"Freedom is a primary reinforcer"

Some of you know that I practice choice-based handling, and that I provide a lot of enrichment and activities for my snakes. But sometimes I need the reminder that something as simple as choosing where they want to sit for awhile is as much a positive reinforcement as any of the more complex activities they are offered - hence the quote from Lori Torrini, my snake behavior and training mentor, that "freedom is a primary reinforcer".

Frida, one of my Tarahumara Mountain Boas, wants out almost every day. Yesterday she wanted out so badly that she wasn't willing to wait while I finished making breakfast - she pushed her sliding enclosure door open and took herself out. But she didn't want to explore. All she wanted to do was sit on her favorite crate, which is right outside the enclosure door. Frida sat there all day (over six hours) while I cleaned enclosures (hence the messy floor, sorry!) and then worked on the computer for awhile. [IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...da_june122.jpg[/IMG]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Caitlin

Some of you know that I practice choice-based handling, and that I provide a lot of enrichment and activities for my snakes. But sometimes I need the reminder that something as simple as choosing where they want to sit for awhile is as much a positive reinforcement as any of the more complex activities they are offered - hence the quote from Lori Torrini, my snake behavior and training mentor, that "freedom is a primary reinforcer".

Frida, one of my Tarahumara Mountain Boas, wants out almost every day. Yesterday she wanted out so badly that she wasn't willing to wait while I finished making breakfast - she pushed her sliding enclosure door open and took herself out. But she didn't want to explore. All she wanted to do was sit on her favorite crate, which is right outside the enclosure door. Frida sat there all day (over six hours) while I cleaned enclosures (hence the messy floor, sorry!) and then worked on the computer for awhile.

---

I think "choice-based handling" is something of a misnomer. It seems to me that the goal is to teach the animal to take care of itself, thus, obviating the need for its keeper to handle it. I think, maybe, "choice-based care" would be a better way to refer to it.

She’s gorgeous!

When I first got my dog, I'd get frustrated with her when we went to the park and she wanted to sit under a bench and I would try to encourage her to run around. One of the more experienced owners told me very kindly, "the way I think of it is this - this is their time, to do what they want. And if they want to sit under a bench, or chase a ball, or take a nap, it's up to them."
With my male BP, every handling session he's around 50/50 on "exploring and doing things" or "finding one of his favorite spots in my room and taking a nap" and I try to let him do whichever he wants and let him nap in my bed if that's how he chooses to spend his out of tank time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

I think, maybe, "choice-based care" would be a better way to refer to it.

---

Or maybe, "facilitative care", since you're trying to facilitate the animals own care decisions.