Dogs can be trained smell individual subspecies of snakes e.g tiger snake, lowland copperhead etc, but they smell species first. That is why we train with a range of different snakes (venomous & non venomous) so dogs learn to (generalise) avoid all snakes upon smelling them.
The newest evidence comes from a paper in Applied Animal Behavior Science, which found that dogs can smell the difference between a venomous rattlesnake and a harmless boa, but they find the smell intriguing rather than terrifying.
Can dogs smell snakes in Australia? Yes, the dog can smell snakes in Australia. Dogs' sense of smell is very strong and famous, and they can smell things like underground rats, termites, and snakes hiding in bushes.
However, dogs and cats are usually curious by nature. A lot also have natural hunting instincts that will cause them to go after a snake rather than avoid it. That is why it is best to take precautions to stop you having to pull your pet away from a snake in the first place.
Guinea hens, turkeys, pigs, and cats will also help keep snakes away. If foxes are indigenous to your area, fox urine is a very good natural repellent for snakes when spread around your property.
Walk your dog on a lead or ensure your dog won't leave your side when going for a walk. There is less chance your dog will be bitten if your dog is beside you the whole time. Do not let your dog dog explore holes or dig under rocks or logs and keep away from high grass and rocks where snakes like to rest.
Snakes don't really have an odor and don't really make sounds so it would be impossible to smell them or hear them. There is a myth out there that snakes smell like cucumbers but unfortunately they don't smell that good,” Sollenberger said.
Dogs and snakes don't mix!
A dog's natural curiosity can quickly get them into trouble unless they have previously learned to stay out of harm's way!
Terriers were purposefully bred to hunt and kill small predators and rodents (such as rats and mice), and terrier owners often report that their dogs are aggressive toward snakes. Jack Russell, fox, rat and Australian terriers are probably your best choices.
A: No, most breeds cannot smell reptiles. Only the breeds with the most developed sense of smell—retrievers, Blood hounds, Bassets, Beagles — are able to detect snakes merely by smell.
Symptoms of a Snake Bite On a Dog
Swollen area. Puncture wounds. Bleeding or bruising. Trembling, twitching, and shaking.
There are many scents snakes don't like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.
Snakes enter a building because they're lured in by dark, damp, cool areas or in search of small animals, like rats and mice, for food. Snakes can be discouraged from entering a home in several ways. Keeping the vegetation around the house cut short can make the home less attractive to small animals and snakes.
Snakes will hide behind the refrigerator, under the oven, under your bed, or inside cabinets. Snakes will avoid human activity. Some of the most common areas of the house to find a snake include crawl spaces, basements, garages, and attics (can snakes climb?)
Snake-Proof Your Yard
Remove any piles of leaves or logs as these are ideal snake-hiding places. You should also keep your bushes and plants well pruned to limit other hiding areas. Snakes love to hide in grass because it offers shelter from predators and because it's cool and dark.
This study, which surveyed veterinary clinics in Queensland, reported an average of 12 cases of snake envenomation in dogs each year per clinic.
In Australia there may be 60,000 cases of snake bites per year of dogs and cats. Up to 15,000 deaths of pets may occur.
Natural repellents including sulfur, clove and cinnamon oil, and vinegar may help repel snakes. Pour these substances around the perimeter of your property, any place you have noticed snake activity.
Some snakes such as eastern brown snakes are active during the day, others prefer to hunt in the evening, while some species are more active at night during the hotter months.
Snakes will often bite your pet in the face, neck, or legs when the dog tries to catch the snake. In many cases, there may be minimal pain and swelling so this isn't the most reliable way of determining whether your pet got bitten or not — you still have to watch for the other signs.
Time of onset of signs- rapidity of onset of signs is related to dose received. In dogs it is usually 1-2 hours (but maybe 6.5 hrs) & cats it is about 15hr (up to 24hr).
Blood clotting times and a snake venom detection kit using ideally a urine sample or swab from the site of the bite or blood can be used by your vet to identify if your pet has been bitten and the species of snake.