Snake Fears and Fit Pics
Hey hey! Happy Thursday. So glad the weekend is almost here. Hope you have something fun planned. We’re having friends over for dinner Saturday night and plan to do a Sabino Canyon hike sometime this weekend, too- now that the weather is cooling down a little, we’ll be able to get outside more often.
Bella is grateful.
[All tucked up into a Bellaball]
The only thing I worry about with the cooler weather is that rattlesnakes come out to play. The neighbor actually found one in his front yard last week and the Pilot had to carry it with a stick out into the desert. We have to work on rattlesnake-proofing our backyard and I’m also considering enrolling Bella in a rattlesnake class. It teaches dogs how to recognize the scent of a rattlesnake –I think they use one with the teeth removed?- and shock the dog as it gets close to the rattlesnake, so they can learn that it’s dangerous.
The thought of anyone shocking Bella freaks me out to no end, but I think a rattlesnake bite would be exponentially worse…. so we’ll see what we decide. Has anyone else done a class similar to this?
Some eats
This morning’s bfast was a waffle + eggs
and for lunch I packed up the rest of my Renee’s salad and sandwich from last night
along with a Larabar and plum for snack.
I’m off to teach, but I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
xoxo
Gina
Show Me Your Fit: Check out these amazing and motivational pics from fellow Fitnessistas- I always love seeing what you’re all up to. [Send any “Show Me Your Fit” pics my way to fitnessista at gmail dot com, subject: Show Me Your Fit]
Lisa: Myself (in the purple and black) and my friend Caitlin (in the red and black) before the Parkway Run 5k held in Philadelphia, benefitting the Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 7,000 people and $650,000 raised for children with cancer – what better way to feel good about giving back, and at the same time giving back to your body with a good workout?! Loved it!
Niki from Alberta, Canada, shaklining- she said it’s a great way to work balance and core:
Kimberly: Self pic of me running a 13.5 km trail race in the Beautiful Vancouver area on September 24. Notice the sweaty beast I became and the dirty shoulder and face…yes, about 7km in, I took a little tumble, nothing serious.
Loved this pic that Laura sent:
Allie: My favorite workout is anything involving chin-ups. They make me feel so strong and awesome!
These aren’t the best pictures, but it’s hard to get a good angle in my tiny hallway 😛
Kristina: This is my best friend Jeny and I after running the San Diego Marathon. We both managed to get a PR on this race. It was my fourth full Marathon and her first!
82 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Rattlesnake dog classes!? I thought you were joking at first, but that’s such a great idea. In Florida we don’t have to worry about such a thing (thank God.) We do have our fair share of alligators though 😉
My parents live in Tampa, and they get a TON of rattlesnakes and cottonmouths in their yard. I think the amount of snakes around FL homes is relative to the proximity to lakes and water.
I’m a Florida girl too. We have rattlesnakes, but I’ve never seen one in a neighborhood. Other types of snakes, yes. And alligators? All over the place.
OMG I’m terrified of snakes – I guess they’re something I’d have to get used to if I lived in Arizona! Hopefully you don’t have too many encounters! And great Show Me Your Fit photos – they’re so inspiring!
You can also look into a rattlesnake vaccine for Bella. My mom got it for her Dachshund cause he would not back away from the snake during training. It was a two shot booster set ( it left a scar on his thigh), but the vaccine gives my parents a longer window of time to get him to the vet for treatment before the bite would be fatal. Can’t hurt to ask your vet about it! 🙂
As for snake training, we have done it “the old fashioned way” here in Texas. For our five dogs we have always shown them the snake ( if caught/killed before they see it), or give them their “snake come” command. We trained all of them to come immediately to our upper deck if we say Culebra ( snake in Spanish). It has saved them from a couple coral snakes.
I am interested in the snake training that you would be going through, can you share more details if that is the route you go? Thanks!
Yes, I was going to suggest the rattlesnake vaccine! Bella is such a wee pup, I think getting the extra time before needing to get to the vet would be *so* useful! I live in rattlesnake country too (New Mexico) and snakes do worry me.
