Our Worst Nightmare Came Close

[d2dave]

Last night whilst I was half way to Sydney I got a phone call from SWMBO. (Sharon)

The dog was barking with an unusual bark. Just to paint the picture here.

We live on a semi rural property of three and a half acres. We get foxes, rabbits, possums and many other forms of wildlife that the dog barks at.

Normally we just ignore the barking or if it persists just yell at the dog to "shut up"

This time(according to Sharon) the bark was much different so she went to investigate.

The dog has bailed up a large snake. We have what we call a Jack and Jill seat under the front verandah and the snake is under this, with the dog barking at it.

Our dog is an outside dog as we have two cats, of which one of these and the dog don't get along, so dog stays out side.

Upon seeing the snake, Sharon immediately bought the dog inside. After about an hour she checks and snake has gone.

Sharon was about to let the dog back out only to find the snake had moved to under the dogs bed. Thank goodness she spotted it.

Normally if I was home we would have dealt with the snake, as we always want a second person in case one of us gets bitten.

It has always been a worry with snakes and the dog, as I know too many people who have lost their dog to snakes.

I feel we dodged a bullet last night.

[Slunnie]

Certainly did dodge a bullet! Thats a good dog.

I worry about the same, I've had plenty of trips to the vet for venem testing. We've even called a dog off a brown in the middle of winter, probably the same snake that ran from the dog and went straight over the top of my bare feet - yes I jumped and squealed like a little girl. :lol2:

[ozscott]

Yep they are a worry. I had a dog years ago killed by a brown. My German Shepherds have always left the snakes alone. On the other hand my short legged Jack Russel has killed dozens (and I mean dozens) of Brown snakes and a fair few blacks and other snakes too. He is crazy fast...surprised he has made it to 12 years old...I am concerned what will happen when he slows physically but not mentally. Cheers

[d2dave]

Our dog is a Shepard. Very intelligent breed. Could be why she did not get bitten.

[V8Ian]

Certainly did dodge a bullet! Thats a good dog.

I worry about the same, I've had plenty of trips to the vet for venem testing. We've even called a dog off a brown in the middle of winter, probably the same snake that ran from the dog and went straight over the top of my bare feet - yes I jumped and squealed like a little girl. :lol2:
I know your shame. I was ten feet off the ground before I realised it was a python. :mad:

[Tins]

Mum and dad had three dogs on a 10 acre bush block at Christmas Hills, two Old English sheepdogs and a little Jackie. The two Dulux dogs were useless ( would spend an entire afternoon shrieking at an echidna ), but the Jackie, like all of his breed, was a game little bugger. Browns and copperheads were the snakes de jour around there. One day the Jackie, Bowser, got himself bitten. He was a crook little bloke, and had a holiday at the vets. When he came home he was his old self, and buggered off for a bit. Mum heard him barking at the door and went to see. There on the mat was one very dead brown, bitten about twenty times. Payback I guess.

Very wise, tackling a joe with two people, Dave. I know for a fact that I'm not quick enough and could easily get bitten.

[NavyDiver]

Snake Avoidance – Victorian Dog Training Academy (VDTA) in Melbourne, Australia (https://www.vdta.com.au/services/snake-avoidance-dog-training/)More than a few bush hunters with pointers and similar worry about the same. Dogs are often naturally/instinctively very wary of snakes. I see a few running every year. New pup now 1.5 years old is interesting to watch in a big on lead only area near the Yarra river we run through daily.

She did not try to approach two snakes a few weeks ago while she did want to get closer to blue tongues and other

dogs, rabbits....

Dogs can be worth a lot of money. Yours sounds snake smart if they just bark and stay away- That's helpful.

Personally I like the rat and mouse control- No food no = no snakes!

Teach Dogs To Avoid Snakes | Eltham North| Canine Snake Avoidance


(https://www.caninesnakeavoidance.com.au/canine-snake-avoidance-eltham-north)Not at all sure how to stop Jack Russel's John! "a little Jackie" is one of those unstoppable forces I assume [biggrin]!

