Every spring and summer, the same question comes up from dog owners around Brisbane: how do I stop my dog going near a snake? It’s a fair question. Nobody wants to see their dog get bitten, and we certainly don’t want dogs chasing or hurting our native wildlife either.
There is no training exercise that can make a dog completely snake-proof. What we can do is reduce opportunities for an encounter, teach useful safety behaviours and make sensible decisions about where and when we let our dogs explore. At Jordan Dog Training, that means reward-based training, not electric collars, frightening a dog or putting them near a live snake to see what happens.
What is snake aversion or snake avoidance training?
People use the terms snake aversion training and snake avoidance training in different ways. Some Australian providers use electric collars or other unpleasant consequences to make dogs avoid snakes. That is not our approach. We prefer to teach a dog what we want them to do: turn away, come back when called, move with us and leave unfamiliar wildlife alone.
There’s an important distinction here. We can train these responses using rewards and gradually practise around ordinary distractions. We cannot honestly promise that doing so will make a dog reliably identify and avoid every snake when alone or at a distance. Research specifically demonstrating that any particular snake-avoidance programme prevents bites in real-world Australian conditions is limited. Please be wary of anyone offering a guarantee.
Our approach is consistent with guidance from the Australian Veterinary Association and the RSPCA on electric shock collars.
Why dogs get into trouble with snakes
Dogs investigate the world with their noses, eyes and movement. A rustle in the grass can be interesting to a curious puppy, a terrier, a working breed or any dog that enjoys chasing things. Others may bark, rush forward or try to play. We shouldn’t assume every dog naturally knows a snake is dangerous or can tell a venomous species from a harmless one.
Snakes generally want to avoid confrontation, but may bite when threatened, cornered or disturbed. They’re not just a problem on acreage. Suburban yards, parks, bushland edges, creek lines and walking tracks can all bring dogs and snakes into contact. The aim is to give both animals room to get away safely.
Five useful training skills to practise before you ever see a snake
1. A really good recall
Start in a quiet space. Call your dog once in a cheerful voice, reward generously when they come, then gradually increase distractions and distance. Don’t use recall only when the fun is ending. We work on recall in our Brisbane group obedience classes because it’s one of the most practical safety skills a dog can learn.
2. A cheerful ‘this way’ turn
Teach your dog that hearing ‘this way’ means turning and moving with you. Begin on lead indoors or in the backyard. Say the cue, turn away together and reward the dog for following. Build it up on normal walks. It’s much easier to use a well-practised exit cue than try to negotiate with a dog already staring at something exciting.
3. ‘Leave it’ and disengaging
Follow our step-by-step Jordan Dog Training ‘Leave It’ guide to build the skill safely using rewards. This is a useful foundation, not a guarantee against snakebite.
Practise with ordinary, safe objects and food, rewarding your dog for looking away and choosing you instead. The point isn’t to force the dog closer to something dangerous so they can practise. Never use a snake, real or contained, as a do-it-yourself training prop.
4. Comfortable lead walking and checking in
Reward your dog for staying near you and occasionally checking back. Use a suitable lead in areas where visibility is poor or snakes may be present. A long line can be useful for some exercises in a clear, controlled area, but isn’t an excuse to let a dog wander into dense grass or undergrowth.
5. Calm behaviour around distractions
Build up gradually around everyday movement, wildlife seen from a safe distance and unfamiliar surroundings. Dogs learn better when they’re not overwhelmed. For younger dogs, these habits begin with puppy pre-school; for dogs who struggle with focus or chasing, an in-home behaviour consultation can help identify practical starting points.
Should you use snake scent or a model snake?
It’s tempting to think that teaching a dog to recognise a smell, a toy snake or a picture will automatically mean they’ll avoid the real thing. Unfortunately, learning doesn’t always transfer neatly between objects, scents, locations and situations. There’s also a difference between recognising something and making a safe decision when excited or unsupervised.
We don’t recommend collecting snake scent, approaching wild snakes, hiring a snake as a training stimulus or asking a friend to test your dog. Focus first on dependable general safety skills and sensible management. If you have a specific concern about your property or your dog’s behaviour, ask a qualified, reward-based trainer and your veterinarian for individual advice.
