"Snakes are scary because they bite you!"

[Snagrio]

My baby BP that I've had since September: Never bitten me once and never even attempted to after the first week.

My sister's Aussiedoodle puppy that I watch most weekdays for barely over a month thus far: Constantly tries to treat my hands like chew toys despite my best efforts to the point where I'm starting to get scars over scars.

But sure, it's the snakes that are super scary and dangerous.

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

Yep. People should really be careful around those fearocious garter snakes!

[Bogertophis]

Ouch, puppy teeth are sharp! They hurt for sure, & since puppies are still learning what's what. It helps if you "yipe" when they hurt you, so they have some feedback & learn, as they get when playing with other puppies. When you have just one puppy, it NEEDS to learn these things, even if it means pretending you're another dog, lol.

[Crowfingers]

lol, yeah...I work at a vet clinic and so many people come in for "snake bites" or "snake attacks"...(occasionally there is a venomous snake bite, but never super serious) - it's much more often bee stings, abscess from fights with other mammals, etc

I just like to picture the deadly rattlesnake flying through the air like a spear from its hiding spot in woods and attacking a dog...

I've also heard the "snakes are super mean and will chase you"

[Bogertophis]

I'll never forget my very first vet visit with a snake: My vet came in with his hand bandaged & still bleeding from the cat he just saw, yet bravely willing to face the snake I'd brought in. He need not have worried, my snake was a total pacifist- in fact, none of my snakes have ever tried to bite a vet, no matter what. But snakes get all the bad reputations.

[Toad37]

My favorite question I get from people about my snakes when they see them is "do they bite"? To which I reply "how do you eat a cheeseburger? You bite it. Everything bites"! Non reptile people just assume that these animals hold some sort of malice towards humans! But never want to talk about the daily dog attacks on people lol.

[Bogertophis]

My favorite question I get from people about my snakes when they see them is "do they bite"? To which I reply "how do you eat a cheeseburger? You bite it. Everything bites"! Non reptile people just assume that these animals hold some sort of malice towards humans! But never want to talk about the daily dog attacks on people lol.

I often get "how many times have you been bitten?" I've only kept ??? number of snakes for 3.5+ decades...do you really think I know? None that were memorable enough to "count" though! I need to remember to ask them back "how many paper cuts have you had in the last 35 years?" WHAT? You didn't keep track??? Hahahaha!

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

People always ask if I've been bitten by a snake and I say "Oh yeah several times, I've also been bitten by dogs, cats, rats, bunnies, gerbils, birds, horses, and small children. If it has a mouth it probably will bite you."

I too have heard of snakes chasing people. I've also heard that if you are scared then they will attack you for no apparent reason.

[Bogertophis]

People always ask if I've been bitten by a snake and I say "Oh yeah several times, I've also been bitten by dogs, cats, rats, bunnies, gerbils, birds, horses, and small children. If it has a mouth it probably will bite you."

I too have heard of snakes chasing people. I've also heard that if you are scared then they will attack you for no apparent reason.

And don't forget, "they can SMELL FEAR!"

[Snagrio]

Ouch, puppy teeth are sharp! They hurt for sure, & since puppies are still learning what's what. It helps if you "yipe" when they hurt you, so they have some feedback & learn, as they get when playing with other puppies. When you have just one puppy, it NEEDS to learn these things, even if it means pretending you're another dog, lol.

Tried your advice and it actually sort of worked. Emphasis on "sort of." It's all really but a distraction game to keep their attention on attacking the toys and not, well, my flesh.

And don't forget, "they can SMELL FEAR!"

Isn't there some genuine truth to that sort of thing? Not so much that they smell fear but there seems to be this overriding phenomenon across many types of animals that they can sense if a person is scared of them. And that animal will potentially act accordingly because fear means unpredictability and they're readying themselves for the worst. Whereas if a well-adjusted animal is around someone who's calm and confident with animals, they know it's safe to be relaxed in turn.