Partners Snake Avoidance

Snake Avoidance Training is a 20-minute facility-based session using live rattlesnakes in secure cages. Dogs are fitted with the trainer’s equipment and exposed to snake scent and sound. A minimal e-collar stimulus is applied to create a negative association, followed by a flight response. Training occurs in a desert environment with multiple repetitions. A debrief is provided, and refresher sessions are recommended every 6–12 months. Other programs include Foundation Camp, Behavior Camp, DaySchool, Group Classes, and Private Lessons.

Pricing Summary

Training starts under $110 for a 20-minute session. Refresher sessions are recommended annually. Pricing for boarding, day care, and other programs is available via quote or online booking.

Policies

Training is not guaranteed in wild conditions due to environmental variables. Refresher sessions are recommended to maintain effectiveness. Clients may watch training unless it distracts from the process. Training may be stopped at any time for the dog’s safety. No mention of cancellation or rescheduling policies.

Partners Snake Avoidance is a specialized dog training business that focuses on rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs in Arizona. They train dogs to avoid the scent and sound of live rattlesnakes using a minimal e-collar stimulus to create a strong negative association, ensuring dogs flee from snakes in the wild. With over 18,000 dogs trained since the early 2000s, they use live, intact rattlesnakes in double-mesh cages for realistic training in desert environments. Their process includes a 20-minute session with professional handlers, a detailed debrief, and recommended annual refreshers to maintain effectiveness. They also offer boarding, day care, foundational training, behavior modification, and retail products for dog owners. Their trainers are hand-selected and require two years of experience, and they emphasize safety, consistency, and real-world results.

They do not use owners’ leashes or equipment to ensure the dog associates avoidance solely with the snake, not the handler. Clients can watch training sessions as long as they don’t interfere. They recommend the rattlesnake vaccine as a supplemental safety measure but clarify their training only works for live rattlesnakes, not other snakes or dead ones.

They serve dog owners in Cave Creek, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Paradise Valley, and Anthem, Arizona, and offer both initial training and yearly refresher sessions to prevent complacency.

Accomplishments

Trained over 18,000 dogs since the early 2000s, making them one of the first and most experienced rattlesnake avoidance trainers in Arizona. Lead instructors undergo a minimum of two years of training. Maintain a 95% success rate during training and numerous verified testimonials of dogs avoiding snakes in the wild years after training.

How to Get Started!

Choose “First Timer” or “Refresher,” select a location (Cave Creek or Scottsdale), pick a date/time, fill out an appointment form, and submit. A pre-training questionnaire about the dog’s age, background, and medical issues is required.