Note from Leighton, Training Director with Partners Dog Training.

Every year I am told that snakebites dont kill; that they are not that bad; that "my dog is never around snakes".

And every year, the last being today, I see or hear of dogs that have been bitten, nearly died, or have died.

Yes, some bites are minor, but there are countless circumstances that determine the level of damage.

You don't control ANY of those, so therefore you cannot prevent a bite from being serious, or killing your dog.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE HOW SERIOUS A BITE IS:

• Location of the bite
• Amount of venom injected
• Age of the snake
• Age of the dog
• Level of stress the snake is feeling
• Level of threat the snake is sensing
• How much the snake has been interfered with
• Personality of the dog
• Time of day

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

You have to treat EVERY snake as if it were a threat.

Some snakes "act" like a rattlesnake to create a fear in a potential predator. (Example a bullsnake)

There are numerous species (about 17) of rattlesnakes, so unless you know what you are looking at, stay away.

Snakes will often act as if dead, while they may be sleeping.

The bottom line is STAY AWAY AND LEAVE THEM ALONE!