THOMASVILLE — People and pets aren’t the only ones coming out to enjoy the warmer weather this time of year. Snakes are, too.

“It’s a natural reaction for a dog to be curious, when it comes across a snake,” said Laurie Williams, owner of Dog Pond Kennels in Beachton, “but it can be a dangerous, if not lethal, encounter.”

In an effort to show dogs that snakes are dangerous and to teach them to stay away from them, Dog Pond Kennels and the Florida Panhandle German Shorthaired Pointer Club is hosting a snake avoidance clinic on Saturday and Sunday.

The clinic will be led by Dr. Bud Calderwood, a retired veterinarian from Alachua, Florida.

For more than 20 years, Calderwood has hosted similar clinics all over Georgia and Florida.

He described encounters between dogs and snakes as, “big problems, expensive problems.”

He said he has personally treated 50 dogs for snake bites and knows of many others.

“It is very common in this area of the country,” he said.

According to Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), of the 46 species of snakes known from Georgia, six species are venomous: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber/Canebrake Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake and Eastern Coral Snake. DNR’s literature on Georgia snakes showed that all six of these venomous snakes are found in parts of Thomas County and Grady County, to varying degrees.

The clinic is open to any breed — pets and hunting dogs.

Dogs will be trained to associate the smell, sound and sight of a snake with negative re-enforcement.

Calderwood uses a live rattlesnake and a moccasin that have been de-fanged and whose mouths have been taped shut to give dogs a realistic, yet safe presentation. The dog will see the snake move, smell it and even hear the rattlesnake’s distinctive rattle.

Forty-five to 50 dogs usually participate in this kind of clinic.

The snakes are placed in cool shady areas, according to Williams, and are rested periodically. According to Calderwood, the Humane Society has evaluated the program and did not find anything wrong with it.

The dogs are fitted with an e-collar, similar to the collars used for electronic pet containment systems. The handler leads the dog throughout the course on a leash.

According to Williams, Calderwood applies the correction at just the right moment for the dog to associate the correction with the snake.

“The dogs learn being near the snake is not a comfortable area. We teach the dog not to go to the snake, so they make the right decision later,” Williams said.

The dog is then led back through the course to gauge its reaction to subsequent snake encounters.

Williams said this is the second time she has hosted a snake clinic and plans on having them twice a year — once in the spring and once in the fall.

“Customers have shown so much interest,” she said, “we want to make this training available to them.”

Dog Pond Kennels was founded by Williams and her husband, Glen. It is located between Thomasville and Tallahassee, Florida, in the Beachton area at 242 Walker Lane. Dog Pond Kennels offers individualized training programs for hunting retrievers, upland gun dogs and companion dogs, plus all breed boarding in a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled kennel. Dog Pond trains and competes in both AKC and UKC hunt test venues.

The cost of the clinic is $45 per dog. As of Monday, a few spots were open during the Sunday clinic. Those interested should contact Roxann Campbell at 850-321-8276.