Snake Aware Dog Training

Reward-Based Snake Avoidance Training for Dogs across Adelaide

Protect your dog with practical, reward-based snake avoidance training designed for dogs living in snake-prone areas across Adelaide.

At Paws & Reward, our Snake Aware Program teaches dogs how to recognise and safely avoid snakes using force-free, science-based training methods. We focus on building calm, reliable avoidance behaviours that can help reduce the risk of dangerous snake encounters — while also teaching owners how to continue the training safely at home.

Our training can also help dogs learn safer responses around other wildlife and environmental hazards, including kangaroos, foxes, and unfamiliar animals.

Whether you have an adventurous puppy, a high-drive dog, or simply want extra peace of mind during snake season, Snake Aware gives you practical skills you can use in everyday life.

Don’t leave your dog’s safety to chance — start building life-saving skills today.

Training Options

  • Small Group Snake Aware Workshop

    Our small-group Snake Aware Workshop is a practical, hands-on training session designed to help dogs develop safe avoidance behaviours when encountering snakes.

    With a maximum of just 6 dogs per workshop, you’ll receive personalised coaching and guidance throughout the session while training in a calm, supportive environment.

    This workshop is ideal for dogs who are comfortable working around unfamiliar dogs and people.

    If your dog is reactive, fearful, or overwhelmed in group environments, please book private training instead.

    Workshop Details
    Location: Sherwood Forest Reserve, Glenalta SA
    Duration: One 90-minute workshop
    Maximum Dogs: 6 dogs per workshop
    Investment: $125 per dog

    Upcoming Workshop Dates: TBA

    Pre-Requisite
    Dogs must have completed Paws & Reward’s Rapid Recall Course or another suitable recall course before attending.

    Strong recall and engagement skills are essential for safely progressing through snake avoidance training.

    If your dog has completed training elsewhere, please contact us before booking so we can discuss suitability.

    What to Bring
    Essential equipment includes:

    • 5-metre long line

    • Treat pouch

    • High-value treats (soft and smelly treats such as roast chicken or cheese)

    A long line and treat pouch are required for participation. If needed, both can be purchased during booking.

    What’s Included
    ✔ Snake Aware E-Booklet sent after the workshop
    ✔ Real snake shed for safe scent training practice at home
    ✔ Realistic fake snake for continued training
    ✔ Personalised coaching throughout the session

    Private Group Workshops
    Want to organise your own Snake Aware workshop with friends?

    We can arrange private group workshops for 3–6 dogs at a time that suits your group.

    Perfect for friends, family members, sporting dog groups, or rural property owners.

    📩 Contact us to discuss availability and dates.

    Terms & Conditions apply.

    Make a Booking

  • Private Snake Aware Training in Your Home

    Prefer private training? Need flexible scheduling? Have a dog who struggles in group environments?

    Our Private Snake Aware Course provides personalised, one-on-one support tailored specifically to your dog, home environment, and training goals.

    Private training is also suitable for:

    • Dogs who are uncomfortable around unfamiliar dogs or people

    • Owners unable to attend group workshops

    • Multi-dog households

    • Cats requiring snake avoidance training

    You’ll receive all the information covered in the group workshop, along with customised coaching and practical strategies specific to your pet and environment.

    Private Course Details
    Location: In your home (unless otherwise arranged)
    Course Structure:

    • One initial 45-minute session

    • One follow-up 60-minute session

    You can choose your preferred initial appointment time through our online booking system.

    What You’ll Learn
    Session 1: We introduce the foundations of snake avoidance training, discuss environmental safety, and cover what to do if you encounter a snake.

    Session 2: We build reliable avoidance responses to both visual and scent-based snake cues while teaching safe scent-handling practices.

    Investment for the Full Private Snake Aware Course: $400

    Optional Equipment Add-Ons
    You can purchase the following during booking:

    • Puppingtons 5-metre recall lead: $25

    • Quality treat pouch: $35

    Please note: A recall lead and treat pouch are essential for completing the course successfully.

    Terms & Conditions

    Make a Booking

What Our Clients Say

We did the snake awareness training with our 10 month old golden retriever puppy, Margot. Lisa and Lena’s expertise and dedication to their techniques were incredible, and they were able to tailor their teaching styles to suit Margot’s needs and learning style. The hands on workshop allowed us to understand and put the concepts to practice to ensure the correct technique. We are very grateful towards Lisa and Lena for their support and guidance in Margot’s training journey!

— Gaby, Snake Aware Participant 2025

Why Choose Paws & Reward?

At Paws & Reward, we use practical, reward-based training methods designed to help dogs and their humans succeed in the real world.

Our Snake Aware Program focuses on:

  • Positive, force-free training

  • Practical real-world skills

  • Small class sizes for personalised support

  • Experienced, highly qualified trainers

  • Building reliable behaviours without fear or intimidation

We believe snake avoidance training should help dogs feel safe, confident, and successful — not frightened.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • It absolutely is! There are trainers all over the world who are using these techniques successfully to keep their dogs safe from snakes.

    If we use aversive pain-based methods, such as shock collars, we are hoping that the pain that is inflicted when the dog sees the snake teaches the dog to fear snakes. However, it does not teach the dog which behaviour we want him to do.


    Fearful situations induce the fight, flight, or freeze response. With aversive methods, people are hoping that the dog chooses the flight response. However, it is not unusual for a dog to choose the fight response instead. The dog will then attack the snake instead of avoiding them after such training! The dog wants the scary thing to go away, so they use aggression to try to make the snake go away!

    Furthermore, when pairing a painful experience with a particular stimuli (e.g. snake) we want the dog to fear the stimuli. However, other stimuli are also present during such training, including the dog’s lead, harness, the owner, other people, other dogs etc. It is common for dogs to associate the owner, the lead, and other things present during the training with the pain they feel. Thus, many dogs become anxious around their owners or the presence of their lead after aversive training.

  • If we focus on telling our dog what not to do, they still have a range of behaviours available that they can do. For example, they might freeze close to the snake, run around the snake, or bark at the snake. By focusing on what our dog should not do, we are letting our dog decide what to do instead. They may not make the right decision!

    This course will teach your dog what to do, so that they are equipped with a safe behaviour when they see or smell a snake. Through this training, the snake becomes a cue to tell your dog what to do when they see a snake.

  • No. It is too much of a risk to the snakes and the dogs. Furthermore, the training can be quite stressful for the snakes who would have to be handled and removed from their usual habitat.

    During the training we will use rubber snakes and scent gathered from Snake Catchers Adelaide of various venomous snake breeds.