Community Corner

Teaching Dogs to Avoid Rattlesnakes

Training course aimed at pet owners who live or hike in rural areas.

Registration is now being taken for this year's Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Clinic for Dogs, hosted by the Mountains Restoration Trust. The course is designed for dog owners who live in a rural areas, near canyons or hike with their pets.

The one-on-one training session is performed by High on Kennels, a dog obedience and boarding service based in Santa Ysabel that trains all types of dogs in a safe, humane and controlled environment. Training moves are repeated several times to ensure that the dog understands the sight, smell and sound of a rattlesnake. (Rattlesnakes have a distinctive odor that dogs can distinguish from that of other snakes).  

“Poisonous snakes bite about 15,000 dogs each year and treating the injury can cost thousands of dollars,” said , adding that in Southern California, rattlesnake bites can occur year-round. Dogs may forget the smell over a period of time, so annual training is recommended.

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Sessions are scheduled for March 17 and 18 and April 14 and 15 at Headwaters Corner, Masson House, 23075 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas; and for May 12 and 13 and June 9 and 10 at Tapia Park, 884 N. Las Virgenes Rd., Calabasas.

Allow one hour for an individual training session. Appointment times run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee is $70. Advance registration is required and can be made online at mountainstrust.org or by calling 818-591-1701, ext. 0.

Find out what's happening in Agoura Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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