Link Line, Walk Two Donkeys Using One Lead Line

Donkeys love to go for walks together! Introducing Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Link Line, walk two donkeys using one lead line. Order in our store at Donkey Whisperer Farm ® LINK LINE

Order Miniature Donkey Soft Yacht Rope Halter With Matching 6ft Lead Line, Stainless Steel Twist Safety Snap, Black Leather End.

Order Standard or Burro Donkey Soft Yacht Rope Halter With Matching 9ft Lead Line, Stainless Steel Twist Safety Snap, Black Leather End.

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Link line, made with premium soft yacht rope. Walk two donkeys close to the same height using one lead line attached to the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® soft yacht rope halter. The link line has two Stainless Steel (ss) scissor snaps spliced onto each end with a SS O ring spliced in the middle, the length is 24 inches. Size matters when using the link line, walk two miniature donkeys or two burro size donkeys of the same height. The link line will not work with a really short donkey and a tall donkey.

I highly recommend Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand to train your donkeys and our halter/lead lines are made to fit a donkey, not a horse. The stick and string are 3ft for miniature donkeys used in Donkey 102 as a training aide, extension of your arm never to hit the donkey to touch the donkey. The 4ft Stick and String for the burro/standard or Mammoth size donkey touch is never to hit used as an extension of your arm.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Are Donkeys Expensive To Care For

The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® has had donkeys and horses in our life since 2007, all of our donkeys and horses live in their forever home. We have experienced bringing home a baby donkey to sadly caring for the elderly donkeys and burying donkeys humanely. I am going to explain the truth about donkeys not the myth or the incorrect information shared on the internet and social media.

Watch my Free Youtube Video Bringing Your Donkey Home

Donkeys evolved from the desert the diet is one of the most important considerations in owning donkeys. Why? Donkeys were given the git to survive in the desert, over grazing, feeding the wrong foods will cause life threatening health issues for donkeys. Donkeys hooves are pointy unlike the horse as they were created to live in the desert. Donkeys cannot stand in urine, feces and mud without having hoof issues their thick fur coat needs to stay dry you must have a shelter. Think about what the donkey has to eat in the desert and you will have a clear understanding of why the donkey cannot graze on brush and grass and eat human breads, cookies, grains and oats without becoming obese and dying a painful death. Give lose free salt with minerals never vitamins. Please remember all hay or straw must be tested to come in at ten percent or lower in sugar and protein along with portion control. We can not look at hay by the color or the brand i.e., orchard, timothy or teff and know it is low in sugar and protein. Do not feed beet pulp or Alfalfa to a donkey. Low sugar/protein hay starts with the farmer making sure his soil has all the nutrients needed nitrogen and more. Cutting the field when the hay seeds have popped, and cutting on a gray day or early in the morning helps to ensure low Sugar and protein.

How can I find low sugar/protein hay?

Send hay samples off to Equine Analytical Lab before purchasing hay for the year. We use a slow feeder Hay Pillow fed inside the shelter locked inside of the High Country Plastic Slow Feeder. Feed two two meals a day morning and night is sufficient. When winter comes donkeys will need more meals to keep warm. Provide warm clean water using a heated bucket or bring warm water to your donkeys within 2 hours of feeding during freezing temperatures. Read Donkey Winter Care.

standard donkey
Mario and Luca

Donkey Shelter Big Enough For All Of Your Donkeys:

Donkeys need shelter to get out of the hot sun, wind, rain and snow. Make sure your shelter has a door that can open and close. Donkeys love to go in and out of the shelter when their food, water and lose salt is inside the shelter. Closing the door during fireworks, high winds and for teaching Donkey 101 & 102 video on demand is needed.

Quality fences and gates:

Donkeys are smart, they can watch us do something and repeat it. We use electro-braid hot wire for the paddocks and hot wire tracks. The exterior of our farm to keep neighborhood dogs and coyotes etc., out is Red Brand horse woven fence.

Storage for hay for one year:

After you test and find low sugar/protein hay testing 10% or lower in sugar and protein purchase enough hay to last one year.

Donkey Training:

I train the owner or caretaker how to tame and train the donkey via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand with my E-book to print out. Sold with lifetime access. If you require personal consulting and coaching hire me under Donkey Trainer.

Hoof Care:

Hooves need to be trimmed by a farrier or trimmer every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter.

