I posted this over in the Toy Hauler Forum and was asked to copy it here, The Mods approved !
Saturday, while camping between Soggy dry lake and the "Rock Pile" I take one of our dogs for a walk, 6:30 PM, flat ground, no rocks, just your normal desert brush. Ryder sniffs each bush, lifts His leg, and heads to the next one. About 25 bushes later He litterly does a back flip and sits down next to me, out crawls a Mojave Green rattle snake !!!
Both our dogs have had the "snake Vaccine" and been to the rattlesnake avoidance class, He did what he was supposed to do.
D W ended up taking Him to the Vet to get checked out, We could not see any "fang marks" or blood, but his snout started to swell up about 30 minutes later. He is O K and was able to come back out to camp and spend the weekend with Us. HE IS ONE LUCKY DOG !!
For those who do not know, Mojave Greens are porobably the most potent of the "rattlers" and very aggressive. Dogs are "nosey" and will stroll right up to a snake and thats why they get bit.
The class teaches them the "sight,sound and smell" of a rattler and both Of Our dogs went to the class on Friday, 1 1/2 days later one gets put to the ultimate test. Of the 2 dogs, Ryder was the one I worried about, even with the class. Dez went way around all the snakes and it was very obvious She wanted nothing to do with them.
Ryder passed the class, but in my opinion got way too close to the snakes, but the trainers assured me he would be O K. They were right.
Please make sure you dogs get the shot and training if you live in snake territory or camp with them. I spent about 4 hours in suspense and worried sick until D W called back with the good news.
It possibly was a "dry bite" or "flesh wound" and did not inject any venom.
Ryder on left 13 months
Dezzie on right 2 1/2 years
The pic of the snake is NOT the real one, I found this on the "net" and wanted to show what it was like where I found The Mojave.
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So glad your dog is ok. Our lab went through rattlesnake avoidance training too a few months before heading to New Mexico. Never had to prove if it worked though, thank goodness.
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bullmastifflover wrote: Where did you find this class?
Originally in the newspaper, now were on a mailing list.
Do a "google search" on "snake avoidance classes" or check with any local hunting club, Vets, etc.
We have several classes in the area, Bass Pro Shops has a class, a local Duck club as well, another is Quail unlimited. I am 110% for the class after Saturdays events. There is NO guarantee a dog won't get bit, but Ryder knew what to do once he saw/heard the snake.
Good Luck with finding a class
We've seen two rattlers in almost 10 years of camping... I'm glad we saw them first! Of course I know that means if we've seen two there were most likely several more we didn't see! Yikes!
Have I mentioned lately that I hate snakes?!
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We've seen two rattlers in almost 10 years of camping... I'm glad we saw them first! Of course I know that means if we've seen two there were most likely several more we didn't see! Yikes!
Have I mentioned lately that I hate snakes?!
I can count on one hand the number of rattlers I have seen in the Desert in over 50 years of camping in So Cal. I have seen far more in the mountains/foothills/etc.
Your right about not seeing all the snakes, We would not have seen this one had the dog not stuck his nose in the brush.
Its funny that I told D W "Don't be afraid of snakes, just be aware that their out there and watch where your walking". Then I take Ryder for a walk and this happens !! I think Our other dog, Dez is still mad at me for not taking Her out for a walk. I still have the "jitters" over that encounter. Its not going to stop Us from camping with Our dogs, but with a little more caution.
Scary. I didn't know there was such a snake vaccine or avoidance class. Might be worth looking into.
BTW-your dogs are gorgeous! Makes me wanna snuggle them
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