Bufo Toads, Gators & Snakes: “Leave It” Training for Southwest Florida Dogs
Living in Southwest Florida means sharing the yard with some wildlife that can be dangerous to dogs. The best protection is a mix of simple routines and a few rock-solid skills.
By MJ Stoltz, ABCDTIACP Professional MemberUpdated November 2026Emergency? Call your vet first.
If your dog has mouthed a toad, been bitten by a snake or been near an alligator and seems hurt, call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency vet right away. For a toad, wipe your dog’s gums and tongue outward with a damp cloth while you call. I’m a dog trainer, not a vet. This page is about prevention.
Cane toads: the yard danger most new Floridians don’t know about
Cane toads, often called Bufo toads, release a toxin from glands behind their eyes when a dog mouths or bites them. It can make a dog seriously ill very quickly, and smaller dogs are especially at risk.
How to spot one
- Bigger than native toads, often 4 to 6 inches or more
- Brown, tan or gray, with large swollen glands behind the eyes
- Out at night, after rain, and near porch lights and pet bowls
Simple yard routines
- Do a flashlight check of the yard before night-time potty breaks, especially in the rainy season.
- Keep your dog on leash for that last trip outside, even in a fenced yard.
- Bring food and water bowls inside at night. Toads like to sit in them.
- Turn off porch lights you don’t need. Lights draw bugs, and bugs draw toads.
The three skills that keep Florida dogs safe
1. Leave it
“Leave it” tells your dog to look away from something and not touch it. We start with something boring, like a treat in a closed hand, and reward your dog the moment they back off. Then we work up to items on the floor, things on walks, and eventually tempting things out in the yard. The goal is a dog who turns away from a toad, a dead fish on the shore or a dropped chicken bone the moment you ask.
2. Drop it
If something does end up in your dog’s mouth, “drop it” gets it out fast. We teach it as a great trade, so your dog is happy to spit things out instead of running off with them.
3. Recall
A dog who comes back the first time you call can be pulled away from a snake in the grass or the edge of a pond before trouble starts. We build recall in layers, from the living room to the backyard to busier places, so it holds up when it really counts.
These skills are part of every program I offer, from Puppy Foundations to Essentials. My blog post on teaching your dog to come when called is a good place to start.
Around ponds, canals and tall grass
- Keep dogs leashed and back from the water’s edge at retention ponds, canals, lakes and rivers. Alligators can be in almost any body of fresh or brackish water in Florida.
- No swimming in fresh or brackish water, and take extra care around dawn and dusk.
- Stick to paths and keep your dog out of tall grass and brush near water, where snakes like to hide.
- Use a short leash rather than a long or retractable one near water and brush, so you can steer your dog away quickly.
- See a nuisance alligator? Report it to the FWC Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
Wildlife Safety FAQ
What should I do if my dog bites or licks a Bufo toad?
Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency vet right away. While you're calling, wipe your dog's gums and tongue with a damp cloth, wiping outward, to remove as much toxin as you can. Don't spray a hose down your dog's throat. Signs can include drooling, pawing at the mouth, red gums, stumbling or seizures, and they can become serious quickly.
How can I tell a cane toad from a native toad?
Cane toads (also called Bufo or marine toads) are much bigger than Florida's native toads, often 4 to 6 inches or more, with large, swollen glands behind the eyes that slope down toward the shoulders. The University of Florida's rule of thumb: a toad over 4 inches in Florida is probably a cane toad.
When are toads most active in Southwest Florida?
Cane toads are most active at night and after rain, especially during the rainy season from spring through fall. Porch lights draw insects, and insects draw toads, so the last potty break of the night is the riskiest time.
How far should my dog stay from the water?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises keeping pets on a leash and away from the water's edge, and never letting them swim in fresh or brackish water where alligators may live. Be extra careful around dawn and dusk.
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