Desert Messenger

February 4, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 37 QUARTZSITE COMMUNITY THRIFT STORE 177 W. Main St. (end of Showplace Lane) Behind Silly Al's Pizza SUMMER HOURS April thru October Thurs. Fri. Sat. 9am-1pm Call us and schedule a donation pickup 928-927-6039 or 928-916-7338. 100% of our proceeds remain here in Quartzsite! WINTER HOURS November thru March Mon- Sat 9am-1pm QUARTZSITE COMMUNITY THRIFT STORE Antiques • Collectibles • Teacups & Teddy Bears See's Candy Fundraiser for GFWC in season 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 Dogs can be trained to avoid rattle- snakes. Bird hunters have been using this technique for years to train their retrievers. In Arizona, the process was pioneered by a trainer who wanted to keep search and rescue dogs safe. In a nutshell; rattlesnake proofi ng, rattlesnake avoidance training, snake breaking, snake training, snake proof- ing, generally follows these steps: • Allow the dog to discover a live rattlesnake. • Correct the dog with an electronic collar(a shock collar) when they fi nd the snake. The dog associates the shock with the snakes and thus avoids them. Rattlesnake avoidance training gen- erally falls into two categories. • Place the live rattlesnake on the ground for the dog to fi nd. • Keep the live rattlesnakes contained in some type of cage. Snake on the ground When the snake is on the ground, the reptile must be rendered safe for the dog to approach. Most trainers accomplish this by either pulling the snake's fangs which renders them un- able to inject venom, or by taping or banding the snake's mouth shut. Snake in a cage The second training contingent keeps the rattlesnake(s) contained in a cage. This group maintains that the dog's senses must be engaged in the following order: SMELL, hearing, sight. They want the dog to smell the rattlesnakes long before they hear or see them. So, which technique works best? There is no evidence that proves that one method is superior to the other. They are both excellent, effective tech- niques if done correctly. Five important things to look for when training dogs to avoid rattlesnakes 1. Does the trainer use live rattle- snakes? 2. Does the trainer provide for the safety of the dog, owners and him/her- self? 3. Can the owner participate in the training if they desire, or at least watch? 4. What are the trainer's bona fi des? (how long have they been doing this training, number of dogs trained, dog related background, dog training background, references from former customers, cost ?) 5. Does the trainer offer a retest either free or at a nominal charge following the initial training session? Do your research, look at websites, talk to your vet, and call hunting dog clubs in your area to see who they recom- mend. Ask a lot of questions, if you don't like the answers; keep looking. Jim Walkington is the owner operator of Viper Voidance, a company in New River, Arizona that trains dogs to avoid rattlesnakes. He has been training dogs to avoid rattlesnakes for eleven years and has trained thousands of dogs...and one cat, using the caged rattlesnake method. Jim will be at the Gold Show, Saturday, February 14, 2015 Cost: $75 per dog Place: Quartzite Improvement Association (QIA) 235 Ironwood St. NW corner Time. CALL Jim TO BOOK A TIME- Phone: 480-215-1776 Website: www.vipervoidance.com Training dogs to avoid rattlesnakes • Old Costume Jewelry • Old Fountain Pens • Silver & Gold Coins • Sterling Silverware • Gold Filled Jewelry • Old Watches • Gold & Silver Jewelry Any Condition • Gold Nuggets • Dental Gold BUYING • Gold Nuggets Hi Ally Swap Meet ~ Front Row Main St., Quartzsite DEADLINE : WED. FEB. 11 TH for FEB. 18 TH edition Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

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