Snake Break

What is a Snake Break?

It is a technique to teach your dog to recognize and avoid rattlesnakes. This has obvious benefits for your dog. It also can benefit you in three ways. First, your dog’s reaction to detecting a rattlesnake can signal you and help you avoid the snake too. Second, it can save you the emotional trauma of having your dog hurt or killed. Third, it could save you a hefty vet bill. Anecdotal stories tell of bills starting about $500 and going up to $2,000.

How Does it Work?

Every effort is made to teach your dog the sight, smell, and sound of a rattlesnake and that the snake is something to be avoided.

This is done by using live rattlesnakes that are loose on the ground. The snakes are neutralized by "milking" them and then muzzling their mouth shut with surgical tape while they are "working." The trainer, Patrick Callaghan, has been doing this for almost 20 years and trained many thousands of dogs. He has never had an animal bitten (he trains horses too).

The avoidance behavior is taught by putting a remote controlled electronic collar on the dog. When the dog’s attention is on the snake (i.e., one of the senses is directed to the snake), a mild but unpleasant stimulation is applied to the dog. I held the collar in my hand to see what it feels like. It reminds me of when I shuffle my feet on a carpet then touch a doorknob.

The first sense to be isolated is smell. This is done by bringing the dog to the snake from downwind, in the snake’s scent cone. Then the dog will also see the snake. A snake particularly good at rattling will also be on the course.

A handler will walk your dog through the course on a leash, taking direction from Patrick. Patrick completely focuses on your dog and operates the remote control.

At the end of the course the handler will take your dog to a spot about 30 feet from a snake. Patrick and you will take a position the puts the snake right between you and your dog. After discussing his observations and answering your questions, the dog is released to come to your call. Your dog will not come to you in a straight line, rather, it will give the snake a wide berth. The berth is the measure of your dog’s comfort zone around a rattlesnake.

Registration Process

Time slots are available on a first-paid-first-served basis. The clinic runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Send a note, along with a check, indicating your time preference; a.m. or p.m., Saturday June 4 or Sunday June 5. If you request a specific time, we'll do our best to accommodate it. Checks should be made out and mailed to:

Quail Unlimited
9520 Red Diamond Drive
Lakeside, CA 92040-4340

When your request and check are received, we'll give you a call to confirm your registration and time (before the check is deposited).

A couple weeks before the clinic you will receive a reminder card, which will include directions and serve as a tax deductible receipt.

Other Key Points

· This is a fundraiser for Quail Unlimited a national non-profit conservation organization. Half of the fee is tax deductible.

· This is one-on-one training. Your dog will be receiving undivided attention during the session from a professional trainer whose only task is to focus on your dog’s reactions and body language.

· The session does not take very long – only about 10 minutes on the average. Most dogs learn to avoid the snakes very quickly and dragging them to the snakes in order to give them the stimulation isn’t productive.

· There is no multi-dog discount.

· You must mail in their checks ahead of time. This is done to eliminate "no shows". We’ve always had a waiting list and it isn’t fair to the people who couldn’t get in, and it’s lost revenue for QU. Experience has shown that "no shows" are always those who haven’t prepaid.

· As of this writing, the location is yet to be determined. A couple of weeks before the event, I will mail you a post card with a map to serve as confirmation, a reminder, and a tax receipt.

· Arrive about 15 minutes early to take care of check-in and let the dog get ready. Don’t show up too early because we don’t want more than 2 or 3 dogs there at a time because we don’t want any distractions for the "student."

About Patrick Callaghan

Patrick's Web Site: http://www.patrickcallaghan.com

Patrick Callaghan has been involved with animals and the outdoors all his life. His many positive experiences and successes in AKC Field Trials, as a participant, and as a judge, inspired him to become a professional dog trainer in the early 1960's. In 1980 he opened Gameland Kennels Dog Training Center in Norco, California. Gameland Kennels Dog Training Center services include; Boarding, Hunting Dog, Obedience, Behavioral, and Agility training. Narcotic Detector Dog training and handling is also available. Patrick began offering Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Classes in 1982. He is also the owner of Patrick Callaghan Enterprises.

In addition to placing in AKC National Open All Age Field Trials, and training numerous AKC Open All Age Field Trial Champions, Patrick has been awarded several AKC High Point Puppy Awards. The list of clients that Patrick has trained dogs for includes politicians, movie celebrities, military and sports personalities. If you asked him to name which one, of these clients, has left the most lasting impression on him, without hesitation, he will tell you that is was Omar Bradley. Having always admired Omar Bradley, when the opportunity to meet him and train a German Short Hair Pointer was presented to him, Patrick says, he was honored. He will never forget the experience of being in the presence of such a great man. John Wayne, Orel Hershiser, Jack Youngblood, Larry Brooks, Gerald McRaney, and Hal Roach are also noteworthy.

Patrick has been featured on ESPN (The American Hunter), KFMB, CNN, KNBC and CBS television networks.

Articles about Patrick Callaghan have appeared in the following magazines and newspapers: Los Angeles

Times Newspaper, Orange County Register Newspaper, Press Enterprise Newspaper, Daily Bulletin

Newspaper, Denver Post Newspaper, San Diego Union, Western Outdoor News, Weatherby Magazine, Peterson's Hunting Magazine, Western Outdoor Magazine, California Fish & Game Magazine, Hunting & Fishing News, Western California Dog Magazine, Northern California Dog Magazine, Southern California Dog Magazine, Ojai Valley News, Search & Rescue Magazine, and The Springer Bark.

