Cara, sorry to hear about your dogs, that stinks.

Diva, it sounds like if your dog's personality changes when you get to the place where the training occurs, that is less than ideal. Your dog understands that this is a training facility and is on high alert. It knows what is going to happen. May react differently in the "real world". I think it would be better if the training location changed every year.

But, I am no expert. Glad I don't have to deal with snakes.