Living in Sydney means sharing the landscape with Australia’s native reptiles. Among them, snakes are the ones that prompt the most concern. Understanding snake behaviour, risks, and how to respond can help protect people, pets, and wildlife. At Sydney Snake Catcher, we believe education is one of the best tools in keeping everyone safe. This guide covers everything from how dogs and snakes interact to prevention tips, emergency care, and how our professional snake removal works across Sydney.
Many calls to snake catchers are triggered by pets—especially dogs—encountering snakes. While snakes generally do not seek confrontations, dogs often provoke or aggravate snakes by chasing or cornering them. Snakes don’t have claws or limbs; their only form of defence is a bite. They don’t target dogs as prey—they bite out of fear when they feel threatened or trapped. Because dogs may lead with their face when approaching, bites often occur in vulnerable areas like the mouth, gums, or tongue, where venom can spread more rapidly. In Sydney, snake bites in dogs are more common than many expect. A tragic case in Middle Dural involved three Jack Russell Terriers that attacked a Red-Bellied Black Snake. All three dogs died, along with the snake. In many cases, bites result from dogs initiating contact rather than snakes proactively attacking.
Symptoms of a snake bite in a dog can escalate quickly. Some early warning signs include sudden collapse or weakness, trembling or muscle twitching, paralysis especially in the hind legs, excessive salivation or foaming at the mouth, progressive lethargy, difficulty breathing, bleeding or swelling at a suspected bite site, dilated pupils or altered gait. If you notice any of these signs, do not delay—an immediate veterinary review is essential. Always inform the vet staff that a snake bite is suspected.
If your dog is bitten, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do. Do keep your dog as still and calm as possible to slow venom spread. Rush to the nearest vet straight away. Try to immobilise the bitten limb if known. Loosely wrapping the limb can help but never apply a tight tourniquet. Remove jewellery, collars, or items that may constrict swelling. Avoid washing the bite site, as trace venom may help confirm diagnosis. Don’t cut, suck, or attempt to drain venom. Don’t apply heat or cold packs. Never use a tight tourniquet. Don’t let your dog run or move excessively. Time is of the essence for snake bite emergencies in dogs. The sooner veterinary care is given, the better the prognosis.
Prevention is always better than cure. Here are practical measures you can take to reduce risk. Supervise dogs outdoors and keep them on leash in bushy or grassy areas. Train reliable recall so they don’t chase wildlife. Maintain your yard by trimming tall grass, removing leaf litter, wood piles, and clutter that provide shelter for snakes. Fence off risk areas like under decks and sheds. Remove prey attractors such as rodents, frogs, and bird feed that may draw snakes. Avoid walking dogs at dusk or night when many snakes are active. Teach your family, especially children, about snake safety. By making your property less hospitable to snakes and training your dog responsibly, you dramatically reduce the likelihood of dangerous encounters.
When a snake enters your property, calling a professional is your safest option. Sydney Snake Catcher operates as a 24/7 emergency service across Sydney, the Illawarra, the Blue Mountains, and surrounding areas. Our call-out fee is not a capture fee—once you engage us, a licensed catcher attends your property regardless of whether the snake remains visible. We aim to arrive within an hour and provide ETA updates along the way. It’s helpful if you or someone else keeps eyes on the snake from a safe distance, as this makes location and capture much more efficient. Once on site, our trained catcher assesses the area, uses the correct equipment to ensure safety, and relocates the snake humanely into suitable habitat. If the snake moves on before we arrive, the call-out still applies because the emergency service, professional attendance, and risk management have been provided.
