The Eddie Files

The Eddie Files:

More donkey learning ...

Laundry does NOT eat you.

Little people are very nice.

Walking in the woods on a deer trail can be fun and interesting. There are many obstacles to overcome...yet with a gentle hand on the lead rope...Eddie is willing to go anywhere.

...and Eddie is willing to have Morris follow along and not be a distraction.


Eddie has learned.

Morris is okay...
Kids are kinda fun, they scratch ears...
Laundry blowing around on the line is not going to eat you...
The trails in the woods are cool...and interesting....

The Eddie Files...

I'm going to try and keep track of some of the things I do with Eddie who is now a yearling donkey.
Before he was gelded, he and another donkey called Thor were 'paddock buddies'. They were weaned from their mommas together and have spent the last 9 months together.

One of my main concerns was how Eddie was going to handle being separated from Thor.
I can tell you now, that Thor is having a rougher 'separation' issue than Eddie is.

According to the Veterinarian's orders we were to hand walk Eddie a little each day until he healed up.
This presented itself with a great opportunity to start Eddie on his preliminary work for eventually becoming my saddle donkey.
Eddie already has had 'basic' training in the halter and lead rope area. But here was the chance to get myself into a daily routine with him.

To my surprise, Eddie is an extremely willing student and has not shown any concern at all for his 'paddock buddy' who runs in circles and brays loudly each time I take Eddie out for some work. [They were separated last Friday.]

By now when Eddie sees me approaching with a halter and lead rope he stands at the gate and begins to bray, softly at first ... then louder until I step inside. Then he walks to me and waits. He seems to enjoy it, and yes, donkeys are very social creatures.

Each learning session begins and ends with a nice overall and relaxing grooming.

I don't know if what I'm doing is 'correct' or not~~but it feels right to me and seems to be working well.

Soon Eddie will be taking hiking ventures with me and Morris, my Jack Russell. Eddie has shown no animosity towards having a little dog bounce around while we do our work.

So far in 5 days Eddie has learned:

Step forward when asked.
Step backward when asked.
Follow quietly.
Don't crowd the handler.
Baths are nice.
Stand quietly while tied.
Little dogs are okay.
Hound dogs are a curiosity.
Pick up a hoof when tapped on the leg.
&
...Humans are wayyyy cooler than old pasture buddies.