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Leave it: Dog trainers help pets avoid venomous snakes
Summary by The Piney Point Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Anita Snow, Associated Press , as published by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· August 1, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Piney Point Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Anita Snow, Associated Press, as published by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 1, 2026 Indexed here Aug 1, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway Ripley, a 2-year-old blue heeler mix, was trained using a simulated venomous bite from a western diamondback rattlesnake named Brian.
In a unique training session, a dog named Ripley learned to avoid venomous snakes. Ripley, a 2-year-old blue heeler mix, was trained using a simulated venomous bite from a western diamondback rattlesnake named Brian. The training was done using an electronic collar that delivered a quick shock to Ripley's neck.
The goal of the training was to teach Ripley to stay away from venomous snakes that can harm dogs. Brian, the snake used in the training, had his venom glands removed years ago, so Ripley was not in danger. Further details about the training session and Ripley's owners are available from the source.
The training was conducted by a dog trainer from Sublime Canine in Tucson, Arizona.
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About this story
As published by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Piney Point surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: August 1, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In a unique training session, a dog named Ripley learned to avoid venomous snakes. Ripley, a 2-year-old blue heeler mix, was trained using a simulated venomous bite from a western diamondback…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 1, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Piney Point readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Anita Snow, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Piney Point selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Piney Point, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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