[Tins]

(https://www.caninesnakeavoidance.com.au/canine-snake-avoidance-eltham-north)Not at all sure how to stop Jack Russel's John! "a little Jackie" is one of those unstoppable forces I assume [biggrin]!

Force of nature for sure. If I ever had another dog ( I won't ) it'd be a Jackie.

[scarry]

Death by snakebite to dogs is second on the list to being hit by vehicles,in Aus.

With our last Springer,we did avoidance training using dead snakes we found on the road which seemed to help.
After the training,she would locate them,bark,and stand back,same for any reptile.

You would be surprised how many are around that are not seen,but a good dogs nose soon locates them.

We will do similar with our next Springer,but may use a pet python that my brother has,although using live animals for dog training,in Qld is illegal.
A silly rule but I suppose it is more aimed at greyhound owners.

[Tins]

A silly rule but I suppose it is more aimed at greyhound owners.

Sad that that industry has such a rep. Late in life mum adopted a greyhound from GAP. 7 years old male, huge, and a gentler dog is hard to imagine.

[scarry]

Sad that that industry has such a rep. Late in life mum adopted a greyhound from GAP. 7 years old male, huge, and a gentler dog is hard to imagine.

Yes,friends have two,beautiful dogs.
They live inside as well.

[Tins]

Yes,friends have two,beautiful dogs.
They live inside as well.

All our dogs have lived inside, from back when I was a kid. Mum's greyhound, Charlie, was a couch potato. Happy to just be still. But take him to an off lead park and boy, run! ( Yeah, I know, DER ). We were warned to be careful around other dogs, and cats, but he never showed any aggression at all. I guess the warning is a standard one, given the history. Here in Vic he needed to wear a particular collar to identify him.

[scarry]

All our dogs have lived inside, from back when I was a kid. Mum's greyhound, Charlie, was a couch potato. Happy to just be still. But take him to an off lead park and boy, run! ( Yeah, I know, DER ). We were warned to be careful around other dogs, and cats, but he never showed any aggression at all. I guess the warning is a standard one, given the history. Here in Vic he needed to wear a particular collar to identify him.

My parents bred GSP’s,they lived inside as well,one of my brothers still has the old couch with the wooden arms full of GSP teeth marks,they loved to chew on things.
They used to catch hares,and drag them inside under our bunks at night,and eat everything except the ears,much to my mothers dismay.🤣

After I left home,our first dog wasn’t allowed inside,the second one was allowed in,but not in the bedrooms or on the couch,although he used to scramble up on them during the night,and get off as soon as he heard us getting up in the morning.
The third,which departed us last week[bigsad],was allowed in everywhere and on the couch,but not the bedrooms.
The second and third never chewed anything.

[Tins]

My parents bred GSP’s,they lived inside as well,one of my brothers still has the old couch with the wooden arms full of GSP teeth marks,they loved to chew on things.
They used to catch hares,and drag them inside under our bunks at night,and eat everything except the ears,much to my mothers dismay.🤣

After I left home,our first dog wasn’t allowed inside,the second one was allowed in,but not in the bedrooms or on the couch,although he used to scramble up on them during the night,and get off as soon as he heard us getting up in the morning.
The third,which departed us last week[bigsad],was allowed in everywhere and on the couch,but not the bedrooms.
The second and third never chewed anything.

Young lady friend of mine ( no, not girlfriend, she's much too young, or perhaps I'm too old[bigsad]) has a young GSP. He's a lovely dog, but like most gun dogs he's nuttier than a peanut brittle. He's not two yet, so I guess he'll settle... He lives inside.

[Homestar]

Our dog is a Shepard. Very intelligent breed. Could be why she did not get bitten.

She’s a killer with a broom handle though… [emoji16]

[350RRC]

My father and his second wife lived in Eltham for many years on the Yarra. Plenty of tigers there.

Their son had his 21st at the end of October years ago and the next morning the party goers were crashed out everywhere, including one chap who'd slept on the big soft dog bed outside the back door on paving.

He felt something wriggling and got up and looked underneath........... a tiger snake.

