Snake Proofing Your Dog

It’s sad to lose your four legged friend for any reason, more so from a painful rattlesnake bite. Even if your dog successfully completed snake avoidance training, as discussed in my previous blog post, they still can be bitten by a rattler in the field or on a hike in the great outdoors. With snake avoidance training and annual rattlesnake vaccinations, the chance of death by a rattler bite is greatly reduced for your dogs.

Daisy and Lulubelle, my yellow labs, received two shots each of the rattlesnake vaccinations the first year and then once annually. The shots don’t prevent a snake bite, but immunizes the dog to the snake’s venom. My longtime vet Dr. Pat Richardson, DVM at Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital, San Antonio, Texas says “should a bite occur, the rattlesnake antivenin will reduce the severity; allow more time to get to a vet with fresh vials of the expensive antivenin, which has a short shelf life, cost about $500.00 a vial. A large hunting dog that has not been vaccinated could require three to five vials. A dog on antivenin may not need any and can be treated with steroids and antibiotics.” My dog’s vaccine was $35.00 per shot at Broadway Oaks, inexpensive protection for my best friends and outdoor companions. Dr. Tom Vice, DVM; founder of Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital and avid outdoorsman, was one of the first vets to utilize the snake vaccination for dogs. For more information go to www.broadwayoaksanimalhospital.com. 

This is the snake that ruined the picnic for the bluebonnet pickers.

 

Snake Avoidance Training

Living in Texas with dogs bred to hunt, it’s a sure bet that you or your dogs will encounter a poisonous snake. My yellow labs, Lulubelle-8 and Daisy-11, both graduated from Snake Avoidance Training (S.A.T.) by the time they were a year old. It’s a good way to ensure your best friend doesn’t stick his/her nose into a rattlesnakes business. 

S.A.T. is simple; the trainer puts a shock collar on your dog, the only time I have ever allowed one on my dogs. The dog is put in a pen with a live defanged rattler. When the dog gets within striking distance and the rattler lunges at the dog, the trainer gives the dog a good shock at the moment of the strike. Fortunately, my dogs got the idea the first time. I don’t think I could watch my girls take the hit a second time. The collars were taken off and never put on again. Sometimes a refresher course may be needed.

Twice, this training has kept me from tangling with a rattler. Lulubelle encountered a rattler shortly after her training, which may have saved me from a snake bite. She was ahead of me on a seldom traveled trail, with lots of growth. She went on point…that tail went up as did the hair on her back. She didn’t bark, but made a nervous growl. There was a 6 foot long rattler curled ready to strike. She made me aware of the snake’s presence, but made no attempt to go near it. We both made a wide detour and my girl earned her treat. 

Don’t try this yourself—ask your vet, breeder, or check with a hunting club. Hire a trainer with lots of experience in S.A.T. See my next blog about snake proofing your dogs.

 

Texas Bluebonnets

GOOD NEWS! Last summer’s drought, plentiful winter rains, and the wildfires of last year have set the state up for an abundant crop of bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. For those that don’t know, the bluebonnet is to Texas, what the shamrock is to Ireland.

It is still early, but from the bluebonnets I have seen that have already bloomed, the plants are healthy and thick with pods. It looks like bluebonnets will be plentiful in the Hill Country of Texas, more so than in years past. Get your camera ready, load up the kids and the dog, and head to the Hill Country.

There is help to plan your outing; check out www.texaswildflowerpictures.com which is a very informative site for updates on Texas wildflower conditions. If you have an extra special photo of your trip to share, please send to www.Facebook.com/authordavidbowles and I will post it on my author’s page. While there, I would appreciate your liking my author page, and friending it.

ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA

Several years ago, I began to hear about social media. I am not quick to embrace new technology; agents and publishers said as an author, I should have a social media presence. Out of the many types of this media, I chose Facebook. I have been using it almost a year and have found it a useful tool to communicate with other writers and readers about the Westward Sagas series. It is not my choice of communication with close friends and family; a simple phone call, email, or snail mail works much better for me (HINT).

FB, unlike your website, can be tweaked by others easily and changes they make can alter things detrimentally on your page, hence the title of my post ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA. A business associate mentioned that I might want to take a good look at my FB profile. Upon checking it, I noticed by birthday was listed for the world to see, which I immediately changed. Scrolling down to check other items, I found under Music a picture of this weird looking dude making an obscene gesture.

The last time I checked my Profile Page, under Music it said “I liked both kinds of music, country and western.” I thought it was clever when I set-up my profile. Apparently, there is a band named Both Kinds of Music and that’s the picture FB placed in the Music block for me.

I am not sure how it happened, but, it did and I am embarrassed. It has been corrected, thanks to my business associate bringing it to my attention. Those that saw it, I apologize. I am frequently asked to speak at schools and churches; therefore, this COWBOY STORYTELLER would never have posted such a picture.

Code of the Cow Country

The following poem is something I found in a barn many years ago on a feed sack. I tore it off and have since found the poem in various places; sometimes it was signed anonymous. In 1954, it was published in Songs of the Saddlemen by S. Omar Barker.

 They are still appropriate rules to live by.

It don’t take such a lot of laws

To keep the rangeland straight,

Nor books to write ‘em in, because

There’s only six or eight.

The first one is the welcome sign -

True brand of western hearts:

“My camp is yours an’ yours is mine,”

In all cow country parts. 

 

Treat with respect all womankind,

Same as you would your sister.

Take care of neighbors’ strays you find,

And don’t call cowboys “mister.”

Shut pasture gates when passin’ through;

An’ takin’ all in all,

Be just as rough as pleases you,

But never mean nor small.

 

Talk straight, shoot straight, and never break

Your word to man nor boss.

Plumb always kill a rattlesnake.

Don’t ride a sorebacked hoss.

It don’t take law nor pedigree

To live the best you can!

These few is all it takes to be

A cowboy – and a man!