When we used to live in Florida we put our dog through a rattler course and I am not sure if it really helped. He still tried to play with them and on more than one occasion almost got bit by a black diamond (maybe he wasn’t the smartest puppy in the world lol). I guess it depends on how aggressive the snakes in Tuscon are and whether or not Bella will try to play with them or approach them regardless. One of my friends dog’s went through the course and it was very traumatizing for her because of the shock collar and they did not have good results. Another friend took her dog to the vet and gave her a snake toxin vaccine, which apparently works really well. Goodluck!
Gah! I can’t imagine sweet little Bella (especially so cute in that picture!) being hurt by a snake. I’m terrified of snakes and would probably freak out if I had to take my dog to a class like that. It sounds like a serious problem though and its great that you are looking out for your little furbaby!
Okay that chick on the rope is badass. And I hope to see some peppers on that Saturday menu 😉 Just kidding haha. And yay for cooler weather!
never done a rattlesnake class, but if its anything like training a dog to use an invisible fence (which also employs the “shock” method when the dog gets close to the invisible fence-line), then its really no big deal. It’s very mild and is more startling/surprising than anything else. I tried it on myself to verify (of course, Bella is just teeny compared to a human – my dog is almost 100lb!)
i have talked to a few people who have taken their dogs to snack classes and had great success. after the class their dog was able to signal to their owner that their was a snake nearby. pretty amazing what dogs are capable of learning!
I did the rattlesnake class in Tucson with my parent’s dog. He is a little Bichon Frise and looks a lot like Bella. 🙂 I was worried about him not “getting it” because he is a little dopey but he did really well. I was very proud of how quickly he picked it up and the instructors at the Human Society really know their stuff. I would recommend it if you think there is a chance Bella could encounter a snake in the backyard. Like you said, a snakebite could be a thousand times worse than a little shock from the shock collar.
We live in AZ too, and last year we rattlesnake trained our Spaniel. It was a huge success. He knows to come to us immediately and stay away if he hears the rattle or sees one. The trainer we went to used an E-Collar along with a command and it didn’t take anytime at all for our little guy to catch on. Course he’s afraid of everything anyways. We’ll do a refresher course this year. The worst part was for me to be around the snakes during training. Eeek. (they used live, but de-venomed snakes) Good luck with Bella! I’m really not looking forward to seeing any of them around here!
ooomg maybe i don’t want to switch places with you, living-situation-wise. as much as i despise roaches and mice, i think i’d take them any day over rattlesnakes. that’s so scary!!
I agree. The only thing worse would be alligators. To me at least.
I never knew classes like that existed! If it’s really a threat it may be a good idea to enroll Bella.
Def. get the rattlesnake vaccine. I would be too worried that my dog would forget what she learned in rattlesnake class and still get bit by a rattlesnake. I would much rather pay the $20 a year for a rattlesnake vaccine. Must more peace of mind for me 🙂 LOVE THE BLOG!!!
YAY! YOU POSTED MY PIC 😀
Seriously, that made my day. Thank you! All these ladies look ass-kicking.
I tried shaklining with little success! I have to say, my abs were SUPER sore the next day…it must have done something! It just hurts when you fall and the rope catches you in an unwanted place…poor men who do this 😉
Have a great hike this weekend!
The first time is alway the worse, the second shot you get better exponentially!! Hope you try it again…haha, and maybe lower the rope a little 😉
I would definitely do the classes! I live in New York and have never even seen a rattlesnake but they freak me out! I am a nervous pet mother (LOL) and I worry about everything with my little kitten! My mom actually banned me from going to the vet with her for his appointments because the last time I went I cried and had to leave the room when he was getting a shot haha. Pets are totally like little family members. Bella looks adorable as usual all curled up!
I see people shaklining on campus all the time and am always so intrigued! I really want to give it a try! Adding it to my 214 things to do before 2014!
I love seeing pictures of people rocking out their bodies! So inspirational!
That’s so scary that snakes can get into your yard! What’s involved in yard-proofing?
Aww rattlesnakes are so scary!! It sounds like that class would be a good idea…it’s better to be on the safe side. And I love the “Show Me Your Fit” idea!!
Yes! Do the rattlesnake class. My dog was killed by a rattlesnake when I was young. Whoever thought of a rattlesnake class is so smart!