Shots and Veterinarian Care Required:

All donkeys need a veterinarian to come to the farm at least once a year. If you do not have a vet doing preventative care you will not be able to call a vet in an emergency. Vets do not come to farms that are not their customers. In the spring the vet will come to give shots and dental care. The minimum shots given to our donkeys as they do not travel to shows or other farms are Rabies, West Nile and Tetanus. All donkeys need the vet to check their teeth, jaw and gums once a year. Do not skip this as this is one of the most important preventive care medical procedures needed. Why? Donkeys are stoic they will not show us pain or suffering until in most cases it is too late. Colic is preventable.

Worming Donkeys, Mules and Horses:

I collect poop samples from all of my equine and give them to my vet twice a year spring and fall. My vet tells me which wormer to give my donkeys based on the fecal count and the part of the world we each live in. Over worming causes resistant parasites and can make the immune system suffer. Do not over worm your equine.

Exercise is vital to your donkeys health. Create a track made out of hot wire connected back to the shelter and sacrifice paddock. Donkeys love to run and play on their track browsing and exploring.

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Spring Sale

Donkey Whisperer Farm Spring SALE
Donkey Whisperer Farm Spring SALE

Spring Sale! Spring is almost here get ready to take your donkeys out for walks this spring and summer. 🙂 Donkey 101, 102, and Trailer Loading Video On Demand Sold with lifetime access. Print out my e-book located in the first video of all of my training to speed up your training time. After you get your donkeys trained move into my Link Line, walk two donkeys using one lead line.

link line donkey
Link line, walk two donkeys using one led line

Order https://donkeywhisperer.com/shop/

Training Tip! Quality exercises take 20 minutes per donkey to teach end on a good note put your donkey(s) away. Your donkey will sit and think over and over process everything about the lesson you had with him or her. Do not drill (repeat over and over) until your donkey is panicked or bored) never push or pull on your donkey to teach how to walk. Teach words, walk-on, over, foot, back-up, and whoa. Stay On Donkey Time! Tomorrow your donkey will show you how smart he or she is. 🙂

After you study and practice Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand if you need personal coaching sign up in my store at Donkeywhisperer.com under Donkey Trainer. I am here to support all of my students worldwide. I want you to keep your donkeys in their forever home.

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Training

Are You A Treat Dispenser

Donkey Training
Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Are you a treat dispenser? What is it about donkeys that make us want to give them treats? Maybe it is because they are so darn adorable, maybe it is because they are so interpersonal, maybe it is because we want to earn their trust and be loved by them. Maybe it is because we don’t want to put a lot of time into them, so we bribe them when we need them to do something. Whatever the reason, most donkey owners and caretakers fall into the trap of becoming treat dispensers.

Here is what you risk when you give your donkey the desert equine treats:

1. Giving treats regularly to your donkey undermines their health and can be dangerous. Apples have a high concentrate of sugar and acid making them dangerous for colic. Horse cookies and treats sold in farm stores, as well as human foods such as cookies and crackers, are made of processed wheat, sugar, salt, and other nasty additives. All of these put your donkey at risk for metabolic disorders, such as Cushing’s Disease and Laminitis. You are also putting your donkey at risk for a choke and/or colic. A donkey’s digestive system is NOT designed for these foods and feeding such treats can lead to impaction, colic, and/or peritonitis.

2. Giving treats regularly to your donkey undermines your authority. Many owners and caretakers often find themselves in a dilemma: They don’t have a lot of time to spend with their donkey but they expect their donkey to come, lead, go through the gate, get their feet trimmed, and stand for the vet. If you haven’t put in the time and training chances are your donkey is not going to listen to you! Under pressure, or in desperation, you resort to bribing your donkey with treats. This completely undermines your leadership and reduces you to a beggar! If this is happening to you, PLEASE find the time to connect with your donkey and teach him/her basic manners and training. I train the owner or caretaker worldwise how to tame and train the donkey via Donkey 101, 102 Video On Demand sold with my E-book.

3. Fear. Donkey owners and caretakers are often afraid of their donkeys; afraid to get kicked, afraid to get pushed through, afraid to get walked on. These are all signs of a donkey in need of a good leader and that leader is YOU! These are normal donkey behaviors in a herd, but not appropriate when living with humans. Bribing your donkey with treats or food to get them to behave is simply dangerous and creates a more demanding and belligerent donkey. Sooner or later you will lose and so will your donkey. REMEMBER: This is about you, not your donkey! To overcome fear you must learn donkey psychology, learn to join up with your donkey, and teach your donkey boundaries, manners, and basic skills. To learn more go to our website Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. Giving a treat during training as a reward for a job well done is encouraged. There are times it is very appropriate. Giving treats to show your donkey love, get him/her to mind you or because you are afraid of your donkey is simply dangerous. Learn healthy ways to be with your donkey. If you work all day, instead of coming home and giving your donkey a carrot, spend 15 minutes with your donkey; massage his/her ears, brush him/her or hang out and talk with your donkey. More than anything your donkey wants to be with YOU!

