Donkey Behavior

Help My Donkey Is Running At Me His ears Back Teeth Showing

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Donkeys have photographic memories. Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys are seriously into self-preservation. Perhaps you are new to donkeys and at first your donkey was quiet and nice and then all of a sudden the donkey started getting pushy. Donkeys can canter like a horse, trot, and walk like a horse. But never think a donkey is a horse as they are not a horse a donkey is a donkey.

Donkeys ears can go back, forward, the flying nun or one forward one back. This does not mean the donkey is angry every time. We must learn to read the eyes, body language. Our donkeys come running to say hello with their ears back as they are thinking. When playing or fighting ears are back. Learn to study your donkeys eyes. Learn signs of relaxation and stress and more.

Never give a treat when the equine is pushing you to give it. Give the treat when they are relaxed and have earned the treat, calm and respectfully. My horse must turn her head away from me to get a treat this helps her think before trying to bully the treat out of my hand. Lot’s of ways you can get your timing ready to teach the equine to receive the treat use your creativity to plan ahead and teach them to accept the treat. All of my equine come to me when called without a food treat. Our donkeys and horses  get the physical, mental and emotional treat of me loving on them, brushing them, talking to them, picking their hooves and taking them for a walk.

Donkeys cannot kick or bite you if your timing is great, they are looking to see if you are a leader or a follower. Each time you are with your equine you are the human leader, you have the human mind put your cell phone away, job away, kids away and just be in the moment with your equine. I say “You must be plugged into your equine to stay safe and be a great leader.”

Equine are gifts from GOD be grateful for them as each day is indeed precious and fragile.

Select OUR STORE  to order E-VIDEO Training and our custom fit donkey soft yacht rope halter/lead lines, long lines, riding reins.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

 

Ten Things Donkeys Want You To Know

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   1. Most important – Please don’t beat me or punish me for being slow and not moving fast enough, unlike the horse I can think all the time. If I overreact understand I am stressed. 

2.  I enjoy being talked to, brushed, and loved on when I am sure you will not hurt me. I will not eat if stressed. I am a donkey, donkeys are seriously into self-preservation.

3.  I learn differently from the horse I am a visual learner.  I learn by watching from an honor horse, mule, or another honor donkey or you doing something with me standing and watching at a safe distance.  Please walk away from me with scary new things and let me come to you on my time I am scared of new things and need you to slow down.

4. I prefer clean water, warm water in the winter and low sugar, protein hay as I gain weight fast I was created to live in the desert.

5. I am really smart please do not leave me all alone, give me a companion I prefer a donkey but will take a horse or mule.

6. I need my hooves trimmed just like the horse.

7. I need my teeth taken care of just like the horse. I need a vet check once a year.

8. Please feed me at least two small meals a day when I am on a dry pasture and never feed me alfalfa hay or grass clippings.

9. I like to play with toys, orange traffic cone, feed bowl, or jolly ball I am smart and get bored easy just like you.

10.  I am special GOD gave me a cross on my back and I am the only animal in the bible GOD gave the ability to talk.

To learn more go to our Donkey Education Center.

Stay On Donkey Time ®

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Scratch

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Introducing Rocket Man, a miniature donkey gelding, he just turned twenty-six years old. Rocket Man has been in our life since he was thirteen years old. When Rio our Mammoth donkey was weaned from his mom, Rio bonded to Rocket Man. Rocket Man was a jack on the breeding farm in his early years.

Rocket Man has the ability to sing when talking and he can bray. He is the only donkey on our farm that sings and he can find anything to get that special spot for a scratch. He is a super special donkey. Did you know some donkeys never bray? Yes, the introverted donkey does not bray. Rio our Mammoth donkey has never ever let out a full-bray and he is fourteen years old. If you would like to learn more about donkey behavior and donkey training please take a look at Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand. Sold with lifetime access.  Select Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Store to browse now.

Remember to stay On Donkey Time ® when interacting with your donkey. Life is better with donkeys!

Donkeys Licking Lips

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Preventing colic is one of the most important things we can do for the stoic donkey, stoic meaning will not show pain until it is too late in most cases. We provide free lose granular salt, clean water, and tested hay in a slow feeder. All three miniature donkeys in the video below just licked some lose salt. Read my blog salt lose is better.

If you are looking for a donkey halter made to fit a donkey, please go to our store. We provide outstanding quality and a perfect fit each time.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Kiang Donkeys

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Where Do Kiang Donkeys Live?

Kiang is the common name for a wild member of the horse family Equidae, Equus kiang, the largest of the wild asses, characterized by distinctive patches of white on the neck, chest, and shoulder, as well as long legs and an erect mane. Native to the Tibetan Plateau, where it inhabits high-altitude montane and alpine grasslands, commonly from 2,700 to 5,400 meters elevation.

