how do you correct bad behavior with a mini donkey

[natalie1136]

Quote:
I will definately try the time out tree. He is not mean to the goats, but i know he is trying to play. I have gotten him an excercise ball that he messes with. He was raised with goats. Hopefully we can correct this. I don't want to get rid of him. I don't have room to seperate them. We are going to build an area that the donkey can't get to for the goats. Thanks alot

 

[Appytaz]

Natalie - One more thought - our donkey has been climbing UNDER the chain link fence. We haveour back yard divided in 2 paddocks - we use to lock the horse and donkey up in the back at night - he would get mad and get out to come to the house every night. When he comes out - he literally backs up and like crawls backwards under the fence. We had to run electric to keep him from doing it. Finally decided it wasn't worth the battle any more and they are both allowed to run the entire back yard. Donkeys can be trained - it just takes time and some extra work

 

[19hhbelgian]

Well, you need another donkey to keep the first one busy

I have my donkeys in with the goats, and have never had any trouble, but at 1.5 your guy is going to be very playful, and what he is doing is playing with the goats. Donkeys play by grabbing onto each others necks - they have that big muscle running down so it's safe for them to do that to each other, but obviously not to goats. My Donkeys LOVE to play tug of war with anything they can get their mouths on - road cones, slightly deflated basket ball, feed bowls, horse ball... You get the idea

Have you tried giving him any "toys"? Donkeys aren't like horses - very different personalities. They take a lot more patience when training, but they are also very smart and can learn fast. If he doesn't let up, I would definitely separate them so your goats don't get hurt. Good luck!

 

[natalie1136]

Your donkeys are adorable. I'm maybe going to get another donkey. My hubby says maybe. I do have a toy for him, but i will try to get more. Thanks to all for your advice. We have a 7 strand electric fence around our pasture. He has gotten bite by it once and that was all it took. Hopefully he wan't change his mind.

Natalie

 

[griffin45]

Our Minis are true donkeys and hate dogs. Several of our young goats can resemble a dog. I found this out the other day. It was a close call! Our Jack tried to stomp our best Nigi buck into the ground! I talked to a guy the other day and he had the same problem except his goat did not escape and it was a gruesome scene. Our Minis are normally well behaved and are pastured with Jacob sheep, but I don't let the goats anywhere near them. I am not sure I could train the problem out of them, and I really wouldn't want to anyway. And training a donkey not to play?

sorry for laughing, but I don't think it is possible.

Chris

 

[halo]

Quote:
If he doesnt seem to be hurting the goats, watch the action of the goats and see if they are terrified of him. If they are, you might want to separate them. If he's biting to really hurt them, you can get a grazing muzzle so that he can't bite. Just pay attention to the goats; if they dont mind, maybe you care more than they do.

 

[natalie1136]

Thanks for your help. I've been watching from a distance where he can't see me. They all graze together and get along just fine when we aren't out there. When we are he chases them sometimes. I think he does it to aggravate us. The goats don't appear to be scared of him.

Thanks Natalie

 

[CrystalB]

We have a mini-donkey, Hondo (who is about the same age 1 1/2 years). We got him when he was 9 months old and he has been with our Nigerian Dwarf goats ever since we bought him. They are the 3 amigos, if the goats get out of his sight he brays like crazy until he finds them. He does bite them sometimes but they are quick enough to get out of his way and I have never seen him trying to really hurt them. I do scold him if I see him doing it. He is really sweet a lot of the time but then other times he is a jackass lol. We had him gelded when he turned one.

He has been acting a little aggressive to hubby & I, rearing up at us and putting his ears back & acting like he is going to push us around. Hubby bought a dune buggy which Hondo hated when hubby first got it and he actually punched hubby in the face with his front hooves when hubby was bent over looking at the dune buggy. I have to watch him always when I am out with him and I have to push him back as he wants to push me around or rear up at me.

I just need some guidance on the proper way to train/discipline him that being aggressive to us is not acceptable. We don't want to have to watch him at all times when we are with him but we also don't want to do the wrong thing when disciplining him.

I asked on one forum and was given advice on how to train a horse which I know isn't right so am hoping to get advice from donkey people.

Thanks in advance!

 

[danischi24]

Create a new thread for your question & you will get more replies. It's the button in the top right of the Other Pets & Livestock section.

 

[NancyBB]

Your miniature donkey needs another miniature donkey to play with, someone that plays the way he does. It's unfair to him, and the other members of your family, to have only one. They should only be sold in pairs (or multiple pairs.)