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Ten Things Donkeys Want You To Know

   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 ®

How Can I Keep My Donkey Healthy

Hello donkey lovers and friends my name is Melody Johnson I am happy to meet you!

Donkeys evolved from the desert, their diet is serious we cannot let a donkey graze all day on grass, brush and trees without getting sick. If you live in the green and muddy part of the world create a dry paddock connected to the shelter with a gate to a track for exercise. The donkeys long fur coat is used to protect the donkey from insects and sunburn. The donkeys hooves are pointy compared to a horse made to walk on on dry hard ground.

Donkeys are intelligent not stubborn, donkeys are just as smart as dolphins and dogs their memory is comparable to elephants. Donkeys are game players and are seriously into self-preservation. Donkeys deserve to be trained using humane training techniques.

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

How can I purchase healthy food for my donkey?

  1. Test all hay or forage before purchasing for the year. I test all of my hay at Equine Analytical Lab in the USA and I purchase enough hay for my six donkeys and two horses for the entire year. The goal is 10% or lower in sugar and protein for the desert equine and the easy keeper horses and mules. Straw is not always low in sugar be sure to test to make sure just because it is barley straw does not mean it is low in sugar. Color of hay is not an indicator of low sugar we must test before feeding to our donkeys.
  2. Use a slow feeder, hay pillow never leave a big round bale out to eat on all day as portion control is very important to the desert equine. Obesity is the number one form of abuse in the USA for donkeys out of the USA it is being underfed and overworked.
  3. Safe treats are a bite of a carrot. Never feed cookies, breads and sugar foods to the donkey.
  4. Clean water, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Donkeys drink way more water when its clean.
  5. Salt get lose salt with selenium and minerals if your hay has no selenium, remove selenium if your hay has selenium.
  6. Shelter is a must. Make sure your shelter is big enough for all of your donkeys to get out of the weather. Provide food and water in the shelter to help them get over the fear of the shelter.
  7. Provide farrier appointments every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven in the fall and winter as the hoof grows slower in the cold seasons.
  8. Provide dental checkups at least once a year with your vet. Why? Domesticated donkeys get high points and gums can get inflamed needing regular vet care.
  9. Shots, five way is the best for your donkey in the spring of each year. Give your vet fresh poop for a fecal sample spring and fall before worming. Your vet will tell you to worm or not to worm. Over worming creates resistant parasites to wormer that are difficult to remove and in some cases cant be removed. Over worming destroys the donkeys immune system.
  10. Ask your vet to check for insulin resistance (blood work) and cushings as your donkeys ages.

11. Donkeys are wood eaters this is not cribbing. Donkeys seek out wood to chew on and eat. If you use wood pellets bedding add water as the donkey will eat the pellets they will expand in the tummy and can cause colic and death.

Donkey Training:

Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand is sold with lifetime access. Order Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Purchase the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® adjustable soft yacht rope halter with matching lead line.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Help I Am Afraid Of My Donkey

Melody,  I have two BLM donkeys that live on five acres and have not been handled. These donkeys are seriously strong and can kick and spin. I get their feet done once a year as it is stressful. Please understand these donkeys do not like to put the halter on and I think were hurt or abused by people. The last time I had their feet done I had the vet sedate them and well now my farrier says he is afraid of them. Even with drugs, they were a bit dangerous. Here is my question, does your training work on donkeys like this? I need to get their feet done more often and no drugs. How long will it take to train these donkeys to pick up the foot and come to me when I call them? Will you train these donkeys for me? Jennifer, Gig Harbor, WA.

 Hi Jennifer, Donkeys are intelligent they train humans quickly to do exactly what the donkey wants to do and nothing more. This is why I do what I do, train humans to learn how to tame and train donkeys and stay safe. If I tame and train your donkeys they will follow me as a fair leader and go home to you and act the same way they did before they came to me. The person who cares for the donkeys and feeds the donkeys needs to learn how to tame and train, be a fair leader.  You can do this!

An adult burro-size donkey is seriously strong and agile. Donkeys who have peripheral vision can see behind them without turning their heads. Donkeys can kick with accuracy and strength. Your safety is number 1.

Please remember after taking Donkey 101 & 102 if you need personal coaching and consulting I am here to support you. Order donkey training and donkey halters, lead lines, and more in our store.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Trailer Loading Training

Learn how to train your donkeys to load in the trailer, ride in the trailer and stay safe. Learn how to load multiple donkeys and unload. Learn how to purchase the right trailer and how to have a safety plan in place. Donkey Trailer loading includes twelve teaching videos with over one hour of the training content by trainer Melody Johnson and a 10-page E-book (pdf) outlining key points to trailer loading.