The “bellaball!” I love it.
I also love all the show me your fit pics..
NICE WORK LADIES! 😉
Gina, my Annie was bit by a rattlesnake in our ‘snake-proofed’ yard 2 weeks ago. A bite is devastating. Not only are they super painful (her face swelled up at least 2x its size) but very expensive. Anti-venom is $750/vial + hospital, etc. The guy who does the snake avoidance classes came to get the snake from our yard – super nice guy. I would highly recommend the classes. I wish we had done them, because we unfortunately learned there is no fool-proof way to keep snakes out of the yard. http://www.tucsonrattlesnakeremoval.com
My parents dog was bitten by a rattlesnake when I was in high school – it was absolutely awful. He had 2 blood transfusions and was in hospital for a week, but he survived. He was never the same again, though 🙁
Whoop! So many fit people =DD
I suppose I am in a minority here, but I would not do the classes. Of course, I don’t believe in electric collars or fences either but whatever. That being said, disciplining animals is a personal choice and only you & Tom understand whether or not Bella is inclined to play with poisonous creatures. I am from Tucson too, so I’d be worried about all of the poisonous creatures (would she go after a scorpion? Black Widow? Gila monsters?) in addition to the snakes. But I would probably keep the vaccinations in mind & keep a super close eye when our fur faces were playing in the yard or being walked. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Wow– I’ve never lived anywhere where rattlesnakes were a threat, but I can definitely see wanting my dogs to take the class if I did.
Never heard of a snake class but I think that makes a lot of sense! Do any of your neighbors have dogs? Might be worth asking them if they’ve done them and what are the results. (Besides research on the best ways to snake-proof your back yard. EEEK!)
Just checked out your stretch video. I definitely will be trying some foot stretches. I think it would be benefitial and I NEVER stretch them!
oooo that’s scary about the rattlesnakes. we had coyote sightings in our neighborhood (a little suburb north of chicago… random?!) and i was terrified to let the dogs out in the backyard. or walk with them on the sidewalk for that matter!
Hi! I love your blog and have especially been enjoying the Family page 🙂
My husband is a vet, we live in So Cal and many people out here take their dogs to rattlesnake classes. In my husbands experience he has seen an equal amount of rattle snake bites to both dogs that have gone through the training and those that have not. As far as the vaccine I would have to ask him about that one, not sure! Anyways thought that info would help you make an informed decision 🙂
That canyon looks GORGEOUS! Gosh, I miss living in the west! I need to find more hiking areas around D.C…
When I was growing up we lived in an area of Utah that rattlesnakes loved. My dog was an American Eskimo and he found 5 on his own while we lived there he would bark like crazy without any training. Pretty sure that was the guard dog in him. The rattle snakes would live in the rock walls we had in our yard. Super scary!
I’m too paranoid to let my dog even close! LoL. I’m such a wuss! But at the same time, dogs are such smart creatures!
Wow…lol at Bellaball…too adorable for words!!!
The snake thing…wow…that’s crazy! I too am in Florida, so more gators than snakes…I love my two babies and think it’s excellent to cover all your bases. We had a garden variety green snake in my backyard on more than one occasion and both my boys went hard on him…they knew he didn’t belong in our routine I guess. I had to drag them away. There was a lot of barking and circling, but the lucky snake took off and lived to snake another day…
We have coral snakes here but i’ve never seen one in person thank goodness.
Anything you do to protect Bella is a good thing in my opinion! 😉 She is amazing.
My family lives right next to Sabino Canyon and our 3 dogs have attended rattlesnake classes. We’ve never had a problem! However, our golden retrievers like Gila Monsters 🙁
I’m not sure how you plan to snake proof your yard, but a trick that the owner of a pest control company told me once is to make a mix of 50/50 cat litter and crushed moth balls, and sprinkle it around your perimeter. Its basically the same thing the professionals use, but much cheaper. The mixture burns snakes’ bellies, so they won’t go over it!
AWESOME tip- thank you!!
how does one get moth balls??
Home-goods type stores…Bed Bath & Beyond et al. In the closet/clothing storage section. Or they can order them for you…
awesome- thank you!
