In many areas of the world, dangerous snakes are simply a reality. They co-exist with humans (and our dogs) in sometimes not-so-harmonious ways, popping up in backyards, long hikes, and sometimes even inside the home.
In my home of Kent, Washington, we don’t have much in the way of wild snakes, much less venomous ones. But not so far away in Eastern Washington, Oregon, and other surrounding areas is the Western Rattlesnake. In Idaho, you get both the Western and the Prairie Rattlesnake. And once you get into warmer areas like California, Arizona, and Utah, the number of venomous species start to become too many to count.
Understandably, this poses a risk not only to humans, but to our pets. And unlike humans, dogs do not typically have a natural fear or wariness of snakes to keep them safe.
So, no—most dogs are not naturally afraid of snakes. While some cautious dogs may hesitate around unfamiliar animals, dogs generally do not instinctively recognize snakes as dangerous. Many investigate snakes out of curiosity, prey drive, or excitement, which can place them at risk of being bitten. Fortunately, snake avoidance training can teach dogs to recognize and avoid venomous snakes before a dangerous encounter occurs.
This is because the way for a dog to build a fear of snakes is through simple association. In nature, the usual way for a dog to build this association is by having run-ins with snakes that result in undesirable circumstances. In the case of many venomous snakes, this learning often comes too late, as a single bite from many types of venomous snakes can be enough to cause severe medical concern and sometimes even kill an average dog.
Do Dogs Naturally Avoid Snakes?
If a dog has had a run-in with a snake that resulted in an unwanted consequence — a venomous bite, a dry (no venom injection) bite, or even a missed strike that significantly spooks the dog — a dog may learn to avoid snakes on their own.
However, this is not always the case, and the behavioral outcome really depends on the dog itself and the experience it had. Some dogs naturally respond to threats by becoming avoidant. Others, however, become reactive or aggressive, in which case a dog that becomes fearful of snakes through experience might react in ways that could land them in even more danger.
On a base level, some dogs may have a fear of snakes simply because they seem foreign to the dog. A dog with a naturally wary temperament may avoid a snake on sight on the basis of the snake not being a familiar concept.
So what will a dog do if it sees a snake? This also depends on the dog, and the experiences the dog has.
When suspicious of a new animal, even wary dogs will often linger around the animal out of curiosity. These dogs might bark or keep a little bit of distance, but that does not immediately keep them out of harm’s way.
Dogs that have a little bit of “spice,” as we call it, or dogs who are especially fond of attacking vermin-type animals, may dive right in to a fight and be met with an unpleasant surprise. This is why dogs with strong prey drive may actually be at greater risk. Terriers, herding breeds, and many hunting breeds are naturally inclined to chase, investigate, and grab fast-moving animals. To these dogs, a snake may simply appear to be another interesting critter until it strikes.
Particularly timid dogs may avoid snakes altogether, even without prior training.
Puppies, on the other hand, are especially vulnerable because nearly everything in the environment is novel. During socialization they investigate new sights, sounds, smells, and animals. Unless taught otherwise, a snake may simply become another interesting object to sniff or chase.
The only way to really predict what your dog will do if it sees a snake is to train it on what to do if it sees a snake through snake avoidance training, a part of the crittering umbrella.
I talk about how we train crittering in my article, Crittering: The Ultimate Dog Training Guide.
Why Are Dogs Not Afraid of Snakes?
The main reason that dogs are not automatically afraid of snakes is because they are not specifically taught to. When puppies are developing, we dog trainers put a lot of emphasis on socialization: the process of, essentially, introducing the puppy to the world, normalizing the many sights, sounds, smells, textures, people, animals, etc, that they will encounter as adults. It’s during this phase that puppies absorb what the world is and how to respond to it.
When a dog has never seen a snake before, they don’t have context on what that animal is. They don’t know the animal will strike at them if they get up in its business. They don’t know if the animal is venomous or not. In fact, they don’t know what venom is.
To a dog, there is not necessarily a reason to be afraid of snakes unless they learn that there is. And unfortunately, unless we proactively train them to avoid snakes, the learning experience can be very punishing or even fatal.
This is why there is actually an entire branch of dog training focusing on snake avoidance (or, snake aversion). In areas where dangerous snakes are common, it is really important to have your dog trained turn the opposite direction upon sight, smell, or sound of a venomous snake.
