Snake proofing teaches dogs to flee from the scent and sound of a diamondback rattlesnake.

History
Since 1998 Partners Dog Training has snake proofed more than 9,000 dogs. Hundreds of these have gone on to successfully alert their owners of the presence of a snake.
Every week we hear of people whose lives have been potentially saved by their dogs alerting them.

Who is Partners Dog Training?
Partners Dog Training is a professional dog training school based in Arizona, that specializes in behavioral training and obedience for pets.
We are one of the largest schools in the United States, with more than 20 instructors, daily training classes, training camp and private lessons.
Partners also offers agility, herding, tracking and protection training.
We at Partners believe the reason for our success is our goal of educating not just our clients' dogs, but the clients themselves.
An instructors' job is not done until the student "understands".

Why should I snake proof my dog?
Dogs are by nature curious and protective.
Housing development has increased contact with snakes, which defend themselves by striking at curious animals. Training a dog to avoid snakes reduces the risk of being bitten; thereby saving lives.
The average snake bite treatment costs about $3,000, and depending on the circumstances, can cause death.
Snake proofing dogs also creates a safety factor for families, as many proofed dogs will alert the family to the presence of a snake.
(Obviously alerting depends on the dog and on other circumstances, and should not be relied upon.)

How serious are snake bites?
Snake bites are often fatal to pets.
Depending on the bite location, age of the snake, amount of venom injected and time taken to get help, treatment can cost $1,000 to $3,000.
According to veterinary sources thousands of dogs die annually from snake bites.
And even if your pet survives they are left with permanent physical wounds and scars.
Bites can be fatal for humans also, with about 72 people having died in the past 20 years.
The cost of treating a human snake bite runs into the tens of thousands of dollars.
By the way, dogs that have already been bitten are STILL AT RISK. A bite from a snake does NOT deter them from being curious.

How does it work?
Partners uses a unique three-step process, originally developed by Leighton Oosthuisen for the training of search and rescue dogs, and then adapted for domesticated pets.
Dogs are trained to associate the smell, sound and sight of a snake with a negative correction.
When they recognize this odor by association, a transmitter sends a signal to a receiver which provides the electronic stimulation.
This equipment is capable of remotely adjusting the voltage and cyclic rate to ensure the appropriate response.
Partners is the only school to take special measures to ensure no negative association with the owner, trainers or instructors.

What snakes are used in training?
Actual Diamondback and Mohave rattlesnakes are used during the conditioning process. At any one time, twenty to thirty snakes are kept in our custom built climate controlled facility. No snakes are harmed or defanged during the process, and snakes are rotated to ensure we get the best possible results.

Does snake proofing hurt my dog?
Absolutely not!
In fact, the "nick" or correction from the electronic collar causes less discomfort than using a regular collar. The myth that these e-collars cause pain stems from those with little or no knowledge of the training process.
As professional trainers with decades of of experience, we
have NEVER injured a dog with an e-collar.
And while we are aware of trainers that have caused injury to the dogs through the incorrect use of equipment, that is a result of their inexperience.

why do the dogs jump or yelp when corrected?
Simply put: They get a fright!
Dogs are reacting to the combination of being in tunnel vision mode, investigating the scent and sound of a snake, and the sudden stimuli of the collar.
This causes a "fright" reaction, which results in a "flight response" and occasionally a yelp.
Interestingly it is often the "toughest" looking dogs that yelp the loudest, while the smaller terriers make no sound at all.
Keep in mind the more successful the "fright" the better the response and the safer the dog.
A few seconds of discomfort can prevent hours and days of pain and suffering.

How successful is Partners Dog Training?
Extremely successful!
There is no question, our snake proofing program works!
We have an incredible 99%+ efficiency rating.
However, there are those that fail, and we believe in putting all the facts on the table.
IN the past eight years we have had seven dogs subsequently bitten after training.
There is NO GUARANTEE all dogs will detect or avoid a snake.
As with humans, unless you detect the snake, you are still at risk. While dogs have a superior sense of smell, unless they can smell or hear the snake, they may still fail to make the association.

What causes dogs to fail?
We investigate every circumstance this happens. According to the information presented, dogs that failed fitted into three categories:
First, three dogs had extremely high genetically formed prey drives, which created a hunting instinct.
Second, scenarios due to climatic conditions. The dog just could not have detected the snake scent or sound.
Three, less than 5% of the dogs we train just don't get the association. Factors such as a lack of obedience, insecurity and separation anxiety all play a role in this. If one of these dogs is exposed to a snake, they may not respond appropriately.

About our proofing techniques
It should be noted that over the years Partners under the leadership of Leighton Oosthuisen have developed a system of training that no other school in the country can match.
We use highly experienced instructors, specialist handlers, customized equipment, multiple snakes, scenarios and setups.
As with anything in life, you get what you pay for, and with Partners you may pay a little more, but you get the best of the best.
But when the safety of your beloved pet, and the welfare of your family, is at stake, professionalism is what counts.

