I’ve seen a lot of dogs come and go on the first Bedlam Farm, and now, on this one. I’ve learned so much about animal acceptance and acclimation. Donkeys and sheep are both prey animals, they are vigilant and wary of intruders and outsiders.
New animals have to be introduced carefully and slowly. We’ve
Donkeys are guard animals, that’s why I got them, we’ve never lost a sheep to predators. The donkeys never permit any new animal to come near the fences without challenge. Inside the fence, they will drive off any animal intruder, and ask questions later.
Sheep respond to intruders by stomping their feet, the wethers will charge and try to butt with their heads.
But sheep really have no useful tools to fight with, no claws or hooves or sharp teeth, all they can do is flock together and stomp their feet.
When they are cornered, they usually freeze and surrender. They never win fights with predators.
Donkeys are another story. They can bite and butt and kick and stomp with great power. We take great care about introducing new dogs to donkeys, and our donkeys, Lulu and Fanny, are exceptionally gentle.
The proper acclimation takes weeks, if not months. The first encounters are always outside of the fences. With Zinnia, we brought her to the outside of the fence a couple of times a day. The donkeys came over to get her smell, and she got theirs.
We took her near the sheep on a leash, and at a distance. If she gets too close, one or two of the sheep will stomp and try to push her back. A donkey stomp could squash Zinnia, although she is animal savvy, she stays back and watches.
We don’t get too close. Zinnia is a gentle and unthreatening animal, the donkeys pay no attention to her now, the sheep keep an eye on her but go about their business.
The sheep don’t seem alarmed by Zinnia now, only Rosemary and Kim will stomp if she comes too close. These last two mornings, I let Zinnia off-leash and the sheep weren’t bothered at all, and the donkeys just kept on chomping their hay.
Zinnia sniffed around and watched Fate run around the sheep. The Peaceable Kingdom was peaceable. Our donkeys always come to love our dogs once they know they live here, they will guard them as well.
It just takes some time and patience.
So far, it’s going very well. Zinnia is calm, easy-going and quite diplomatic, she doesn’t panic but she doesn’t push it either.
Hey Jon, I try to never offer unsolicited advice and have had to bite my tongue a few times while reading about your donkey’s interaction with the dogs. Many of the owner surrendered donkeys I take in to the rescue are coming in as they have attacked and/or killed the stock they were supposed to be protecting. I took in a jenny that had been with a herd of goats for 17 years. The year she was surrendered to me she had killed every one of the new season’s kids. Why? Who knows. I have many sad stories about interactions gone wrong. I currently have a donkey on a waiting list to come in as she bit the ear off one of the family’s sheep. I care about the relationship between animals and their caregivers a lot. It’s pretty much why I do what I do. It’s heartbreaking when an animal does something that is inherently in their nature, causing the relationship to go awry. Instinct trumps behavior every time. Before starting the rescue I was a veterinary technician for 35 years. I am a certified Professional Dog Trainer and ran my own dog training business for years and have been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the state for many years as well. I quit all of these jobs, except for a bit of private, in-home dog training as to do the rescue work properly I need to be on the farm most of the time. So I am not talking off the top of my head. I know animal behavior and am all about continuing education. I want to know as much as I can. I have been going to the ONLY CE for donkey care at UC Davis Vet School every year for I think it’s seven years now; since it’s inception. I have learned a lot! Sooo to shorten this rant I just want to tell you how much I enjoy reading about you and Maria and your animals and the wonderful relationship you you share. I have been worried at times. LOL! Not Your Problem!!!! Best wishes for a very happy holiday season to you and Maria and critters.
Thanks, Ann, I appreciate your comments, honestly, and thanks for them. I acknowledge and respect your great experience, you need to prove nothing to me. But I’m not a newbie to donkeys either. I’ve lived with donkeys and more than a dozen dogs for nearly two decades. We are very careful and very cautious and I can tell you proudly that no dog of ours has been harmed nicked or threatened by Lulu or Fanny. (Simon was another story). They are never alone with them, never unsupervised and never put into danger. I know donkeys very well, I’m certain not as well as you and have studied them, written about them, met with breeders, farriers, and trainers, and lived with them. I appreciate both your friendship and wisdom, but as often the case, this isn’t advice that I feel I am in need of. A puppy like Zinnia could easily wander unthinkingly into get stomped into the ground by even the sweetest donkey. I am sorry you think I am not conscious of carelessness – of course, that would make you fearful. I hope you can spare yourself worrying about me. No one ever needs to remind me to be careful with my dogs around donkeys, or even sheep, especially a puppy. The border collies can handle themselves. The donkeys love them. Thanks for caring, and very happy holidays to you.