Rattlesnakes

I have yet to run across a rattler while bird hunting, but there is always that chance.  I've never seen a dog firsthand that has been bitten, but I've read plenty of stories and seen pictures.  It's an ugly situation.  Last year I took my Vizsla to rattlesnake avoidance class as a safety precaution.  Luckily I never had the chance last hunting season to see if it worked.  This year the rattlesnake clinic came up again so I thought it was a good idea to do a follow up session so that it would really be ingrained in her.....it turned out to be a waste of $40.  She wanted absolutely nothing to do with the snakes from the very first station.  The first five stations they had set up were live snakes (bull snakes), which are fairly similar to a rattlesnake in appearance.

They also had sound stations set up playing a continuous loop of a rattle.  The last station was a combination of all the elements.  She passed with flying colors.  I'm fairly certain she will have nothing to do with any snakes if we come upon them in the field unless they completely take her by surprise.