Q&A: clicker training mini-donkeys

Hi Patricia,

I saw your contact on the members list at the equine clicker training website and wanted to ask about clicker training a mini donkey.

I have a rescue mini donkey that I have just started clicker training. ‘Burrito’ can be a grumpy little fellow but so full of character that I find him irresistible. I started clicker training with targeting on a cone. Within a week I could kick a horse ball a few feet across the paddock and he will jog over and touch it. He learned very quickly-and just as quickly decided he shouldn’t have to touch a cone or a ball to get the treat. He figured he deserved the treat just for standing there. In contrast, my Welsh pony, an easy going fella, thought this was all a bit silly but if I wanted him to touch the cone, then fine, he’d touch the cone. Whatever it took to get a treat!

But Burrito was adamantly indignant. While he’d always touch it in the end, he’d insist on some ear pinning, dramatic head shaking, refusal to even look at the ball, or he’d go over and pretend to touch the ball-but not quite make contact. Seemed like he was trying to trick me. I was just about convinced he was confused and that I should click the “try” to shape him to touch the ball, but luckily, I had hesitated just long enough for him to get impatient for the treat and give the ball a good strong touch. I immediately C&T’d and then next time, he’d repeat the same performance.

I would back right up to the beginning, holding a cone right in front of his nose where he would almost bump into it accidentally so I could C&T but this just made him grumpier. Like he was offended that I thought he was stupid. I’m trying to achieve a balance between not frustrating him but not boring him with repetition. I know donkeys don’t like repetition.

Have you had any similar experiences with your donkeys?

Thanks for any advice,

Deborah & Burrito

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Deborah,

You have to be so patient with donkeys and they will always try to pretend that they don't remember what it is that you want. If you can arrange them to be in adjacent pens, where you can slip between your pony and the donkey, you can make the donkey aware that you will just walk out if he doesn't want to play. My mules and donkeys both respond to this very well... at first they don't believe that you will just leave, but pretty soon they get the idea that if they don't want to play, well, its no skin off of your nose, you don't want to play either.

DO NOT GIVE HIM A TREAT UNLESS HE PERFORMS!!!!! Just walk out. Leave it up to him. If he is trying, play, if he is not, walk.

Chester, the mule, turns into a genius when he knows I will walk.

Donkeys take about 10x as long as horses. They are aware that there may be easier options.

Yours,
Patricia

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Thanks Patricia,

I should mention Flash & Burrito actually belong to the farm down the road. The farm owners live in the States for the winter so the pony and donkey live at my place. I exercise the pony for his owner over the winter, and the donkey is a companion for the pony.

Good ideas in your reply. I actually do walk away. If he turns his butt to me I walk, or if he stalls too long. And, I do have the pony in an adjacent paddock and I'll start with the donkey so I can move on to the pony while the donkey "sulks". But he's so cute even when he's bad. That's part of the attraction for me. I expect the pony to be good so I'm miffed when he doesn't get it. Conversly, I expect the donkey to be bad so I'm honored when he deigns to oblige me!

Deborah