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 30-minute session. 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 — learn more 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.
Book 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 — a professional balanced avoidance trainer and a professional rattlesnake safety officer on film & TV productions. 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.
Helena grew up around her family's own boarding facility and has a lifetime of equestrian experience, alongside running her own pet-sitting business. A college student with a genuine love of snakes, she's skilled in reading animal behavior and welfare — exactly the instinct this work depends on.
Alexandria is a graduate of veterinary technician college with 5 years of experience working in a veterinary clinic. She helped design our snake and dog safety protocols, including our stress-detection and heat-safety protocols, so every session stays safe and humane for the animals on both sides of the leash.
"This is a way improved version of rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs. I have a highly anxious and sensitive dog, and Scott handled this very well. My dog left non-traumatized, and highly prepared for rattlesnake encounters."
"As someone with training experience, I was thoroughly impressed by Scott's methodology — he works at a lower level to find the dog's specific working threshold, which teaches them effectively without traumatizing them."
"Thank you guys for training my German Shepherd — the rattlesnake training could not have gone better or been performed better."
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 →
