Skip to content
Now Booking Family-owned · 28+ years · 70,000+ dogs trained
📞 480-595-6700 enroll@partnersdogs.com
Call 480-595-6700 Request A Quote
    Home
    Programs

    Essential

    PD360 AssessmentYour dog's personalized starting point Dog BoardingOvernight stays with trained care Snake AvoidanceRattlesnake safety training GroomingLow-stress bath, brush-out & nails

    Foundational

    Foundation Camp14-night basics + manners DaySchoolDaily training + structured enrichment Private Lessons1-on-1 coaching for you + your dog Group ClassesWeekly skills in a social setting

    Behavioral

    DayCampBehavior-focused daily program Behavior Camp21-night reactivity + anxiety Transform Camp28-night aggression + advanced
    🐾 Build Your Program Take a Tour →
    Locations

    Our facilities

    Scottsdale8642 E Shea Blvd, 85260 Cave Creek4640 E Forest Pleasant Pl, 85331
    Resources

    Pet Parent Portal

    Open Parent Portal ↗Bookings, vaccinations & invoices

    About Partners

    About UsFamily-owned · since 1997 Reviews & TestimonialsWhat dog families are saying Contact UsHours, addresses, contact form

    Helpful Pages

    FAQAnswers to common questions Blog & Training TipsGuides, advice & dog news
    📞 Call 480-595-6700 Request A Quote

    Scottsdale + Cave Creek · Arizona

    Rattlesnake Avoidance Training: Keep Your Dog Safe on Arizona Trails

    Rattlesnake avoidance training conditions your dog to turn and run from the scent, sound, and sight of a rattlesnake, before a strike ever happens. One short session at our Scottsdale or Cave Creek campus can be the difference between a normal hike and an emergency vet bill.

    • Protect your dog and your family in snake country
    • A snakebite vet bill in Arizona typically runs $3,000 to $10,000
    • First session $109 per dog, refreshers $89
    • About 15 to 20 minutes, with a refresher once or twice a year
    Book Your Session See Pricing
    Dog and handler during desert rattlesnake avoidance training in an Arizona wash
    $109 first session15-20 min per session18,000+ dogs snake-trained4.8 stars 2,000+ reviews

    What is rattlesnake avoidance training and which dogs need it?

    Rattlesnake avoidance training conditions your dog to actively avoid Arizona rattlesnakes using e-collar reinforcement around live snakes. Each session lasts about 15 to 20 minutes at our Scottsdale or Cave Creek facility. Your dog learns to recognize the scent, sound, and sight of a rattlesnake and to move away from it on its own, even when you are not watching. An annual refresher is recommended to keep that avoidance sharp, especially before desert hiking season. You can add this to a training camp stay or a private lesson series, or build a program that bundles it with your dog's other training.

    Book Your Session See Pricing

    What It Is

    A Lasting Reason to Keep Its Distance

    We train a clear negative association to rattlesnake scent and sound using a small stim on an e-collar. Your dog then avoids rattlesnakes on its own, off leash and out of sight.

    • Self-directed avoidance. Backs away before it ever gets close.
    • Real desert conditioning. Live Diamondback rattlesnakes in a controlled habitat, not props or recordings.
    • Built for the long run. Scent, sound, and sight cues hold anywhere you go.
    Book a Snake Avoidance Session

    Why It Matters in Arizona

    Rattlesnakes Are Closer Than You Think

    Arizona has 13 rattlesnake species, and they turn up on trails, in washes, and in backyards across the Valley from March through October. One bite often means a $3,000 to $10,000 emergency vet bill. Training is $109, and it teaches your dog to back away before any of that happens.

    Video preview: why rattlesnakes are a real risk for dogs in the Arizona desert
    Sonoran desert facility entrance with a Staff and Snake Avoidance Only yard sign, saguaro cacti and distant mountains

    Trained in real Sonoran desert

    Where Your Dog Learns the Lesson

    Cave Creek trains fully outdoors in a controlled desert habitat, the same saguaro, scrub, and gravel your dog meets on a trail. Scottsdale trains primarily indoors. Both build the same lasting avoidance of a rattlesnake's scent and sound, and since about half of snake bites happen in and around the house, training across environments is ideal.

    Reserve Your Spot

    What Is Included

    What Is Included in Every Session

    One short session gives your dog a clear, lasting reason to keep its distance from a rattlesnake on its own.

