These folks are true professionals who know their subject-matter. They trained our two dogs and educated my husband and I with both the on-ground trading as well as their back up reading materials. Organized format in which the dogs are walked through various potential snake scenarios. Trainers guided dogs w/ firm but appropriate commands. Our dogs had been trained using a shock collar so they understood and reacted well. Final test confirmed the dogs understood to stay away. But only actual hiking w/ us will determine its complete success. Expect to follow up in Spring 2026 for re-training. Thank you Get Rattled!! Look forward to Skunk Avoidance training!!!!! read more

Get Rattled - Pet Training Near Me

I'm feeling a real sense of relief after I put my my young lab through this training. The entire process went smoothly from online registration to the certificate of completion. The handlers extended kindness to the dogs while at the same time ensuring that they obtained the correct avoidance response in each dog. I felt that both my dog and I were completely safe throughout the brief but effective training. read more

My friend and I were anxious about putting her labradors through rattlesnake avoidance training, but the experience and the handlers were calm, excellent with dogs and people, and highly professional. read more

I took both of my dogs through rattlesnake avoidance training. Only time will tell if it is effective. With rattlesnakes in my yard & dogs that bark at them, we'll see if their behavior changes. As for the prior comments about the intensity of the shocks - a dogs response is based upon the individual animal. My 75 # golden retriever yelped and practically did a back flip... while at the same intensity my 40 # German Shorthair wasn't even phased. The German Shorthair has been bird trained with a shock collar so she is probably used to it, while it was the Golden's first time. Get over it... the dogs were not traumatized! read more

Get Rattled - Pet Training Near Me

This afternoon our 3 dogs went through this training, and it was hands down AMAZING. I am very protective over our 3 rescues, especially my female because she is very fearful.. but the trainers were gentle and patient with them, while still being able to provide an extremely successful training session. Not ONCE did they drag any of our dogs, nor do the E collars they use hurt them like some of the reviews suggest. I will definitely recommend this class to everyone who has a dog, and personally plan on coming back for their refresher courses. Thank you, Get rattled! read more

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Buyer beware...I wish I had watched how they "trained" another dog before they did mine. I felt like leaving before it even started, because several dogs and their humans started arriving all at once, which is a big distraction to begin with. When I said as much, the trainer immediately took one of my dogs and literally dragged her straight to the snake and forced her onto it, then he corrected her at such a high level she leaped in the air screaming. He drug her around and did it again. I was so pissed...but I thought maybe it would work anyway, maybe I was being too sensitive. She is so curious, and I do not want her to be curious about rattlesnakes. Well, just three days later we came across a snake skin that moved slightly in the breeze, so that it looked just like a live one I thought.. She was all over it... Nosing it around with no hesitation. I feel ripped off! I even sent them a comment on their website, but have not received a response yet... read more

Had a great experience at a Get Rattled course this morning in San Jose! Handlers of dogs and snakes were very good with all the animals and my dog (10 year old female Golden) happily went through her training with them. I like that they don't muzzle the snakes, though they do have a "venom vasectomy" where the vet snips the tube that runs from the venom gland to the fangs. It's going to be great to hike through our hills this summer without being unduly nervous about encountering a rattler. read more

This is in response to the owners response. Again, I know my dog and I know dogs having owned and trained them for over 50 years. I'm also an objective and critical thinker. I can understand why you responded to my experience as you own the company and therefore it's understandable why you'd want to discredit any negative reactions. Your company employees took my dog and placed two leashes on her, one on each side. I instructed them that she was very sensitive and would not need anything other than a vibration. They seemed to understand me and off they went. They walked quickly to the snake and the next moment my dog let out a scream. That should never of happened and I hope you talked to those two girls about it. Obviously there are other employees that your customers are happy with and good for them. This was my dogs experience so we can't recommend Get Rattled. read more

