Led by extensively experienced K9 handlers and rattlesnake handling experts with a combined decade of experience in rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs.
Each session moves your dog through realistic environments — rocks, brush, trails, hidden burrows — so the avoidance response holds wherever they encounter a rattlesnake.
Most trainers run a 10-minute session — a quick intro, one snake encounter, and out the door. Welcome to Snake School™. We spend 30–45 minutes per dog, proofing every station until avoidance is automatic, not accidental. Our training is safer than those using muzzled rattlesnakes — without sacrificing any efficacy.
We offer premium live-rattlesnake avoidance training courses for dogs at our private ranches in Santa Clarita and Acton — led by extensively experienced K9 handlers and rattlesnake handling experts with a combined decade of experience in rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs, in partnership with Cary Quashen Rattlesnake Wrangling.
About 9 out of every 10 dogs will be snake-safe after completing our training program. A short refresher once a year keeps the avoidance response sharp.
Talk to Us →Downwind approach. The moment Zuko catches the scent, he literally jumps behind his owner.
The handler stirs the cage, the rattle starts, and Zuko bolts in the other direction.
He turns, locks visual on the snake, and takes a wide arc around it — even as his owner walks past.
This was Zuko's very first training session — the same one you just watched above. After just 30 minutes with us, he was as snake-safe as a dog can possibly be. This is what an actual encounter will look like after your dog graduates.
Each dog finishes the day with a graduation diploma, a happy family, and a behavior pattern that lasts.
Real reviews from dog owners who trained with us — in their own words.
“My dogs are sharp — they picked up on everything quickly and performed really well throughout the course. The team clearly knew how to work with dogs at that level. I was so happy with how it went that I'm already planning to bring another dog next week. Can't recommend Snake School enough.”
“My dogs aren't beginners — they're trained hunting dogs who rely on their noses for everything. I wasn't sure a standard course would be the right fit, but the Snake School team assessed them and ran a customized version specifically for where they needed work. Since their scent recognition was already strong, we focused on the face-to-face visual encounter with the snakes — and that's exactly where they needed just a little fine-tuning. The team knew exactly what they were doing. The training was perfect and I feel so much better. Honestly, I want to find a way to give back — if there's any way I can volunteer or help, I'm in.”
“This was a very well thought out training — you can tell a lot of care went into designing it. The team does a really great job, and more than that, they're just honorable people. You feel that from the moment you arrive. I appreciate everything you guys do.”
“This was amazing from start to finish. I came in nervous about the whole thing and left feeling so much better. The way they handled everything — the snakes, the dogs, the whole setup — it just gave me total confidence. Thank you guys so much!”
“My dogs are older and their senses aren't what they used to be, so I wasn't sure how they'd do. But the team took that into account and tailored the program specifically to them — and the training went great. I feel so much better knowing they have this skill now, even at their age. I'll absolutely be recommending Snake School to everyone I know.”
“The training was amazing — honestly better than I expected. The whole team made it such a positive experience, for me and for my dog. I appreciate you guys so much for what you do!”
“I had a really great experience from beginning to end. The facility, the team, the way they work with the dogs — everything was top notch. I'll definitely be recommending Snake School to friends and family.”
“The snake school was a great experience for our 4 dogs. The handlers were gentle and calm, walking the dogs through the different stations and reworking the stations that they showed some signs of struggle with. All 4 dogs passed the course and it was clear they wanted to avoid the snakes!”
The good news: this is near entirely avoidable. One trained avoidance response, drilled across 12 stations, changes the odds completely.
Read the Research →One of the only 12-station rattlesnake aversion programs in California that uses secure containment for every snake — a full-effectiveness program that never puts a dog in striking distance of a live rattlesnake.
A peek at our trainer, our handlers, our dogs, and the ranches where we work.
At Cary Quashen Snake Wrangling · As of May 19th, 2026
We are available to talk 7 days a week, and would love to chat with you. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
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