Does snake proofing last forever?
We have conducted studies on dogs proofed over the past eight years, and more than 75% recalled the conditioning.
In some cases, previously trained dogs detected snakes from as far away as 100 feet. It appears some dogs "recall ability" is higher than others, often depending on their scenting and hunting abilities.
Dogs with high drive, high curiosity factors and dogs that love chasing things are the highest risk, even with training.
To be safe, we recommend re-proofing your dog annually. It is a minimum of time and expense, and greatly increases their safety.

Are all snake proofing methods the same?
No. There are others that use methods such as water, defanged snakes, allowing owners to handle their own dogs, etc.
We have seen their results fail a lot more often.
Last year we tested a number of dogs trained elsewhere, and found that 90% of them showed no fear of snakes. In some cases they even attacked the snakes, a reaction that is sure to get the dog killed.
The technique with the lowest success rate is the one where owners handle their own dogs. In many cases the handler influences the dog unintentionally, leading to an incorrect association.
We have spent years perfecting our methods. Immediately after your dog is proofed, we evaluate their response to ensure the conditioning was successful.
If there is any doubt, the dog is re-proofed AT NO CHARGE.

Can I proof my dog by spraying with water?
No. The success of snake proofing is based on "aversion training", which means you are conditioning the dog to associate a smell, sound or look (snake) with a negative or unpleasant response (the electronic stimulus).
If you used water or your voice to adversely condition your dog, then they would later associate a bath or your voice with a negative reaction.

Snakes scare me. Can I still proof my pet?
ABSOLUTELY! In fact, all you have to do is bring your dog to us, and we will do everything for you. You can even leave your dog at the school for the day (like day care) and he can be trained for you. There may be an additional DAYCARE charge for leaving him at the school for the day.

Must my dog be obedience trained?
We do not require prior obedience training. However, as the snake proofing process requires a dog be handled, it is a requirement that your dog be able to walk on a leash.
In some cases we may suggest some additional training.
Please note that dogs displaying AGGRESSION towards staff will be restrained and training STOPPED.
The INSTRUCTOR on duty has the FINAL say in this .
We value the safety of our staff, other clients and all dogs.
There will be NO REFUNDS for dogs that are unable to be trained due to aggressive behavior.

At what age can my dog be proofed?
Any healthy breed aged from 5 months to 10 years can be proofed. If you are uncertain as to the health of your dog, or if your dog is older than 10 years, then check with your vet.

Can any breed be snake proofed?
Most breeds (or mixes) can be snake proofed. Certain hybrids exhibit very strong hunt drive, and this sometimes causes a problem. In these cases we may recommend additional conditioning. Probably the biggest problem is dogs that cannot walk on leash, as they are difficult to control.

Can I obedience train and snake proof at the same time?
Partners is a professional training school, specializing in obedience and behavioral training. You are welcome to have your dog obedience trained and snake proofed at the same time, but generally we advise against doing it on the same day. Remember that snake proofing involves aversion training, and obedience training should be based on positive motivational reward.

What about vaccinations against snake bites?
We strongly recommend you vaccinate your dog against the damage caused by venom. This will increase your dogs ability to fight the effects of the venom. Vaccinating does NOT teach your dog to avoid snakes.
We recommend BOTH snake proofing and vaccinating your dog, as this provides a safety net. We have heard that dogs bitten after being vaccinated have had minimal health issues, and the cost of treatment is about $300 to $500, far less than without a vaccination.
We know of no dogs that were both snake proofed (by us) AND vaccinated, and subsequently got bitten. Contact your vet for more info on vaccinating your dog against snake bite.

I live outside of Arizona.
Can I still send my dog to you for snake proofing?
Yes. There are limitations, but in most cases dogs can be flown to Phoenix and trained at the school. Most people combine this with two or three week training camp programs, to get the best results. Call us for more details.

How often are clinics held?
Each year we hold more than 200 clinics. This is more than any school in the world. Clinics are held in the morning, generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, subject to seasonal conditions.

What are the costs?
New dogs: $79
Renewals: $69
Discount on third or more dogs.
Group rates for rescues and working dog groups.
We occasionally run specials during low season.
Call for more details.
PLEASE NOTE THAT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL BOOKINGS.
PAYMENT IS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF RESERVATION.

HOW DO I RESCHEDULE MY RESERVATION.
We do not offer REFUNDS.
If you cannot make an appointment, please reschedule with a minimum of 48 hours notice.
No shows must make a new reservation, and pay the normal rate.

What do I need to do?
Make an appointment. We need about 30 minutes of your time.
When you arrive sign in with one of the trainers.
Sit back and relax.
We provide all the equipment.
We do all the work.
And after the training is done, either the trainer or instructor will give you a full report on how your dog did, and what the results of their tests were.

How do I sign up?
Call (480) 595-6700

snakeproofing@animaltraining.com