Dogs and Snakes

hisba · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 06:16 PM

Hey all,

Kinda long but.. I just wanted some opinions. My dog doesn't like my snakes, they make her very nervous (don't most dogs have a natural fear/dislike of snakes??). All of my snakes are in a snake room which is kept closed. When I have a snake out, my dog tries to come over to check it out, I'll try to let her sniff the tail or something but she does the typical "scaredy-cat" dog act of jumping back and getting low, so I just either put her outside when a snake is out, or I stay in a closed room.

Also, when I am doing the cleaning of the room or feeding I'll leave the snake room door open and my dog (Kyla) will always try to come in and sniff around, etc. I usually kick her out and make her lay by the door. I would like to be able to leave my snake room door open, just in case someone tried to break in, then Kyla could protect my babies. HOWEVER, I am afraid she would just spend all her time walking around and sniffing in that room and it would really stress all the snakes out. (Quite a few cages are low where Kyla could look in them.)

The main reason for my concern is because Autumn, my first boa, was put up for adoption because the previous owner had a terrier that would keep leaping up and looking into the snake cage, it stressed the boa out so much she went off feed. I do not want to cause unneccessary stress for my snakes!

Do you think it's ok to let Kyla have access to the snake room? Should I start out by letting her come in while I am there and slowly increase time the door is open? OR should I keep it closed off and eventually invest in some sort of camera system for security? (I am not totally worried about security, we already have a regular monitored alarm system, but once I eventually build up a larger, more expensive collection it's something I've been thinking about.)

Well thanks for any ideas or opinions...
-April
TGIF!

wreckwriter · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 06:20 PM

My opinion is that all mammal pets should be kept out of the herp room.

ball python chick · #3 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 10:28 PM

my dog is a 90 lb german shepard pit mix.i dont have a snake room.my vivariums are all over my house.my dog doesnt even care.i have had accidents in the past(before i had locking tanks,i do now)but a few times i would wake up in the middle of the night to my ball pythons loose.the dog would be sleeping on the floor with the bp's craweling all around her.she doesnt even bother me when i have one in the back yard.she just goes and lays down.for your dog to see whats going on is one thing ,she sounds curious.but to have her standing at the tanks or whining or constantly on the move in there is another.they have to get used to anything.if you want to be able to leave the door open a baby gate is a good idea.she can see what your doing in there ,but not be in the way

hisba · #4 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 10:51 PM

I tried baby gates when she was a puppy to keep her in a certain area but she learned quickly to jump over them. I was thinking if I couldn't let her be in the room, maybe I could install a screen door. I'll probably just leave the door closed like I have been... I miss being able to have cages and vivs all over the house. When I was on my own and had 3 snakes and 2 cats, they never bothered or even cared about each other. Ahh the good ol days. lol

wreckwriter · #5 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 01:35 AM

Cats are often worse than dogs as they like to lay on top of herp cages. Can you say stress?

yousuredo · #6 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:59 AM

and cats pee on them in there cages....

brownsfan222 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:07 AM

both of my dogs are also very curious about my snakes so i dont let them near them. I let my little dog sniff my bullsnakes tail on day and she tried to get my dog, lol. so she is happy away from the dogs

ball python chick · #8 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:44 AM

i think if your dog could jump a baby gate it could tear up or run through a screen door,but how about some obedience classes.lol.

LoraJean · #9 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:44 AM

dogs can sense when you are nervous. I would spend time with her in the room, and make sure you are very confident, if you are afraid, your dog will sense it and think that is how it should feel in that room, and around these animals. Slowly spend more and more time in there with her, being completely confident, This depends greatly on what type of dog it is as well. But most dogs are just curious, and if you act antsy and don't let the dog naturally sniff and discover, they will become overly anxious about your herps. What breed of dog is it?

unBOAlievable · #10 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 06:18 AM

Quote:

My opinion is that all mammal pets should be kept out of the herp room.

try tellin that to my dogs, maybe they will listen to you because they sure don't listen to me

wreckwriter · #11 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unBOAlievable

try tellin that to my dogs, maybe they will listen to you because they sure don't listen to me

mine aren't good listeners either, if it weren't for the door they'd be camped out in there...

Jem_Scout · #12 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:24 PM

My snakes are all in the livingroom in their huge cages. I have a seperate Rat Room with a locking door on it BUT I like the fresh air to flow through it in the summer time,and the A/C to reach the rats when it's hot. So my hubby built a door with 1x2 inch wire on a wooden frame to keep the cats and dogs out of there so the rats don't stress out. Locks with 2 hook and eye locks. Works like a charm!

The cats and dogs can't get in and the rats (if they escape) can't leave that room.

Tom · #13 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:28 PM

Hi April,

My mutt and my Lab sleep in my snake room. They both have been around boas all there life and they don't even pay much attention to the snake in there cages anymore. When my snakes are out my Lab does know where they are but will not go near them. My mutt will not bother them but she will step on them as she walks around. She even walks on me and the kids if we lay on the floor. LOL The only time I worry about her is when I have Zena out as she is big enough to eat my mutt and kill my Lab. However the good thing is Zena does not show much interest in my dogs.

I think in time your dog will not pay much attention to your snakes as it will come as nothing new to it. As for the boa that was stress out can you put this boa in a cage that is up high this way it will not see your dog. I know it will be able to smell the dog but the constant movement from the dog it will not see. I keep one of my surnames in one of my top cages as she is always looking at me when I walk by her cage and I didn't want her to get stressed out from my dogs or my kids walking by.

Take care
Tom

Jimbo239 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 03:34 PM

LOL... they only time I have ever been bit by a red tail was when two dogs spooked him out and in his 'striking' mode, hit me one time in the stomach. Personally I think mosquito bites are worse. Mammals and herps are probably happiest away from one another.

hisba · #15 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 06:20 PM

My dog is a pit bull, she is 3 yrs old. She's never really been exposed to the snakes often since the entire time we've had her (since 2 months old) I always had a snake room. When I had Autumn out in the gym this weekend, I opened the door to get my camera and Kyla was sitting there, as soon as she realized there was a large snake in the room she barked and growled. I hadn't realized she was even there. Normally I think she does feed off my nervous feelings (I am always nervous for the snakes).
If I did the screen door thing, I would HOPE she would bust through the screen to get an intruder!

For now, I will just continue to keep her out of the room.
As far as my cats went, they never paid the slightest attention to the snakes, didn't care one whit no matter how big or small the snake. But, my cats were lazy. haha The only reptile they were ever interested in was my iggy. Thanks for all the opinions!!

lisagordier · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoraJean

dogs can sense when you are nervous. I would spend time with her in the room, and make sure you are very confident, if you are afraid, your dog will sense it and think that is how it should feel in that room, and around these animals. Slowly spend more and more time in there with her, being completely confident, This depends greatly on what type of dog it is as well. But most dogs are just curious, and if you act antsy and don't let the dog naturally sniff and discover, they will become overly anxious about your herps. What breed of dog is it?

I think this is the best advise. I only have a cat, but the same principles apply. I've had both of them for approx. the same amount of time. When I first had Zephyr (snake) out she hissed only once at the cat. The more I had Zephyr out, the more both have gotten used to each other. It can either be a slow or quick process of them (your snakes) getting used to the fact your dog is in the room. As long as you have locking cages and your dog doesn't actually bark and jump at the cages, I think a slow introductin should be fine.

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