Snake Safety – Protecting Your Dogs This Spring

Spring is snake breeding season, and as the weather warms up, snakes become more active. While we can’t completely eliminate the risk of encountering a snake, there are several things we can do to make our properties safer for both our dogs and ourselves.

Making Your Property Less Attractive to Snakes

Snakes are generally looking for two things: food and shelter. Reducing these can make your property less appealing.

• Remove clutter: Clear away piles of timber, tin, bricks, pipes, rubbish and other items that provide hiding places.

• Tidy sheds: Keep items off the floor and use shelves wherever possible.

• Maintain your yard: Keep grass short, trim overgrown bushes and remove dense vegetation close to the house.

• Be careful when gardening: Wear sturdy boots, long pants and thick gloves, and always check your surroundings.

• Reduce rodents: Store pet and livestock food in sealed containers, clean up food scraps, pick up fallen fruit and fix dripping taps. Avoid poisons that may harm native wildlife.

Snakes may also bask in sunny, open areas to warm themselves before moving on. Always give them plenty of space.

What to Do If You See a Snake

Never try to kill, catch or scare a snake away. Most snake bites occur when people attempt to interfere with or handle them. Give the snake room to escape and keep yourself and your dogs well away. If necessary, contact a licensed snake catcher. Snake catchers are available in both Orange and in Bathurst. 

Keeping Your Dogs Safe

A few simple precautions can help reduce the risk of snake encounters:

• Consider creating a secure dog area using suitable fine snake-resistant mesh. Avoid bird netting, which can entangle and injure snakes.

• Keep dogs indoors or in a secure area when you are away, particularly during snake season.

• Keep dogs on lead when walking, especially on rural properties, and avoid long grass where snakes may be hiding.

• Take extra care around dams, rivers, lakes and water troughs. 

Snake Avoidance Training

If your dog encounters a snake, your instinct may be to call out or rush towards them. However, distracting a dog that is confronting a snake can sometimes result in a bite. 

Teaching your dog a reliable emergency recall and, ideally, to move away from snakes when they see them can be valuable skills. The aim is to build a strong response so your dog can disengage and return to you safely. I suggest training for the sight of a snake, scent of a snake and movement. Contact me directly with any questions about snake avoidance training. 

What If Your Dog Is Bitten?

VETERINARY EMERGENCY

If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake:

• Keep your dog as calm and still as possible.

• Contact your vet immediately and let them know you are on your way.

• Carry your dog to the car if possible to minimise movement.

• If you have someone with you who can safely apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, follow your vet's instructions. Do not delay getting to the vet to apply a bandage. 

Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Seek veterinary care immediately.

There are no guarantees that our dogs will never encounter a snake, but good management, awareness and positive reinforcement training can help minimise the risks.

Prevention, preparation and training can make a real difference.