let me share my experience and that of my dog- the people who ran the class were really nice people .i appreciated the respect they showed the snake- and the way that person handled it. i have a background as a search and rescue k9 handler for 12 years and also a dog trainer- specialized mostly in behavior modification and scent work. i am a graduate of the sf dog training academy under jean donaldson and have taken multiple seminars as well as taught them. my two search dogs had multiple finds in area ,scent specific trailing trailing and human remains detection. my 14 month old female german shepherd was who i signed up for the get rattle class-to be held at pawsitive paws in grass valley- the training scenario was set up with what appeared to be 3 areas to check- #1. appeared to be a crate or box covered with a camo blanket something - #2 was a pvc pipe- tilted up - #3 was a rattlesnake in the open on the lawn. my dog had the electric collar placed on her about 5 minutes before class began- this is generally done to get the dog "used" to the collar and the tightness of it before using it - one wants the dog to think the correction it gets is from the "thing" and not the collar. my dog was taken into the area and walked up to the #1 station. when she walked up to it ,she was shocked- over and over- they turned the collar up- she was being shocked to the point of throwing herself off the ground and screaming. finally she got that whatever that thing was - it was really painful and scary. she was then walked up to station # 2. the pvc thing.. again, when she approached it- she was shocked- over and over- until they had made her afraid of whatever it was... #3. she approaches the snake in the open.. she gets shocked- over and over-she screams- she flies off the ground multiple times.finally -she shows avoidance - and gets rewarded with no shock. now let me suggest that my dog had no way of knowing what she was to avoid.they made no effort to isolate the snake first to show the dog that it- the snake was to be avoided. nope- there were all sorts of things in the 'scent picture" areas that she was expected to decipher- it is impossible to scent discriminate if the "scent" you are singling out is not introduced first and alone. what happened to my dog would be like this- i tell you to go into the kitchen and get me..... ( i dont tell you what ) so everytime you come out of the kitchen with something wrong (because i gave you no information of what i wanted before sending you to the kitchen) i shock you. over and over - that is just wrong and its abusive. i wrote to them and to lauren from pawastive paws-- john from get rattled did not get back to me as he said he would . lauren said alot of things. you should not be shocking dogs for things they do not know about.if you start with the snake in open- the dog quickly learns that it is the snake to avoid- rather it is in the open, a crate, a pc tube- but to shock a dog when it has no information on why ,, is abusive. will their method work - yep- but its abusive. and it need not be, just turn the training around - use the open snake first.. then when you use other containers- use also ones with no snake - so the dog gets that the crate- tube- what ever is not the bad thing.. it is what is in that thing.. the snake. this class is much needed- so i hope they can adjust and still do the work- just in a smarter way- kinder way for the dogs- to learn. being alpha isn't necessarily smarter..... read more

I took my dog, a 3 year old male Australian Shepherd, to Get Rattled for his first rattlesnake avoidance training a year ago. Everyone there was kind, patient, knowledgeable, answered all my questions, and I did not feel rushed. My dog avoided the snake after 2 passes. For me, the real test was would he remember the training a year later? I just finished the retraining and he remembered! He passed with flying colors! He did not want to go anywhere near the skins, the smell, or the live snake. I am very impressed with the training, the trainers, and my dog! read more

I recently had the privilege of working with John, Dave, and the extraordinary crew at Get Rattled. Each of them is passionate about animals, from their own pets, to the snakes they use in training, to every individual dog they work with. All dogs are handled with the utmost respect and concern, and their owners are kept informed and involved during every step of the training process, which is quick, effective, and lasts a lifetime. I highly recommend Get Rattled for a positive experience for you and your dog. Dave Jensen, Owner Wasatch Snake Removal Salt Lake City, Utah read more

I have been meaning to write this review for a long time.... these guys are awesome. We were recommended by a friend since we hike and camp quite often with our rotty. yes, they do use e-collars and it is harsh to watch your dog be shocked, but they do it in the RIGHT way.... we have been out since then and come accross snakes and have had no problems what so ever. we are belivers. We just got a new dog, bull terrier, who is curious about EVERYTHING so we will be seeing them again soon.... read more

There was a very long line of people and their dogs getting rushed through the production line training, all paying $70. I'm not sure my dog even saw the seemingly half dead rattler. Fortunately we haven't run across a rattlesnake since the training but she has shown no aversion at all to other snakes. I have the impression that this training session wasn't much more than a very profitable money mill. read more

This group is professional and caring. Thank you for making the experience as good as it could be for my Shih Tzu's. Thank you, Get Rattled. read more

Great training, our brand new shelter adoption pup went through this training last weekend. Everyone was so nice with her, even after she was lightly shocked, they took time to move her away from the snake and pet her letting her know she was ok, before proceeding on. We live in an area where there are snakes and the last thing we want is for an inquisitive pup getting bit by a rattlesnake. Here it is 3 days later and I ran across a large gopher snake I took her near it and as soon as it hissed at her she immediately moved away. A week before the training when she came across another gopher snake in the yard she tried to play with it, now she avoids them. Thank you Get Rattled for your great training and patience with our precious new family member. read more

I use 100% positive training techniques on my dogs. However, I also come from the southwest and live in northern Cal where this type of aversion training is an absolute must if your dog is the type who is curious about anything that moves. Many dogs will carefully avoid snakes, but those that are 'all over everything that moves,' especially terriers and terrier mixes, really need this type of aversion training. Dogs know the difference between a live animal and a skin, so that example does not impress. I'm surprised the trainer had to 'drag' such a curious dog over to a snake. My terrier was extremely curious of the snake, and John gave her a shock that at first didn't even phase her curiousness. Only after that did he give her a full level shock (3 times with 3 snakes), and it seems to have worked. I will do it again for the next 2 years to make sure she is never curious about snakes again. At 22 lbs., a bite could easily be fatal, even if she were vaccinated. So, this is one I consider essential preventive aversion training. read more