How to reduce snake encounters around your home
- Keep grass short where your dog regularly spends time and clear unnecessary garden clutter, timber piles and rubbish near access areas.
- Manage rodents by securely storing pet food, feed and rubbish and cleaning up spilled birdseed.
- Check the yard before letting your dog out, particularly around warm periods and after changes in weather. Don’t assume a fence is snake-proof.
- Supervise outdoor time and consider a well-maintained, more easily monitored dog area when you cannot watch your dog.
- Use a lead near thick vegetation, waterways, rocks or other places with limited visibility. Avoid letting dogs investigate holes or dense cover.
- Call a licensed snake catcher if a snake is somewhere it creates an immediate concern. Never attempt to handle, trap or kill a snake yourself.
These steps reduce some opportunities for an encounter, but they cannot eliminate the risk. Even a tidy suburban garden can have snakes.
What should you do if you see a snake while walking your dog?
Stop at a safe distance, keep hold of the lead and calmly move away. Give the snake space to leave. Do not let your dog approach it for a sniff or a photograph, and don’t try to chase it off. If your dog has noticed it, use your practised ‘this way’ or recall cue if you can do so safely. Your own safety matters too.
What if you think your dog has been bitten by a snake?
Suspected snakebite is a veterinary emergency, even if your dog looks normal or seems to recover. You may not see puncture marks. Signs can include sudden weakness or collapse, vomiting, trembling, wobbliness, dilated pupils, breathing problems or paralysis. Some dogs appear to improve briefly before deteriorating.
- Phone your nearest emergency veterinarian immediately and tell them you suspect a snakebite. Follow their instructions and head straight to the clinic.
- Keep your dog as still and calm as possible. Carry them if safe and practical rather than allowing them to walk.
- Do not delay treatment looking for puncture marks, attempting to identify or catch the snake, taking photos, or trying home remedies.
- Do not apply a tourniquet, cut or suck the wound, or wash the bite site. Ask the veterinarian for advice about any pressure-immobilisation bandage, particularly if you have been trained to apply one correctly; do not spend valuable time improvising one.
- Go to the vet even if symptoms are absent. Early treatment matters.
For veterinary first-aid guidance, see Greencross Vets: snake bites and your pet. First-aid instructions written for humans are not automatically suitable for dogs.
Does snake avoidance training guarantee my dog’s safety?
No. A dog can be distracted, startled, unsupervised or simply too close to a snake before anyone notices. A dog that responds beautifully to ‘leave it’ at home may behave differently when the stakes are high. That’s why I see training as one part of a safety plan, alongside supervised outdoor time, a lead where appropriate, a managed environment and knowing your nearest emergency vet.
Frequently asked questions
Can puppies learn snake safety skills?
Absolutely. Start with age-appropriate recall, checking in, moving away with you and calmly leaving things alone. Keep it positive and never introduce a puppy to a live snake for training.
Can I train my dog to avoid snakes without an electric collar?
You can teach and strengthen useful avoidance-related behaviours without using an electric collar. What we cannot promise is that reward-based exercises will make a dog ‘snake-proof’. We don’t use electric collars or harsh punishment at Jordan Dog Training.
What if my dog chases lizards or other wildlife?
Work on recall, a turn-away cue, management and calm responses at a safe distance. Chasing is often rewarding in itself, so rehearsing it makes life harder. Don’t allow dogs to practise chasing wildlife while you’re training a safer alternative.
When is snake season in Brisbane?
Encounters are often a greater concern in warmer weather, but snakes can be active at other times too. Rather than relying on a fixed start or finish date, stay aware of conditions and supervise dogs wherever snakes may occur.
My advice to dog owners
If there’s one message I want people to take from this article, it’s that there is no shortcut worth gambling your dog’s safety on. Teach your dog to come back, turn away and listen around distractions. Keep your yard sensible, stay aware on walks and have an emergency veterinary plan. And please don’t put your dog, yourself or a snake at risk to ‘test’ the training.
If you’d like help building those everyday safety skills, have a look at our group obedience training, puppy school or one-on-one training. We’ll help you work out what’s practical for your dog and your situation.
Reviewed and updated October 2026. General training and prevention information only, not a substitute for individual veterinary advice or emergency treatment.
