South Florida Dog Training

The practice of "toad-licking" has evolved into an urban legend – that the venom secreted through the skin of some toads cause hallucinations. In fact, the venom has been cultivated for generations to be used for medicinal purposes in human beings.

However, the venom is highly toxic to pets. Dogs, which are the most likely pet to come into contact with a toad, have a high probability of dying if untreated. The Colorado River toad and the giant toad (also called the marine toad) are the two most common venomous toads found in the United States.

The Colorado River toad can be found along large streams in the southwestern United States, from Arizona to southern California (and Mexico). This toad wouldn't win any awards for beauty; its brown/green skin is usually covered with warts. They grow to be about three to seven inches long. The giant toad is not as common, but can be found in south Texas and Florida.

How to Get Rid of Frogs in your Yard

Frogs are great for most gardens because they eat all sorts of bugs, but, there can be an explosion of frogs or toads and cause misery for the home owner and their pets. There are many countries in the world with a bad problem with species of frogs and toads and two are Hawaii (they are using caffeine to kill them) and Australia.

Yes, frogs can kill your pets if eaten because they exude a toxic substance from their skin or just around the frogs eyes.

Here are some helpful hints:

Find out on the internet what type of frogs you have and when they lay their eggs. You can then use a fish net (like you would use for your aquarium) and scoop up tadpoles. You can either lay them on the cement or lawn in full sun so they'll die, or bury them.

BE HUMANE! Frogs are good for a lot of things, but don't spray chemicals on them because it's a long and painful death for them and the chemicals WILL NOT kill them immediately! The best method to rid yourselves of the frogs is to get rid of the egg stage as I've suggest above. Then catch the frogs with a net, put them in a container in the refrigerator overnight which causes the toad to go into a coma-like state. Then move the container to the freezer the next morning and freeze until the next garbage collection day or freeze it for a couple of days and then bury them in the backyard compost bin or garden bed.

Get together with your neighbours and go "frog hunting" using the freezing method. Some neighbors may have an extra refrigerator and freezer. Frogs in containers WILL NOT damage or contaminate your food in the fridge or freezer if put in containers.

Remove any wood piles, old lumber or pots from ground level. Frogs and Toads live in dark, damp, places during the daytime and hunt in the evening hours. If you remove their favorite haunts they will move on.

If you have a lot of ferns, shrubs, etc., around your property or near a pool then get rid of them. Use potted plants around the pool or pond area for added attraction.

Keep pet food inside the house. Frogs have been known to help themselves to a free meal from a dog's dish. If you feed your pet outside, pick up any uneaten food before evening comes.

Empty water bowls, ground-level birdbaths or other containers that have standing water. Frogs are attracted to moisutre. Any standing water is an open invitation. (This step will also eliminate mosquitoes from your garden, but be advised, toads eat mosquitos, so once they have moved on, you may be plagued with an invasion of pesky insects.)

If you use pesticides in your garden, you will kill frogs and toads. Their skin is a permeable membrane making them very susceptible to toxic chemicals.

In the evening shut-off all outdoor lights (that means lights in your gardens as well as porch lights) and also close all drapes or curtains in the house. Bugs are attracted to light and the frogs are attracted to the bugs. Use bug zappers outside on your porch and if the frogs are coming into the house kill all flies or gnats that are in your home. Once the food source is eliminated the frogs will disappear.

We are K9 ADVISORS Dog Training in Hollywood, Florida with trainers all across Florida. K9 ADVISORS Dog Training has trained thousands of dogs all over Florida in basic to advanced training, protection training, therapy training, and service dog training. No matter what your needs are we will train your dog to fit your needs, regardless of age, size or breed. Call for a FREE consultation!

My specialties are:

• Solving Severe Dog Behavior Problems
• Training Advanced, Off-Leash, Obedience
• Developing Obedient Family Protection Dogs
• Executive Protection
• Training Dogs for Business Owners and Families.

The advantage to working with me is that the dog will be trained in an extensively tested system that works! Any owner will see amazing results in the very first lesson. Contact me today to schedule an appointment for your dog's training.