A full 12-station live-snake course in Santa Clarita, CA. Your dog is introduced to a live rattlesnake across all three sensory channels — scent, sound, and sight — then guided through avoidance conditioning that locks in a reliable, lasting response. It takes one morning. It lasts years.
We teach your dog to sniff out a rattlesnake — and run from the scent.
We teach your dog to recognize the sound of a rattlesnake — and run from it.
We teach your dog to recognize the sight of a rattlesnake — and run from it.
A single training session will protect your dog for the entire season. Annual refreshers are highly recommended to keep the avoidance response sharp year after year.
We walk a large "horseshoe" course permanently built into the back of our private ranch property. Stations are placed along the path — each one intelligently and thoughtfully chosen to build the avoidance response from the ground up.
Foundational exposure to rattlesnake scent, sound, and sight — establishing the initial avoidance response across real-world environments.
Negative associations are formed with the scent, sound, and appearance of a rattlesnake — strengthening and deepening the avoidance response.
Positive reinforcement locks in the avoidance behavior — culminating in a final live snake proof to confirm lasting results.
Yes — and the data backs it up. Independent research on aversion training shows trained dogs reliably avoid rattlesnakes in the field — and about 9 in 10 dogs are snake-safe after a single course with us.
An untrained dog follows its owner directly over a snake on the trail. A trained dog arcs out — a clean half-moon around the rattlesnake — even when the human keeps walking straight.
By the end of training your dog identifies a rattlesnake three different ways: smell from a distance, the rattle, and the visual pattern of the snake itself. Any one of the three triggers avoidance.
We recommend a short refresher once a year — the industry standard for keeping the avoidance response sharp season after season.
About 9 out of every 10 dogs lock in avoidance during the course. The roughly 1 in 10 outliers typically show full recognition by their first refresher — and we tell you on the day if your dog needs one.
Classes run Saturday and Sunday mornings. One session is all it takes — no multi-week commitment, no homework.
Spring and fall are peak snake season — spots fill fast. Check the schedule →
One-on-one classes run at our private 20-acre ranch in Santa Clarita.
Our private training ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley — in the heart of rattlesnake country.
Private at-home sessions also available on request — contact us for details.
You will not find a better, more effective, or safer rattlesnake avoidance program than the one we have created.
Results typically last 1–2 years. Annual refreshers recommended for high-risk areas.
From Chihuahuas to large working dogs — every breed benefits.
No multi-week programs or complicated homework required.
Live rattlesnakes in containment units — the only method that truly works.
A rattlesnake handling specialist, a seasoned K9 trainer, and a working-ranch operator — combined expertise you won't find anywhere else.
Hit the trails, let them run — without constant fear of what's lurking.
Rounds, e-collar mechanics, scent vs. sound vs. sight — a full breakdown of exactly how the avoidance response gets built.
See How It Works →Each dog finishes the day with a graduation diploma, a happy family, and a behavior pattern that lasts.
Teaching dogs to be safe around rattlesnakes should be, well, safe. Every rattlesnake in our program is housed in a purpose-built containment unit — designed to allow full sensory exposure while making a bite physically impossible.
Learn About Our Safety Standards →For dog owners outside the Santa Clarita area, we offer private at-home sessions within 100 miles of our ranch. Same trainer, same handler, same bite-proof setup — at your property, on Fridays and Sundays.
Contact for a Private Session →We pride ourselves in offering best-in-business customer service and will be glad to answer any questions and chat with other dog lovers.
Over 40 years of rattlesnake handling experience — a fascination that started when he was a little kid — and 40 years working with dogs. A well-known SCV community leader and wildlife safety advocate. When a rattlesnake shows up where it's not welcome, Cary is the one people call — handling every encounter with calm, expertise, and deep respect for the animal.
Scott Quashen is the owner. He has 5 years of experience handling venomous snakes alongside his father Cary, plus many years working with dogs. He learned 12-station rattlesnake avoidance training hands-on under one of the top trainers in the state, then built a customized program that exceeds the model he learned from in every way possible.
Hemo is an 11-pound dog who, years ago, was bitten in the face by a baby rattlesnake and almost didn't survive — the fur on his muzzle still turns black where the fang made contact. Years later, he came back and graduated our full 12-station course, trained gently on the vibrate setting. He is rattlesnake safe.
Read Hemo's Story →Classes fill fast. Reserve your spot today and give your dog the protection they need for every trail, backyard, and open space.
Reserve a Spot →