Description

Donkey Trailer Loading Training Video On Demand:

  1. Melody Johnson, introduction walking three miniature donkeys to the trailer.
  2. Preparing the trailer for the donkeys.
  3. Tying miniature donkeys to the outside of the trailer.
  4. Loading three miniature donkeys.
  5. Miniature donkeys lose in the trailer.
  6. Unloading three miniature donkeys.
  7. Providing miniature donkeys balance and consistency.
  8. Tying two standard and a mammoth donkey to the outside of the trailer.
  9. Loading a mammoth and standard donkey.
  10. Mammoth and standard donkey lose in the trailer.
  11. Unloading standard and mammoth donkey.
  12. Providing big donkeys balance and consistency.
  13. How to load the difficult donkey.
  14. Video cameras inside the trailer.
  15. Walking the donkeys back to the barn.

 

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Give The Donkey Lover In Your Life

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Gift Card

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Gift Card. Looking for a special gift for the donkey lover in your life? Give the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® store E-gift card. The person you designate will receive an email with a link to go directly to the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Store to redeem their Gift Certificate.

How does the gift card link work? When the gift card link is used in our store the funds are automatically deducted to purchase anything from our store. You can choose to send the e-gift card on any date you specify, simply choose the date ahead of time. You will receive an e-mail alert when the E-Gift Card has been used.

What’s in our store?

Donkey Training Video On Demand or a private lesson with Melody Johnson. Yes, I train the owner or caretaker worldwide. We can skype and meet in person without traveling. It’s a wonderful gift.

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

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Baby Horse (Foal) Tied To A Donkey

Donkeys have been the beast of a burden far too long.  “Please when you see any form of neglect or abuse of donkeys speak up. Please become the voice for the donkey. Never fight with people educate and do what you can to help the donkey. Please never ever tie a donkey to another animal to train.”  Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.

Donkeys deserve only the best in life! 

Melody, Good morning!

We are looking into purchasing a necking donkey for our ranch. 

We breed, raise and show horses but, are getting to the age where we need help with those young foals that get weaned from mothers and need to learn to lead away from mother, respect, etc. and would like to develop a more gentle approach to getting results, not to mention our bodies are getting where handling the young is tough and we pay for it many days after.  Do you know of anyone who specializes in training donkeys for that purpose?  Tanya

Tanya, I do not sell donkeys. I do not agree with using a donkey to train a young horse. I personally would never do this to any donkey or the foal. Since you more than likely will do this to a donkey here is my advice;  Use a surcingle on the donkey, not a halter on the head or a rope around the neck. I would never ever leave the donkey connected to a foal for longer than 1/2 an hour. I would never ever leave these two unattended.

Donkeys are not stubborn donkeys are intelligent. Depending on the donkey you get this may or may not work. Donkeys grab the neck of another donkey or another animal in play and in battle. Extroverted donkeys will not always stand still and freeze when scared they will fight back. Introverted donkeys will lay down and not get up when terrified or stressed. Sadly, one person says this works and everyone jumps on thinking it is less work for the breeder of horses.

Donkeys need their diet to be tested forage hay 10% or lower in sugar and protein. Donkeys need the farrier on a regular schedule, shots, and teeth just like a horse.

Select   Western Horsemanship Magazine to read one of the articles floating around the internet.

Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand

“Horses dream of being trained the way a donkey demands to be trained” Melody Johnson
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Stick and String – Donkey Training

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Stick And String Fiberglass Soft Leather Tip

ORDER DONKEY WHISPERER FARM ®

(3 customer reviews)

$33.00 – $36.00

Stick And String

3-foot stick and string are used for Miniature (MINI) donkeys, mules, and horses.

4-Foot stick and string are used for standard, burro, Mammoth donkeys, horses, and mules. Used to touch the equine in preparation for our hands. STAY AWAY FROM THE KICK ZONE.

Training Stick Color Choose an option
Blue
Purple
Training Stick Length Choose an option
3 ft.
4 ft.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Kiang Donkeys

Where Do Kiang Donkeys Live?

Kiang is the common name for a wild member of the horse family EquidaeEquus 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 ®

Walk Two Or Three Donkeys Using One Lead Line

link line donkey
SS scissors snap

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Education Made Easy

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

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkeys Have Personalities

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 ®

Walk Two Or Three Donkeys Using One Lead Line

“Walk two donkeys using one lead line, LINK LINE”

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Is Bonded To Cows

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

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 ®

Barn Sweet Barn

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®