    • Conditioning to live Diamondback rattlesnakes in a controlled setting
    • Scent, sound, and sight avoidance so your dog reacts before it gets close
    • Expert e-collar reinforcement timed by an instructor with at least two years of training
    • A fight, flight, free, or fawn assessment of your dog's default response
    • A plain-language debrief on how your dog performed
    • A personalized refresher recommendation to keep avoidance sharp
    • Both Scottsdale and Cave Creek campuses to choose from
    See Available Times

    How It Works

    How Snake Avoidance Works

    1. Check-in. You check in with our team, we pair you with a trainer who fits the equipment, and we ask about your dog's age, background, and any medical issues. Time slots are scheduled individually, so there is usually only a queue of three to four dogs.
    2. Training. You and your dog head back to the desert habitat with your trainer while the instructor narrates what we are seeing. When your dog shows curiosity toward a live Diamondback rattlesnake, we deliver a small e-collar stim to build an acute negative association, then run your dog away from the snake to encourage a flight response. We repeat this several times around the habitat.
    3. Debrief and refreshers. Your instructor explains how your dog performed, identifies its default response (fight, flight, free, or fawn), flags anything that could affect its behavior later, and recommends when to return. Refreshers are typically recommended once or twice a year.
    Pick a Time That Works

    Who It Is For

    Built for Every Arizona Dog

    If your dog spends any time outdoors in Arizona, rattlesnake avoidance is for you. It is one of the few things you can do in under an hour that genuinely lowers the odds of a life-threatening emergency.

    • Hikers and campers. Dogs that join you on desert trails, washes, and weekend trips.
    • Backyard and neighborhood dogs. Snakes turn up in yards, on walks, and around the block, not just on the trail.
    • Multi-dog households. Bring the whole crew through in one window before hiking season.
    • Returning dogs. Past graduates who are due for an annual refresher to keep the avoidance sharp.

    Not sure whether your dog is ready? Call us at 480-595-6700 and we will give you an honest answer.

    Book Your Session
    A tan Belgian Malinois trots straight toward the camera across a green outdoor field, the kind of active Arizona dog rattlesnake avoidance is built for.
    After training, our girl occasionally ran into snakes on trails and would not approach them at all. She often let us know there was a snake up ahead before we knew it ourselves. Karen B., snake avoidance client

    Book Your Session

    Book Your Snake Avoidance Training

    Choose First Timer ($109 first session) or Refresher ($89 per dog), pick Scottsdale or Cave Creek, and add more dogs in the same window. Sessions run about 15 to 20 minutes, so most dogs are protected within the hour.

    Loading scheduler…

    Having trouble seeing the scheduler?

    Open Scheduler in a New TabCall 480-595-6700

    Pricing

    Simple, Per-Dog Pricing

    • First session, $109 per dog. Your dog's first time through rattlesnake avoidance, including the full assessment and debrief.
    • Annual refresher, $89 per dog. Keeps avoidance sharp year over year. We recommend a refresher once or twice a year, ideally before hiking season.
    • More than one dog? Add additional dogs in the same scheduling window and bring the whole crew through together.

    Want to bundle snake avoidance with a camp stay, boarding, or private lessons? We will put together one plan and one quote for your dog.

    Book Your SessionBundle With a Program

    Our Method

    Real Snakes, Real Desert, Real Avoidance

    We train with live, intact rattlesnakes secured in double-mesh cages, so your dog learns the real sight, sound, and scent without ever coming within reach. More than 18,000 dogs trained since the early 2000s, and every lesson is read to the dog in front of us.

    Video preview: snake avoidance training with real rattlesnakes at our Cave Creek desert facility
    Wide view of the outdoor desert training field with a handler working near equipment and dogs, showing the experienced staff and controlled setting behind our standards.

    Our Standards

    Your Dog's Life Is in Our Hands

    There are far too many variables in rattlesnake avoidance to leave anything to chance, which is why we require our lead instructors to complete a minimum of two years of training before they run a session. That experience lets them read and adapt to every situation that can come up with a dog and a live snake.

    Only hand-picked trainers join our snake avoidance team, and we hold them to a high standard because we take your dog's safety seriously. The result is a calm, controlled session and a clear avoidance lesson that lasts.

    Schedule Your Dog's Training

    From Arizona Families

    What Dog Owners Say

    Partners is rated 4.8 stars across more than 2,000 reviews from Arizona dog families. Read what snake avoidance clients say below, then pick a session time while spring slots are open.

    Scottsdale

    Janet S. Jul 2026 Google

    Always a great experience. Staff are dedicated to the dogs and are extremely helpful.

    Read on Google
    Leslie L. Jul 2026 Google

    Very nice welcome. My dog's name was on the welcome sign out front with other dogs names coming in today. Nicole was very personable and informative as to what the assessment would entail. Upon pick up I saw a video of my dog in playtime and what she would benefit in training. Felt confident to sign up for training camp.

    Read on Google
    Judith K. Jun 2026 Google

    Daisy loves going to daycare, rather than stay at home alone, when I'm gone all day. She gets to play with all the other pups & her favorite humans! She even gets some training during her stay.

    Read on Google
    Chris K. Jun 2026 Google

    Going to Partners Dog training was the best decision I’ve made since adopting my pup. She was night and day after her training camp and she loves to go to doggy daycare. The staff/trainers are very helpful and professional. You can tell they’ve been doing this for a while.

    Read on Google
    Barbara M. Jun 2026 Google

    Great staff and attitude. The dogs love their day there.

