Burro Body Language Basics

Beta on Burro Behavior & Body Language

Training donkeys, especially wild burros, has been extremely challenging. I did a lot of research up front, but didn’t truly realize how different donkeys and horses are until I started working with our two BLM burros, Blue and Moon.

Despite doing research up-front, there was a lot I didn’t know and have learned (the hard way). My goal is to share some of these learnings so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I have! While there are a lot of good resources available, they are not necessarily easy to find.

Source: Bottomless Backpacks

The ultimate goal is a calm, willing animal that acts as a partner.

Forcing donkeys to do something is not going to achieve this desired end result.

Burros communicate through body language–if you know what to look for, it will make your training sessions much more productive!

Burro Body Language

There are certain signs when burros are upset or anxious–pay attention to this body language and adapt accordingly so they have time to process what is going on. They must choose to be willing participants.

Signs of Donkey Anxiety:

Leaving (walking away, or, in more extreme cases, running away)
Turning their head away from you
Lowering their head towards the ground
Wrinkling their noses

Signs of Relaxation and Acceptance:

Licking and/or chewing
Turning their head towards you
Staying with you–approaching you or following you

Obviously, training a wild animal is going to create some level of anxiety. We have to push them out of their comfort zones to show them nothing bad is going to happen and subsequently make progress.

However, you want to respect their anxiety and give them plenty of time to process what is going on. Remember, donkeys are not so much “flight” animals as horses.

They are thinkers–burros need time to evaluate the situation and decide how to react to it.

Self Teaching & Desensitization

One easy way to train the donkeys, especially with desensitization to objects, is to encourage them to explore new things on their own. I would frequently leave things out with the boys for “overnight sleepovers.” This allowed them to realize the item wasn’t going to hurt them on their own terms.

We had sleepovers with:

Lots of ropes. And halters. And more ropes.
Cardboard boxes
Farrier hoof rasp
Fly spray
Camping tent
The trailer
Grooming supplies
Traffic cones

And the list goes on.

If needed, I would incentivize the donkeys to spend time closer to these items using food. For example, for about a week, I fed the donkeys around and eventually inside the trailer so they could learn how to load/unload on their own. Or, I’d put ropes around the water & feed troughs to encourage interaction on their own terms.

This was both efficient and effective for desensitization! It also removed any inadvertent interference or miscommunications from me.

You can (and should) learn to read a donkey’s body language. But, you should also be aware of your body language and what you are communicating to them.

Cautiously accepting carrots from me sitting inside the trailer

Here are a few things I’ve learned (and wish I knew sooner in this journey!)

Human Body Language Considerations

Don’t approach a donkey straight-on. To them, you are a predator, and approaching them straight on reinforces that predator behavior

Approach from the side, preferably shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the same way as the donkey
Sometimes, I will even back up towards them to get closer!
It is best if you can get them to approach you

Avoid eye contact

This one has been really hard for me to adjust to! Eye contact is perceived as predatory behavior. Try to avoid too much eye contact

I’ve found setting up my cell phone to record our sessions helps me analyze what I am doing (both right & wrong), and better identify and understand their body language.

It also acts as a mirror, so I can watch the donk’s body language without looking right at him and inevitably making too much eye contact.

Proximity is pressure.

Just being close to your wild burro (even without touching) can be stressful. Take a few steps away from the donkey to release this perceived pressure

It’s almost like a yo-yo! I will ask the donkey to come up to me, give a pet, and to reward them accepting my touch without leaving, I’ll then take a few steps away to give them a break

Usually, after I step away, the donkey will follow. This tells me they are engaged and ready for more interaction.

If your donkey is getting uncomfortable, you should step away and give them space before they step away (leave).

This pressure-and-release timing takes a lot of practice!

Some other key learnings worth discussing:

Don’t over-treat!

While positive reinforcement is key, you don’t want to be viewed as a treat dispenser.
Only reward actions you want to reinforce–and don’t always use a treat to do so
Back away to release pressure–this is also a reward that is effective in lieu of treats

Regression is Normal

Wild burros may be fine with something one day and terrified of it the next. Regression is a normal part of the progress.

When I say regression, I don’t mean two-steps-forward, one-step-back. I mean sometimes it can feel like two-steps-forward, twenty-steps-back.

It can be incredibly frustrating!

Asking for Help

Attempting to train these two has been the most challenging endeavor of my life. It’s OK to ask for help! One of my favorite things about the donkey community has been how willing people are to pitch in, whether that is with training, advice, or simply a sanity check!

Training wild burros is not an easy task. Here are some resources that I’ve found to be helpful:

The Donkey Sanctuary

Excellent source of information on donkeys
More focused on domesticated animals vs. wild burros
Located in the UK

ReDONKulous Ranch Sanctuary & Rescue

Want to try out pack burro racing? Pair up with an experienced donkey to test it out before committing to a four-legged friend.
Located in Colorado

Hope the Wild Burro Place

Professional trainer of wild burros
Located in Arizona
Offers online lessons and video training series

Parting Thoughts

Training any animal is challenging. It requires patience, repetition, consistency, and compassion. Wild burros can be perceived as stubborn, but once you learn how to speak their language, communication certainly gets easier!

Earning the trust of these burros can create an incredible bond.

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Burro Body Language Basics