It is not easy to train humans to give you cookies. They are distractable, fickle things, stubborn and independent, but they are curious and affectionate when it is reinforced. First you have to bray softly but repeatedly when they appear. You have to use your big brown eyes and stare at them, make eye contact. They are stubborn, but not as stubborn as donkeys. Don’t let up on the braying, especially when they are near the cookie bag in the barn. Cluster together and look a bit piteous, a bit needy.

When they approach, up the braying a bit. Look excited, even do the smiley thing – that melts them, they say “awwwww,” and they are yours. Be consistent. Humans are creatures of habit, you have to make them think they are in charge, that everything is your idea. Be sure to reinforce the behavior, brays, ears moving around. Humans love to brush donkeys, talk to them, even sing to them. This is called bonding, it leads to cookies, carrots and lots of attention. Training humans requires patience, positive reinforcement, and above all else, a sense of humor. Humans have a rich history of being cruel and being mistreated.  But these days, people with donkeys are apt to be nice to them, put them in green pastures with little or no work. For a donkey, that is pretty great. Rescuing them, giving them the chance to be good to us is a noble thing to do, our work in many ways. Treat humans kindly, it will make us better donkeys.