How Do I Train My Dog to Stay Away From Snakes?
Training a dog to avoid snakes looks a lot like our crittering protocol detailed in my article, Crittering: The Ultimate Dog Training Guide. In this protocol, you would use the scent or the visual on the type of animal you are teaching your dog to ignore, and systematically increase distractions with reward and the use of a quality e-collar.
For e-collar starters, I recommend the following articles to ensure beginners begin right.
How to Condition an E-collar or Remote Collar
How to Find Your Dog’s E-Collar Working Level
The Ten Commandments of Dog Training Corrections
What is the Difference Between Shock Collars and eCollars?
However, when it comes to the final segment of the training, snake avoidance or snake aversion training differs in that you would enforce that your dog keep a wider distance from the animal. This may look like higher levels even during practice sessions, to get a true aversion response that results in the dog completely avoiding going anywhere near the snake.
Depending on the trainer and local regulations, practice sessions may involve safely controlled exposure to snake scent, snake sheds, recordings of rattlesnake sounds, realistic decoys, or professionally handled live snakes. The goal is always to create a safe, controlled learning environment rather than exposing the dog to unnecessary risk.
When it comes to the real-world training, this comes down to applying a strict correction for interaction with snakes. If you’ve done your practice sessions well, you may never have to enforce this step. But be aware of your surroundings, and be ready to correct your dog if they attempt to go near a snake. This is true for even non-venomous or “safe” snakes, as to a dog a snake is a snake is a snake.
Even dead venomous snakes can still reflexively bite for a period of time after death, so dogs should never be allowed to investigate a dead snake either.
And, of course, always generously reward your dog for the right response to these situations. We want to make sure we keep our dogs safe, so use all the tools in your toolbox.
Can Dogs Sense Venomous Snakes?
Dogs may smell or hear a snake before a person does, but they cannot instinctively tell whether a snake is venomous. Because of that, simply detecting a snake is not a reliable form of protection.
Can Dogs Smell Snakes?
Yes. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and can often detect snakes before people do. However, smelling a snake does not automatically cause avoidance behavior.
Will Dogs Bark at Snakes?
Some do. Others approach quietly. Some attempt to play. Every dog responds differently.
Can Dogs Survive Rattlesnake Bites?
Many do with prompt veterinary treatment, but bites should always be treated as medical emergencies.
Are Puppies More Likely to Investigate Snakes?
Generally yes, because they are naturally curious and have little experience recognizing danger.
What Breeds of Dogs are Most Likely to Chase Snakes?
Dogs with high prey drive, such as terriers, herding breeds, and hounds are often more likely to investigate or chase snakes.
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If Your Dog is Bitten by a Snake…
If your dog is bitten by a snake, seek veterinary care immediately. Do not attempt to suck out venom, apply a tourniquet, or wait to see if symptoms develop. Even bites from non-venomous snakes can become infected, while venomous bites require immediate medical treatment.
Is Snake Avoidance Training Worth It?
Whether snake avoidance training is worth it depends largely on where you and your dog spend your time. If you regularly hike, camp, hunt, or live in an area where venomous snakes are common, I believe it is one of the most valuable safety skills you can teach your dog. A few training sessions can prevent a lifetime of consequences.
Even if you live in western Washington like I do, the principles behind snake avoidance training are still incredibly useful. Teaching a dog to disengage from wildlife, ignore tempting distractions, and immediately return to their handler builds the kind of impulse control that keeps dogs safe around far more than just snakes. Those same skills can help prevent dangerous encounters with other wildlife, discarded food, toxic substances, and countless everyday hazards.
Like many aspects of dog training, the goal isn’t simply to stop an unwanted behavior—it’s to give your dog the skills to make safer decisions when it matters most.
Throughout my career working with dogs, I’ve seen every reaction imaginable—from dogs that cautiously keep their distance to dogs that immediately attempt to chase or grab snakes. That’s one reason I never assume a dog will make the safe choice without training.
At Black Magic Dog Training in Kent, Washington, I help dogs build impulse control and interact with the world safely.
Even though dangerous snakes are relatively uncommon in western Washington, the same impulse control and wildlife avoidance skills help keep dogs safe around countless other hazards as well.
Ready to give your dog the safest adventure life they can have? Contact Black Magic Dog Training and set up your FREE consultation.