    Read on Google
    Carol S. Jun 2026 Google

    Hi German Shepherd, Strider has been going to Partners Dog Training since he was a puppy. I have been so happy with the training he has received there! Everyone there has been so wonderful and caring! I have learned so much in how to be a good dog parent! We have done the agility course, Private lessons, Boot Camp, group lessons, daycare, and boarding at this facility..I highly recommend Partners if you want your dog to sharpen his skills and be a great obedient companion!

    Read on Google

    Cave Creek

    Joey S. Jul 2026 Google

    First time boarding our two German Shepherds at Partners for a 7 day stay, and we couldn't be happier. Both dogs have medical conditions and take multiple medications, so finding a place that truly pays attention to detail was important. Megan and her team were fantastic, good communication, and thoughtful care. We'll definitely be using them again. Here's a picture of our two tired pups after coming home 🙂

    Read on Google
    Cathi T. Jul 2026 Google

    I absolutely love this place, from the loving attention they get to the discipline they get when they behave badly! They pay close attention to our dog's special needs, and they come home exhausted. Every single employee seems to love the dogs, too 😁

    Read on Google
    Lauren B. Jun 2026 Google

    Highly recommend their foundations board and train camp!! Not only did our puppy come back home with new obedience skills, but he has LOVED coming back for doggie daycare days (INCLUDED in the foundations package!). The team here is top of the line and so caring! It's such a great feeling knowing we invested in our pup and trusted experts to make him feel confident and cared for!

    Read on Google
    Lindsey H. Jun 2026 Google

    I recently brought my young dog in for snake avoidance training, I am not going to lie.. I was a little skeptical because we were in and out of there in a couple of minutes. Well tonight while out for our last potty break before bed we walked past a bush and heard a rattle…. My dog jumped back and ran the other way. Very pleased with the results and will definitely be back for a refresher course!

    Read on Google
    Lisa B. May 2026 Google

    The training experience teaches you the handler how to communicate to your dog your needs from them and the trainers help you understand what your dog needs to learn. It’s amazing team work, never boring because they change things up and the experiences are priceless being around different dogs humans and environment is so helpful.

    Read on Google
    Toni M. May 2026 Google

    Very pleased with how wonderful Rachel and all her assistants trained my rambunctious puppy, Jasper! Am also impressed with the follow up to instill all that he has learned.

    Read on Google
    Book Your Session

    Pairs Well With

    Add Snake Avoidance to a Bigger Plan

    • Foundation Camp A 14-night board and train reset for manners and obedience. Add snake avoidance during the stay and handle both in one drop-off.
    • Boarding Book snake avoidance during an overnight stay so your dog comes home rested and desert-ready.
    • Private Lessons One-on-one coaching for the recall and leash skills that keep your dog close on the trail.
    • PD360 Assessment A $199 full-picture evaluation with a plan, credited when you enroll in your recommended camp or membership.
    Just Need Snake Avoidance? Book Now
    A relaxed Great Pyrenees in a calm down-stay on a green field with an orange long-line, a clean photocard image for bundling programs together.

    Want to Bundle Snake Avoidance With Camp or Boarding?

    Combine rattlesnake avoidance with a camp stay, boarding, or private lessons and we will put together one plan and one quote for your dog.

    New to Partners? A PD360 Assessment for $199 gives you a full picture of your dog and a plan, and the fee is credited when you enroll in your recommended camp or membership.

    Build Your Program Call 480-595-6700

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much does rattlesnake avoidance cost?

    A first session is $109 per dog and an annual refresher is $89 per dog. Choose First Timer or Refresher right in the scheduler above and add more dogs in the same window.

    How long does rattlesnake avoidance training take?

    Each session runs about 15 to 20 minutes. We schedule every time slot individually, so there is usually only a short queue of three to four dogs ahead of you. Most owners are in and out within the hour.

    Is it safe for my dog?

    Yes. We train with live, intact Diamondback rattlesnakes, not defanged or milked, and every snake is secured in a double-mesh wire cage the entire time, so a snake can never touch your dog. The e-collar stim is set and timed by an instructor with at least two years of avoidance training experience, and we have safely trained more than 18,000 dogs since the early 2000s.

    Does the training hurt my dog?

    No. The e-collar delivers a brief, low-level stim that startles rather than harms, timed precisely by an experienced instructor. The goal is a clear, lasting avoidance association so your dog steers well clear of snakes on its own.

    When is rattlesnake season in Arizona, and when should I book?

    Rattlesnake season in Arizona runs March through October. The best time to train is before your next hike, not after a close call. Most families book in early spring before peak season, and the scheduler above shows every open slot at Scottsdale and Cave Creek.

    How often does my dog need a refresher?

    We recommend a refresher once or twice a year, ideally before desert hiking season. At the end of every session your instructor tells you exactly when your dog should come back based on how it responded.

    Can I bring more than one dog?

    Yes. Add additional dogs in the same scheduling window and bring the whole crew through together. Many Arizona families run all of their dogs through before hiking season.

    Browse All FAQs