Select https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kiang to read more.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Education Made Easy

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Donkey Whisperer Farm ® On-Line Learning Is The Leader For On-Line Education Worldwide!

Teach your donkey to have social skills and manners via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand. Use our soft yacht rope donkey halters with matching lead lines to speed up your donkey’s learning time.

Teach your donkey to follow you as a fair leader, not a treat dispenser, bully or abuser. Melody Johnson trains the owner or caretaker on how to scan the donkey for stress, relaxation, and naughty behavior and get your donkey excited to learn and follow you as a leader.

Teach your donkey to have excellent manners and act like a partner for the basics while standing for the vet, farrier, and traveling to new places. Call your donkey and watch your donkey run to you, stand and not leave you! Donkeys are intelligent, donkeys train the owner to do exactly what the donkey wants to do and nothing more.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Behavior

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GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkeys Have Personalities

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Did you know animals have personalities?

Donkeys are born with their unique personality, extroverts are more go than whoa. Introvert more whoa than go. Did you know introvert donkeys do not bray? Yes, it’s true the true deep introvert donkey will make a little bit of noise but will never let out a full bray.

Training the introvert takes a bunch of patience and a plan. Why? Everything the introvert does new takes longer to process the information and learn to trust. The donkeys’ gift is the ability to problem-solve and think. Donkeys do not want to do anything that may or may not hurt them or worse kill them. The horse’s gift is speed. Horses when scared fart, poop, and run.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Is Bonded To Cows

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Donkeys usually prefer to live with their own species. Donkeys have photogenic memories, they remember good and bad memories forever. If a donkey is forced to live with just a cow or a bunch of cows in a field without another donkey and later in life, the donkey is re-homed into a herd of donkeys and cows more than likely the donkey will want to hang out more with the cow. Why? For so many years the donkey lived with the cows without a donkey companion, no doubt guarding the cows against coyotes or predators as this was his/her job. Most of these guarding donkeys have never had any hoof trims, teeth checked, fecal samples, and shots, etc., These donkeys have no idea what a halter/lead line is or what a human can do for the donkey. The donkey prefers to shadow what is familiar and safe in his her mind.

Rehabilitation for this donkey will take having a plan and being patient. I suggest Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand, my stick, and string and my halter/lead line. Take one of your honor donkeys into training with this donkey. Why? The honor donkey will have calm energy and this donkey will learn visually as all donkeys are visual learners. Let this donkey see you taking the honor donkey for walks, brushing, and lots of massages. Donkeys learn by watching. It is important to move into the next step of placing your hands on the donkey and training the donkey in short sessions outlined in Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand.

Can this donkey become a trained donkey to take a walk on the halter and lead line and get his feet trimmed? Yes! The owner will need to learn donkey behavior and how to train the donkey and become a much-needed asset to the donkey. This donkey has never had human care much about him other than throwing hay out and give water and salt.

Thank you for investing in your donkey,

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

10 Things About Donkeys You Most Likely Did Not Know

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Donkeys are livestock guardians

This is wrong! Very few donkeys make great livestock guardians. Please get a livestock guarding dog to protect your livestock. Donkeys will guard the animals they are bonded to if they are big enough. A miniature donkey is too small to guard anything. Domesticated dogs can kill a miniature donkey. Donkeys bond for life to their own species. If a donkey is placed in with a flock of sheep that it does not know, the donkey may grab the neck of the sheep and kill it. This is not a bad donkey it is simply donkey behavior. Donkeys do best when they get to live with another donkey. Donkeys will kill newborn baby cows, sheep and goats, pigs etc., so best to keep the babies away from donkeys. Donkeys grab the neck of another donkey in play and in battle, play tug with a ball, sleep, drink and eat together basically book ends. Dogs, most donkeys do not like dogs they resemble the wolf and coyote. We have hot wire fences to keep our donkeys in and the dogs out. Sadly farmers end up burying the donkey, re-sell give away a donkey who has not performed the job as livestock guarding to their satisfaction.

Donkey Diet & Care

Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys need a serious diet and cannot eat all day and night on pasture or brush. Most livestock is fed an extremely rich diet full of grains and lush pasture. Donkeys who are fed rich food or overfed grass or brush will get insulin resistance, white line disease, fat deposits on the body, neck gets fat and can break over, hoof abscesses, laminitis. Hoof abscesses are common with a rich diet, the liver fails and soon the donkey dies a painfully slow death. Donkeys are stoic and will never show pain until it is too late.

Hay and all forage must be tested to come in at 10% or lower in sugar and protein along with portion control as donkeys gain weight quickly. Donkeys need shelter, clean water, warm in freezing climates and salt. Donkeys do not do well standing in the rain with no shelter due to their thick fur. Some donkeys need a blanket as they cant take the freezing temperatures and this blanket needs to be changed and checked. Donkeys need their hooves trimmed, vet care teeth, shots, fecal sample before worming spring and summer.

