re: Snake avoidance training for dogs, clinic. October 29th.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of doing this clinic, I just want to share my experience and the experience of one other dog owner that had negative experience:

My issue with the clinic I attended is that there is limited flexibility on the part of the "trainer" to listen to the owner on the level of intensity that your dog normally handles (using the same tritronics/garmin ecollar he had). On my garmin collar, I use level 10/21 to get a good reaction out of my dog when i need him focused. Level 12/21 and he cries/yelps. "Trainer" turned the e-collar to 21/21.

My dog didnt want to go anywhere near the snakes to begin with, "trainer" kicked the rattlesnake towards my dog and blasted him on full-power. My dog started running around in circles pissing himself out of control.

Needless to say I did not go back this year for follow up training. I had heard about another guy who had a similar experience with a Lab, dog had to be sent home from a trainer for a few months because he was "shell-shocked" so badly from the experience.

Ask a lot of questions so you know what you are getting yourself into. My dog trainer tried to talk me out of it, I asked the snake trainer to scale the power back based on my dog - he said he would but that highly suggested I not do that. Not knowing any better I agreed.