Full course description
Introduction to Donkey Behaviour – Part One
Have you ever wondered why donkeys do what they do? Have you ever tried to help a donkey with a behaviour issue? Would you like to make the lives of donkeys in your care more comfortable? Do you have a donkey who would benefit from accepting the routine treatments of domestication? If you interact with donkeys in any way, then you are working with equine behaviour. Behaviour has an element in everything we do with donkeys and mules. Practising the science of behaviour in your donkey interactions helps improve their lives. However, using the science of behaviour also helps keep you safer, and makes your time with donkeys more fulfilling.
Details
In this first part of four courses, introducing you to donkey behaviour, we will look at the foundation of the donkeys' behaviour, gained from their evolutionary ancestors and what influences their difference from horses. The foundation of working with donkey behaviour is becoming aware of their differences and how our perceptions affect donkey behaviour.
Behaviour isn't something we do to a donkey. Behaviour isn't something we use just when training donkeys; behaviour is in everything we do with donkeys and our interactions with them. This course will explore the concept of behaviour in everything. This concept encourages us to see how a knowledge of behaviour, can improve every area of a donkey's life.
The course starts with common donkey behaviours, such as braying, bonding and aggressive play, to help you become familiar with normal donkey behaviour. We will then look at our own perceptions of behaviour. Learning how we think about donkeys might mean what we see might not be what's actually happening.
We will explore four challenges that everyone needs to overcome before successfully using the science of behaviour. You will also learn about mule behaviour, the difference between training donkeys, mules and horses, and even what to say when donkeys are labelled as stubborn.
This course is your opportunity to build a good foundation of behavioural knowledge, and apply these principles straight away. You will be creating a solid foundation of correct beliefs, and knowledge that you can build on for the rest of the course.
Modules:
- Donkeys are Different
- Behaviour in Everything
- Four Challenges of Working with Behaviour