Patrick’s expertise is constantly in demand. He has been the guest speaker for several sports and police organizations throughout the United States and Canada. He has warm associations with colleagues in Great Britain and Ireland, has done commercials in Canada and is considered an expert witness by the United States legal system. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited, American Boarding Kennels Association, Quail Unlimited, NRA, California Narcotic Canine Association, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and National Narcotic Detector Dog Association, Inc.

When asked about his philosophy of dog training, Patrick says, "Clear Communication, Trust, Respect, and Consistency, between dog and master, are the most important points to remember. Unlike humans, dogs need repetition and clear black or white lines to guide them. They are not capable of analyzing, they react to situations, and rewards and denials." For snake avoidance training he uses a remote collar with a low level stimulus adjusted to each dog’s or horse’s individual personality, temperament, animation, and breed.

Patrick is the father of Michael James, Kathleen Ann, grandson Ryan Patrick and lives in Corona, California. He is in the process of writing a book about dog training.

Treatment of Snakebites in Field Dogs

(Taken in part from articles published by the Sports Medicine Program at Auburn University and provided a service of Granada Veterinary Clinic to help promote health management of the field dog.)

Any time a field dog works, he encounters many dangers, one of which is a potentially fatal envenomation from a poisonous snake. There are approximately 15,000 dogs and cats bitten by poisonous snakes in the United States annually. In dogs, 70-80 percent of bites occur on the face and head, and 20-30 percent occur on the legs, with only rare cases occurring on the body. Rattlesnakes account for 80 percent of dog envenomations.

The poisonous snakes of the United States belong to 3 groups: the pit vipers, the elapids and the colubrids. More than 99 percent of venomous bites in the U.S. are caused by the pit vipers. This article will focus on treatment of pit viper envenomation of dogs caused by rattlesnakes.

Pit vipers are named for heat sensitive pits located between the eyes and nostril. Other characteristics of pit vipers are their triangular shape heads, elliptical pupils, retractable fangs, and a single row of subcaudal plates. These snakes can strike at eight feet per second and may strike to a distance up to one-half of their body length. Their fangs, 10-12 mm long, are capable of penetrating 1-8 mm deep.

The primary biological purpose of snake venom is the immobilization of the victim, to cause its death quickly and to start predigestion of tissue before the victim is eaten by the snake. Pit viper venom consists of many enzymes and nonenzymatic proteins. It contains 10-25 distinct biologically active components. In general, the venoms of the rattlesnake produces alterations in the resistances and integrity of the blood vessels, changes in the blood cells and blood coagulation mechanisms, changes in cardiac dynamics, alteration in the nervous system, and depression of respiration. The venom of snakes varies considerably in both its volume and toxicity.

Numerous factors affect the severity of the snake bite. One of these factors is the amount of venom injected by the snake into the victim. In a typical feeding strike , 15-20 percent of the venom is released, 50 percent i8 released in a defensive strike, and up to 75 percent or more in multiple strikes. It has been shown that pit vipers will replenish their venom in 16-54 days. Not all snake bites result in death or severe medical problems due to the fact that 20% of the bites are dry bites (in which no venom is released), 30% are mild envenomations and 45-50% are envenomations severe enough to be a medical emergency. It is important to understand that you cannot wait to see how bad a bite is. You cannot tell how severe the envenomation is simply by looking.

The amount and composition of the venom is determined by the species of snake, the time of year, the regenerated volume of venom, the age of the snake, aggressiveness of the snake, and the motivation and size of the snake. The quantity and the toxicity of the venom are the two most important factors affecting the severity of envenomation.

Factors affecting the severity of envenomation of the victim include the body mass or size of the victim, the location of the bite, the length of time to an emergency clinic or hospital, the excitability of the patient, physical activity after the bite, type of first aid given, and medications administered.

The field diagnosis of snake bites involves seeing punctures where the fangs penetrated the tissues, severe pain at the site of the bite, swelling, pinpoint bruising, nausea, weakness, severe hypotension and shock.

The best and safest advice on first aid is to seek medical attention at an emergency clinic or hospital as soon as possible. Call ahead to allow the clinician to prepare the antivenin and to set up other emergency medications.

Avoid meditations of any kind, but especially pain medications, tranquilizers, cortisone and DMSO. Do not use ice, tourniquets, alcohol, cut or suck techniques, or electrical shock devices.

Medical treatment of envenomations are (1) Antivenin given IV (2) Intravenous fluids; (3) Antibiotics; and (4) Diphenhydramine, if necessary.

Some important facts to note are:

(1) Antivenin takes 20-30 minutes to go into solution and should not be shaken. It should be given IV only. Studies have shown that, when administered IV, 85 percent of the solution was at the site within two hours.

(2) Intravenous fluids are important because the primary cause of death from envenomation is cardiovascular collapse due to shock. Fluids are administered as the primary treatment. Steroids are contraindicated in treatment of envenomations and should not be used. They are of little, if any, value in the snake venom hypotensive crises and may even contuse diagnostic tests.

(3) Antibiotics are used following any snakebite to prevent abscess formation at the site of the bite. There have been 58 different bacteria isolated from the fangs of snakes.

(4) Benadryl can be used in snakebite victims. It pre-treats against allergic reactions from the use of anti-venin and seems to calm the patients.

Another valuable tool in the treatment of Snakebite is diagnostic blood testing. These should be repeated at six-hour intervals to monitor the patient’s progress.

This information has been provided as a means to improve and enhance the health and functional longevity of the field athlete and working animal. It is hoped that with this knowledge the well being of both he Sporting dog and his master will be protected.