No prob! 🙂 Hope it helps!!
My brother loves slacklinging! He set up the rope last Christmas at my parents house. The pictures of me and my mom attempting to do it were so funny. It is definitely as hard as it looks.
And here I thought spiders and huge beetles were a problem for our cats… hadn’t even though about rattlesnakes and dogs. Good luck! I know that has to be a hard decision because you don’t want to see your fur baby getting shocked but you don’t want her having a snake encounter either.
I totally do not blame you for being freaked out my snakes! Yikes! I donno, I think Baby Bella is to little to take on a snake!! Love the show me your fit! Yay for the two Canadians up there! The girl from Vancouver was not kidding, that is an intense run!
I’m a city girl from Boston so I can’t imagine what it’s like to live amongst snakes! That would freak me out too. But also as a pet mother I don’t think I’d like the idea of shocking my little one. I’d get the vaccine, and then rather than shocking the pup can’t the use some other type of diversion technique, like harsh noise or something? Awesome fit pics. I wasn’t going to run today but after seeing them it motivated me, just finished a few miles. Thanks Gina!
That’s scary about the rattlesnakes. I would say yes to the class for Bella, you can never be too safe when it comes to venomous snakes.
Thanks for sharing my photo! 🙂 I’m feeling inspired to run my marathon on Sunday with these great race and running photos.
Aww she is so cute 🙂
And I’d be terrified of having rattle snacks around, in England we don’t have anything scary like that!
Just do what you think is best!
Bella is going to be so street smart after her class! She’d be one tough cookie!
hahah she already is, so i can’t even imagine!
oh my goodness! I would hate to have to worry about rattlesnakes! I was talking with some guys I’m deployed with about that whole invisible fencing thing and the shocking of the dog. They said it only took 1-2 times for the dog to get shocked before the dog understood, and Bella looks like a fast learner so I’m sure she will be fine 🙂
she’s very smart, so i’m thinking she’d pick up on it pretty quickly
Hi Gina, My little yorkie Isabella who was 10 at the time got bit by a rattle snake and it was the sadest day of my life. That was 3 years ago and I don’t think I will ever get over it. The vet tried everything but couldn’t save her. 🙁 So please be very careful and make sure bella stays close by you. Even though Izzy was small she liked to roam and chase things on our property. 🙁
🙁 🙁 🙁 that may have sealed the deal for me. i’m so sorry to hear about izzy <3
I have heard of the rattlesnake training classes, but have never attended any. We got our dog the rattlesnake vaccine while we are here in Texas because they run rampant around here. Luckily we haven’t had an encounter, but I feel better knowing that if she does run into one she has a much better chance of survival being vaccinated against one than if she wasn’t.
I am really fearful of snakes. Like, of all animals, that’s my #1 fear. I am super creeped out by them and thank you for not posting a picture of any snakes! Eeek!!
Who knows if the classes would work but keep us posted if you try them.
And I love the awesome pics of everyone you sent! Fun to see your readers in action!
A friends’ lab got bit last year and lived but it cost over $800 for the treatment. I think he was protecting them and their kids’ from the snake because they were all outside and it was by the diving board and the dog went after the snake and got bit in the face.
Maybe get a rubber one and see if by chance Bella is already instinctually afraid of it? I know horses are.
I got a shock collar once to try to teach one of my dogs to not jump up on people. After trying it on myself, I couldn’t do it. My situation wasn’t life or death, though.
Oh yeah, you don’t have coyotes there? That’s the danger I hear most about for small dogs and cats around here.
we do, but our house would be difficult for a coyote to get to, since we have neighbors all around us
my poor doggy, jackson, died in texas after being bit by a rattlesnake. he was a jack russell terrier (very small), and got bit right in the neck, so there wasn’t time to save him by the time he made it to the vet. it really sucked b/c i was away at college and couldn’t be with him. tough call about the classes though, b/c it seems really cruel to take a snake’s teeth out!
everything about the classes seems horrible.
i’m sorry to hear about jackson 🙁
I think the Fit Pics are a great idea – what a wonderful way to expose readers to different workouts, lifestyles, etc! I think it’s motivational! And Zevia is an awesome treat, I love their cola!