Donkeys need great fences and locks as donkeys can visually watch you do something and repeat the task.

Donkeys Are Intelligent, Not Stubborn

Donkeys are not flight animals like horses, most donkeys do not react to physical force to do a task. Donkeys push into pressure. Donkeys can freeze when scared or fight back. Please take the time to learn donkey behavior and personality. Extroverts bray and have more go than whoa, introverts do not bray and have more whoa than go. I teach about this in Donkey 102 video on demand. Donkeys need to see a reason for everything they do. Since donkeys evolved from the desert they learned how to survive with their mind as they do not have the speed of a horse to outrun the predator. Donkeys are deep thinkers game players. I call this ON DONKEY TIME ®. The donkey will never do anything that can hurt the donkey. Self-preservation is number one to a donkey. Donkeys ears back can mean anger, thinking, happy to see you. Learn to read the eyes of your donkey not the ears. The horse will jump off the grand canyon when scared, the donkey will not, do you see the difference? A donkeys’ gift is not sped it is a brain that can problem-solve to stay alive.

Donkeys are incredibly strong.

Donkeys have a reputation for being strong pack animals and while this is true, they are not stronger than another animal of the same size. Donkeys can only hold up to 20% of their weight. Donkeys must be full-grown and conditioned to do heavy work.

When Is A Donkey Full-Grown?

Miniature Donkeys age three

Standard or Burro age four

Mammoth Donkeys six to seven

If you would like to learn how to train your donkey go to the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® education center. Melody Johnson trains the owner or caretaker worldwide via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand, use your smartphone to take Melody to the farm with you.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Featured

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Blog

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Welcome donkey lovers, my name is Melody Johnson, I love donkeys. I began my business in 2013 after getting frustrated with the lack of tack and training available for donkeys. I am the voice for the donkey. I train the owner or caretaker worldwide how to tame and train the donkey using resistance-free exercises, never pain. I do not teach clicker training (R). I teach you how to use words, voice, facial expressions, timing and quality exercises that are powerful for you and your donkey to build a fantastic relationship. Donkeys are smart, not stubborn. Donkeys have a photographic memory. Donkeys bond for life to the animal or human they trust. Donkeys are gifts from God.  All of my training series (video on demand) is sold with lifetime access and can be accessed using any smart device, take me to the farm with you.  

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® E-Training Courses Order in our store Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

  1. Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand, print out my E-book located in the first video of all of my training series.
  2. Donkey hoof abscess video on demand. Print out my shopping list located in the first video.
  3. Donkey Trailer Loading video on demand. Print out my E-book located in the first video to speed up your learning time. I am training you to learn how to become a fair leader each time you step into your donkeys space.

Everything in my store is made with premium materials by hand in the U.S.A. All of my tack is made with soft yacht rope, each halter has a label with the size of halter and the perfect length lead line, a brass screw-on snap, and a black leather end-stamped Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. Miniature halters have a 6ft lead line, burro/standard a 9ft lead line. Mammoth donkeys, mules, horses come with a 12ft lead line. If you wish to customize your order simply ask I am happy to serve you.

Training a donkey is a bit different from a horse as donkeys are deep thinkers. Donkeys naturally push into pressure using our soft yacht rope halter with strategically placed fiador knots is a game-changer. Once you use our soft yacht rope halter and lead line you will never go back to the flat halter.

How can I clean my tack? Wash in a bucket of warm soapy water and dry. Donkey Whisperer Farm ® soft yacht rope is mildew, frail, dirt, rot, and UV resistant. This means that your tack will stay in its original form longer, without breaking, fading saving you money.

 

Thank you for investing in your donkey, 

Melody Johnson, Trainer, and Owner
E-mail melody@donkeywhisperer.com
Donkeywhisperer.com

“Horses Dream Of Being Trained The Way A Donkey Demands To Be Trained” Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Training

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Select Donkey Whisperer Farm to order donkey halters, tack, training tools, stick and string. Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand, take Melody Johnson to the farm with you using any smart device. You own lifetime access to the video vault.

Donkey 101 & 102 is available for sale now. Order from our store Check your spam or junk folder after ordering. Take me Melody Johnson to the farm with you using your smart phone or any smart device. Print out my E-BOOK a PDF located in the first video to speed up your training time. I train the owner or caretaker world-wide to train the donkey. 

