Labrador + ball python = a bad combo? - Page 2

BarelyBreathing · 06-19-12, 12:14 PM

I have five dogs, four of which are crazy. I also keep snakes, lizards, and a bunch of other things. I never let any of my dogs except for Nero close enough to even sniff my reptiles. (And before anybody gets worked up, he's in training to be a service dog so he is incredibly well trained to ignore distractions, including other animals.) If they come too close, I give them the command to get out. It helps if your dog has a bed or a crate it is taught to go lay down on/in.

And to answer your other question, yes, you will need to supervise. Anytime your snake is out of its enclosure you will need to be there to watch it.

limey · 06-19-12, 09:17 PM

Some great advice and personal experience here guys, thanks for all the input.

In thinking about it some more, I realise Millie is still young and quite curious. She often steals bog roll from my bathroom when I'm not looking and runs around the room with it, showing everybody what a great treasure she has found.

So this is maybe not the best dog to have around a python. Perhaps the only exception I would make is if she were so exhausted from exercise (ie. 10 mile hike) that she cannot even be bothered to get up from her bed... even so...

I shall keep mr.ball python in the spare room and let him out ONLY IN THE SPARE ROOM to handle and play. With the door closed, that is.

Maybe he can chill on my bed while I do the ironing or something... that would be quite cool.

DavethePython · 06-19-12, 09:36 PM

We allow our dogs to interact with our snakes from a distance . But that is our dogs. They are very fascinated by our snakes . But again from a distance . We allow them to get close enough to see and smell the snakes , but not close enough they could get bit. And our dogs for the most part are pretty obedient. By doing this they do not feel left out or jealous and usually after a short time will just go lay down . But again this is our dogs . I cannot speak for yours or anyone else's dogs. And of course this is only done with our BPs . We would never let our dogs interact with our new Burm . While he could not possibly eat them as they are too big , he could hurt or kill them easily. Know your animals and let common sense prevail , not your hopes and wishes. Tragedy can easily be avoided with common sense and the last thing we as snake owners need is another story floating aroun about snake eats family pet. If you are even remotely unsure don't do it. Just a foot note , when we do allow our dogs to interact with our snakes , we are always holding the snakes . Never just on the floor or couch or whatever. Even small our snakes are lightning fast if they want to strike .

BarelyBreathing · 06-19-12, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Some great advice and personal experience here guys, thanks for all the input.

In thinking about it some more, I realise Millie is still young and quite curious. She often steals bog roll from my bathroom when I'm not looking and runs around the room with it, showing everybody what a great treasure she has found.

So this is maybe not the best dog to have around a python. Perhaps the only exception I would make is if she were so exhausted from exercise (ie. 10 mile hike) that she cannot even be bothered to get up from her bed... even so...

I shall keep mr.ball python in the spare room and let him out ONLY IN THE SPARE ROOM to handle and play. With the door closed, that is.

Maybe he can chill on my bed while I do the ironing or something... that would be quite cool.

Training, training, training. Even the most hyper dog could be taught to stay in about ten minutes. Use positive reinforcement, lots of treats, and look up clicker training. It can (and will!) be done if you put your mind to it.

SnakeyJay · 06-20-12, 01:10 AM

Personally I don't see why you would want to let the snake roam unattended in the first place, whether the dogs are around or not.. It's just running the risk of it escaping or getting tangled somewhere it shouldn't. Not worth the risk IMO.

StudentoReptile · 06-20-12, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

Personally I don't see why you would want to let the snake roam unattended in the first place, whether the dogs are around or not.. It's just running the risk of it escaping or getting tangled somewhere it shouldn't. Not worth the risk IMO.

Indeed. You'd be very surprised in the tricky/difficult places a free-roaming snake can get to in a relatively short amount of time. They should NEVER NEVER NEVER be left unattended outside of their enclosure for any length of time IMHO...not if you care about them, that is.

smoothie4l · 06-20-12, 06:57 AM

When I take my ball python out the dogs don't seem to mind they just want to sniff it and make sure everything is okay. But I honestly would NEVER let Evra wonder around the house unattended, I have a jack Russell (a hunter) and a Great Dane (a giant). But even if I didn't have dogs I don't think a ball python would like to be out and wondering as much as an other snake, it would most likely try to find a worm spot under something and sit there.

limey · 06-20-12, 09:08 AM

I think the comments are getting slightly more derogatory as time goes on...or perhaps its just the way I'm reading them.

Never said anything about letting a snake "roam free" around the house unsupervised, guys.

What I had in mind was watching tv with him next to me, with the dog in the same room etc. But of course you guys aren't mind readers so then assumption comes into play.

That's fine. I'll take everything I can from your comments, and like I said, thanks for all your input. Appreciate it.

limey · 06-20-12, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Training, training, training. Even the most hyper dog could be taught to stay in about ten minutes. Use positive reinforcement, lots of treats, and look up clicker training. It can (and will!) be done if you put your mind to it.

Yeah, Labs are easy to train too. We actually taught her all that stuff when she was a pup.

At about 12 weeks she could sit, stay, roll over, long stay, fetch, jump, crawl etc.

Like I said in my original post, she's generally a good girl... but she still get's overexcited from time to time due predominantly to her age and for that reason alone I wouldn't want to take a chance with the snake until I'm certain she's mellowed out a little.

mykee · 06-20-12, 09:31 AM

I've had Labs for over a decade and I wouldn't consider introducing snakes to them. It's just completely unnecessary and quite frankly, kinda foolish.

Snakefood · 06-20-12, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Yeah, Labs are easy to train too. We actually taught her all that stuff when she was a pup.

At about 12 weeks she could sit, stay, roll over, long stay, fetch, jump, crawl etc.

Like I said in my original post, she's generally a good girl... but she still get's overexcited from time to time due predominantly to her age and for that reason alone I wouldn't want to take a chance with the snake until I'm certain she's mellowed out a little.

That excitability in Labs tends not to go away until they are actually old, as in 5-8 years old and sometimes not even then.