Dad went and got a long handled shovel and my step mother grabbed it from him and belted the crap out of the snake. [thumbsupbig]

DL

[Tins]

My father and his second wife lived in Eltham for many years on the Yarra. Plenty of tigers there.

Their son had his 21st at the end of October years ago and the next morning the party goers were crashed out everywhere, including one chap who'd slept on the big soft dog bed outside the back door on paving.

He felt something wriggling and got up and looked underneath........... a tiger snake.

Dad went and got a long handled shovel and my step mother grabbed it from him and belted the crap out of the snake. [thumbsupbig]

DL

When I was a teenager we would swim in the river between Eltham and Warrandyte. Bugger all houses there then. Near Laughing Waters. I was in there one day when I saw a tiger swimming towards me in the current. Head up in the air. BIL says "don't worry, they can't strike when swimming". Did I believe him? Guess. [bigwhistle]

[Saitch]

when I saw a tiger swimming towards me in the current. [bigwhistle]

This could give impetus to the 'Big Cat' sightings, in Australia.

[Tins]

This could give impetus to the 'Big Cat' sightings, in Australia.

They're usually black. Well, the one I saw was.

[V8Ian]

They're usually black. Well, the one I saw was.
So is the Lithgow legend.

[scarry]

BIL says "don't worry, they can't strike when swimming". Did I believe him? Guess. [bigwhistle]

A guy i know had a Springer bitten by a snake while retrieving a duck in a Lake during a shoot in Victoria.
It got out of the water and collapsed,was dead in 30 minutes.

I have a book about snakes in Qld,and a 12 yr old boy was bitten by a snake while swimming in a dam in the Innisfail area,many years ago.

It was the house dam near the Homestead on the property.They had swum in the dam every day for many years.He got out of the water not feeling well,and died that afternoon.
The autopsy revealed snake bite,more than likely Tiger snake.

Yes GSP's are scatterbrains until they get to about 18 months,or some 2 yrs old.Particularly the males.
They seem to have long legs these days,the ones we had were shorter,that is lower at the shoulder.
One of the older Dog handlers at the Corrections Dog squad was telling me he had one years ago,it came from the pound.One of the best sniffer dogs he ever had,over a career of 48yrs.
It would stand on it's back legs and catch the visitors that had contraband stuffed down their Bras.
The other dogs they used,Labs,and Springers,and Labs crossed with Springers, couldnt do the same trick.

[Tins]

So is the Lithgow legend.

That'll be the coal...

[Arapiles]

When I was a teenager we would swim in the river between Eltham and Warrandyte. Bugger all houses there then. Near Laughing Waters. I was in there one day when I saw a tiger swimming towards me in the current. Head up in the air. BIL says "don't worry, they can't strike when swimming". Did I believe him? Guess. [bigwhistle]


When I was about 14 I was swimming in the Wimmera River with mates. There was a pretty strong flow and I felt something hit my leg under the water and then wrap around it. And then a big brown snake stuck his head out of the water and looked at me, to our mutual shock. I went in one direction and it went in the other.

[V8Ian]

When I was about 14 I was swimming in the Wimmera River with mates. There was a pretty strong flow and I felt something hit my leg under the water and then wrap around it. And then a big brown snake stuck his head out of the water and looked at me, to our mutual shock. I went in one direction and it went in the other.
And then there were two (browns). :eek2:

[350RRC]

When I was a teenager we would swim in the river between Eltham and Warrandyte. Bugger all houses there then. Near Laughing Waters. I was in there one day when I saw a tiger swimming towards me in the current. Head up in the air. BIL says "don't worry, they can't strike when swimming". Did I believe him? Guess. [bigwhistle]

There's a really old post on aulro about a bunch of blokes who used to go fishing in the high country.......... often in a pool in a creek around where a big black was frequently seen.

To cut a long story short, one of them was bitten on the leg by this snake through his waders while the snake was swimming underwater and it became an emergency situation.

David L

[Arapiles]

And then there were two (browns). :eek2:


Irony is that I nearly drowned in almost the same spot about a year later.

[Tins]

Irony is that I nearly drowned in almost the same spot about a year later.

Might pay to avoid it...