Copperheads aren’t super willing to use full boogie venom for most first bites. The first is dry to mild. Even though they are almost the same snake as a Cottonmouth they aren’t aggressive usually. That is why people sometimes get bitten and say they never saw the snake, they step on one that just trying to be still and escape being noticed.
Dogs who grab snakes can sometimes be bitten multiple times and when the snake realizes it is a serious attack they give you the full squirt.
@armorpl8chikn lost a dog to this once I believe.
Fun fact, Cottonmouth snakes and Copperheads can interbreed. They’re called “Cottonheads”.
