard about the vaccine before. Interesting! I agree, it's a tough choice whether or not to use the collar, but like you, I'd err on the side of caution. Snakes and dogs together terrify me.
Wow, never heard of the vaccine. We live in the heart of rattlesnake country here, but surprisingly there isn't a lot of bites from rattlesnakes. It could be that the diamondbacks and prairie rattlers here are more shy than what you have there. They usually bolt when they hear you coming.
Dear Murphy..
Your mamma is one smart mamma...
I'm gonna make my mom/secretary do this research too..& maybe look into classes for me & my new Monkey Stick Fuzzy Brother...
There is a lagoon behind our house - couple blocks away - with snakes...& she NEVER goes there...just cuz she's never want to risk running into one...
SUPER YUCKO!
Listen really well in class, Murphy...this is important & I'm sure you'll get treats...LOTS OF TREATS!
Love & Licks,
Randi
hike safe.
I know people will probably be shocked to hear me say this as I use primarily positive reward-based training but I do believe that remote collars can be very useful & effective training tools, IF they are used correctly and by experienced trainers. I know it's not PC to say this and I can understand why the "all positive" people are horrified by it - because it is open to abuse by idiots who use it to zap their dogs for anything, willy nilly.
But I do think with an experienced understanding trainer, it can be a very effective training tool and achieve results that would be difficult to get (or take ages to get and therefore likely that people will give up or dog will get in trouble first) with just all positive methods.
I know what people say about psychologically damaging the dog but I think this depends very much on the dog and also on how you use this training device. This kind of thing should be "one trial learning" - ie, if you're constantly having to shock the dog, then it's not working and it's just cruel to keep on using it. On the other hand, if used correctly - the dog "learns the lesson" very effectively and never tries it again. In that case, you don't keep on using the collar anyway and so you're not hurting the dog. It's a one-off pain for long-term gain. I do feel that in certain dangerous situations (eg, snakes), it is worth it. Such as stock chasing which can get the dog shot or other situations where the dog's quality of life is improved hugely through the use of the collar to train it - even if it has to experience a bit of "unpleasantness" in the short tem.
Also, I think it depends on your own relationship with your dog. I mean, the really positive people say you shouldn't even say "No" to your dog, for fear of damaging your relationship with them - well, I think that's rubbish. Aside from the fact that sometimes it's not always possible to only ignore & reward good behaviour, coz the dog is doing somethign dangerous to itself or others - I think if you can't sometimes say No to your dog, then you do't have a strong enough relationship in the first place. But if you have a relationship that is primarily based on rewards and have a good strong bond with your dog by doing things together, then it's fine to occasionally "reprimand" your dog (just like children!)
We were very lucky to have a very experienced good trainer back in NZ who was experienced with using remote collars. We used it to train several things with Honey - in particular her Recall - we only ever had to use it once on her for not coming back and she has been brilliant ever since. I would say that the remote collar is one reason why she has such reliable recalls and also things like not running out of our garden without permission. So I am happy to use it in "serious" situations where the dog could be in danger - and if you look at Honey and me, I don't think it has damaged our bond or relationship in the least.
But it does depend on the dog - not all dogs are suitable. Some are so sensitive, the collar can overwhelm them and can cause pscyhological problems - others are so 'hard' that they override the collar anyway. If you are thinking of using it, I would say find someone very experienced with using it - the aim is to have to use it as little as possible to achieve your result and then never have to use it again (for that situation).
Hsin-Yi
I don't thinks I've ever seen a rattlesnake but my Brudder Ranger has - TWICE! But he is very much smart and as soon as he heard them shake their rattle, he walked very slowly in the other direction. Mom and Dad asked our Most Wonderful vet about the rattlesnake vaccine and he wasn't too very much keen on the idea.
Good luck and I can't waits to hear how it goes!
Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie
i hope the training goes well. i agree with honey's mom in this circumstance. i'm definitely not a fan of remote/shock collars, but it could be a life or death situation for murphy to approach a rattlesnake. i think a remote collar will quickly reinforce the concept that approachng a snake is a really bad idea.
please let us know how it goes.
the booker man's mama
Best to listen very carefully to this training session, my friend!
A furiend of our also for SoCal did the training class, but her mom wasn't satisfied so they're doing the vaccine too. I just pray I don't get bit because I'm so tiny. Very important post!
Twinkie
Post a Comment