Miniature Donkeys Playing

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Purchase Donkeys Playing Who’s The Boos From Our Store Donkey Whisperer Farm ® 

 

Bringing Your Donkey Home DONKEY CARE

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The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® proudly presents a free educational video “Bringing Your Donkey Home”

Introduction

1.Have a Plan

  1. Donkey Meets Human
  2. Pasture
  3. Pair Them Up
  4. Touching Donkey
  5. Environment
  6. Bio-security
  7. Shelter
  8. Gates and Locks
  9. Diet
  10. Manure
  11. Training
  12. Toys
  13. Vet & Farrier it’s a Team
  14. Emergency Preparedness

 

Why Is My Donkey Chasing Cows?

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Donkeys NEED a strong playmate to grab a hold of the neck, play tug with a food bowl and chase after.  Donkeys are not horses they are donkeys and they play different from the horse.  If you have a herd of cows and a donkey chasing after them I would say your donkey is bored and more than likely young and has no donkey to play with he/she is bored to death. Or a Jack (intact) donkey.

Two donkeys will play donkey games.

Never leave a donkey with baby sheep, goats or baby cows as the donkey can get bored and pick up the youngster by the neck donkeys play really rough and can kill the animal not big enough to defend itself.  Donkeys are not being crazy or mean they are just doing what donkeys do playing, they need a play mate that can play the way Donkeys play. Donkeys can and do kill baby sheep, calves, goats and dogs. 

Ideas To Stop This Behavior – Remember Donkeys Are Thinkers and They Get Bored Easy:

1.  Make sure your donkey has toys, black feed bowl or orange traffic cone – Donkeys like to play with their mouths all the time

2.  If your donkey is a Jack turn him into a John

3.  Please remember Donkeys go in two’s, get your donkey another donkey to play with and chase.  Size matters, pair the donkeys up fair. Diet is easier to manage this way too. Never ever leave your donkey with an animal too small as donkeys are just being donkeys they play really rough with their mouths and grab the neck of the playmate.  This is why donkeys have such thick necks compared to the horse as donkeys grab the neck of another donkey.

Please share information and enjoy your donkeys as donkeys are most happiest with another donkey and remember Donkeys are indeed precious gifts from GOD.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged.

Melody Johnson

https://donkeywhisperer.com

American Mammoth Jack Opening The Barn Door

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Donkeys Evolved From The Desert.

Thinking about bringing home a couple of donkeys?

Donkeys are smart not stubborn. Donkeys are visual learners meaning; Donkeys can watch you do something repetitively and repeat the process. Donkeys are wood eaters. Make sure you have excellent fences, gates and locks.

Donkeys love wood!

Please do not confuse eating wood as cribbing as its not. Donkeys evolved from the desert.

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm to learn more.

Miniature Donkey Rocket Man.

 

 

Stick and String – Donkey Training

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Stick And String 3FT & 4FT- Made in the U.S.A.

Donkey 102 Video

Thinking About Donkeys – Two Is The Majic Number

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TWO IS THE MAGIC NUMBER!

All equines are herd animals, but donkeys are especially bound by strong herd instincts. Donkey’s are considered “Species-Specific” which means they prefer to be with their own kind.

This is why two is a magic number. Two donkeys mean health, happiness and longevity. It has been shown that a single donkey, living alone, is more likely to suffer from psychological and physical health problems than two donkeys living together.

So, if you want less vet bills, less worry, a happy donkey and a healthy donkey, well, two is the magic number!

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Donkey Care

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To learn more go to Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.

Donkey Training “Say The Word Foot The Donkey Picks Up The Foot”

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Order from OUR STORE 

Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series is for students who have completed Donkey 101. Take an in-depth look into donkey personality, herd mentality, the rescued and traumatized donkey, how to pick up the front and back feet and various other problem solving techniques.

Donkey 102 contains 16 Videos with over 3 hours of training content by trainer Melody Johnson and our 11 page PDF outlining and highlighting core training points.

We are proud to announce our new Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series now available to all students who have purchased and practiced our Donkey 101 Online Training Course. Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series is for intermediate students and takes an in-depth look into donkey personality, herd mentality, the rescued and traumatized donkey, how to pick up the front and back feet and various other problem solving techniques.

1. Introduction
2. Making a Commitment to Your Donkey
3. Knowing the Signs of Stress and Fear in Your Donkey
4. Donkey Personality: Introvert or Extrovert?
5. Understanding Herd Mentality
6. The Rescued or Traumatized Donkey
7. Endorphins Versus Pain
8. Teaching Your Donkey to Tie and Stand		 9. Preparing Your Donkey for the Farrier/Veterinarian
10. Blanketing Your Donkey
11. The New DWF Training Tool Stick and String
12. When Your Donkey Does Not Respect You as a Leader
13. Picking Up Your Donkey’s Front Feet
14. Picking Up Your Donkey’s Back Feet
15. Having Fun with Games and Obstacles
16. Conclusion: Your Donkey is Waiting For You!