Leave it: Dog trainers help pets avoid poisonous snakes

Dog trainers in Tucson, Arizona, are utilizing specialized aversion training to help pets avoid dangerous encounters with venomous snakes. During a recent training session, a two-year-old blue heeler mix named Ripley approached a large western diamondback rattlesnake named Brian.

Upon approaching the reptile, the dog received a quick zap on the neck designed to simulate a viper's bite. The simulation immediately deterred the dog, causing the animal to lose interest in the snake's textured body.

This type of training is aimed at mitigating the strong prey drive in dogs that might otherwise lead them to investigate venomous snakes in the region.