It is vital that donkeys have company as this makes them most content of all, but aside from all their essential welfare requirements, donkeys need mental stimulation because of their high level of intelligence.
During the winter donkeys may need to be taken off their pasture or may be under shelter due to constant rainfall and this could lead to boredom and depression for them.
One of their favourite activities is chewing and they naturally browse as well as graze so access to safe hedgerows, shrubs and trees will help keep their minds busy. Alternatively, you can provide safe branches and logs of trees including hazel, apple, hawthorn, ash and gorse as the donkeys enjoy stripping the bark. You may decide to plant a few varieties for this reason.
Watching them play with snack balls, equine toys and equine footballs will make you smile and will keep them occupied. Apple and carrot are low in calories and can either be used in snack balls or hidden around the enclosure for a mentally challenging and taste rewarding game. Other tasty treats include swede, turnips, bananas and their skin, parsnip and pears.
Their intelligence means that they love to play so a cardboard box (with no staples), a hosepipe without the ends, a hula hoop, rope knotted like a dog’s tuggie toy, balls partially deflated and traffic cones all prove immensely popular. Finding what your donkeys enjoy best is so much fun.
Donkeys love hills so if you have the space, do build up piles of earth or sand. They run up and down and all around as well as having a good roll about in it.
Donkeys tend to drink less in the colder months so to help keep water intake up. Make sure that the water troughs are free of ice and if you go one step further and add hot water a couple of times a day you’ll find that that they prefer that to very cold water.
Finally, taking the donkeys for a walk each day is good not just for their souls but yours too.
Advice for training donkeys
The Donkey Sanctuary advises the following to keep donkeys happy during training:
Always accept that the donkey is scared or frightened rather than ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’
Training should take place in a safe environment
The lesson should always be small enough to allow the donkey to succeed
Follow a written training plan containing small safe steps
Never rush - always allow sufficient time to complete the lesson
Use positive reinforcement to reward good behaviour
Use your imagination - if a particular method is not working, then try something else
Always choose a positive moment to finish your session, as the donkey will remember that part most clearly
Avoid using punishment as a training method
If you are unsure how to proceed, seek professional help.
The Donkey Sanctuary produces a series of factsheets on a range of donkey-related subjects. These factsheets are available online at thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.
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