Hook Training?

Very informative thread guys! and some great answers/posts! ;)
I don't have any large boids myself but it's always great to learn a little extra info on handling them. :)

i never knew about this! i don't need it because i don't have any very large snakes, but it might help me out in the future. thanks everybdoy!

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Originally Posted by Amy05

i never knew about this! i don't need it because i don't have any very large snakes, but it might help me out in the future. thanks everybdoy!

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yeah neither did i.i'll remember that when/if i decide to get any large snake.

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

I It prevents you from getting nailed...from any accidents happening.

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Just IMHO, this should probably read "can help prevent" and "...from most accidents" - even the sweetest, most docile hook-trained biggies (especially with retics, scrubs & afrocks) can have moments of unpredictability. Accidents can & do happen, nothing is failsafe regardless of what species you're working with (snake, horse, dog, cat, fish, etc).

But hook training certainly does go a long way in turning off a feeding response and is a necessary technique when working big snakes! :)

K~

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Originally Posted by KLG

Just IMHO, this should probably read "can help prevent" and "...from most accidents" - even the sweetest, most docile hook-trained biggies (especially with retics, scrubs & afrocks) can have moments of unpredictability. Accidents can & do happen, nothing is failsafe regardless of what species you're working with (snake, horse, dog, cat, fish, etc).

But hook training certainly does go a long way in turning off a feeding response and is a necessary technique when working big snakes! :)

K~

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Good insight. =) Out of curiousity, is there an age when a snake would be too old to try to start hook training?

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Good insight. =) Out of curiousity, is there an age when a snake would be too old to try to start hook training?

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I don't think so. You just have to be very familiar with feeding response and/or defensive behavior & aware of what's going on with bigger animals, as they'll obviously do more damage should they bite. The big constrictors all seem to do extremely well with conditioning & routine schedules.

K~

i agree with you guys... when dealing with large boids (efficient predator), it is a necessity to establshing a "routine" so that the handler at all times is prepared for the unexpected.

... dont ever let your guard down, respect the predator.

these animals are only doing what comes natural to them and if an accident appens its always the keepers fault.

on the bright side [i should add]... these animals learn to recognize you, they can remember your scent, and if you condition them properly they will associate you with being able to come out of the cage and chill for a while... they really seem to enjoy it... and thats always good. :)

Well I went to go hold my baby girl last night because tonight she will be fed and it didn't go as planned. I pulled her tub out about 3 quarters out from the rack and took the end of a lent brush and tapped it on her head. Well she tucked her head under her body and proceeded hiss at me loudly! Well I reached in to take her out anyway (to show her that getting tapped means your coming out) and she went ballistic flailing around hissing loudly more. I gently set her back down and left her alone. The only other time I have seen this behavior is when I attempted to pick her up after coming out of blue.

Any Ideas on how I should progress on hook training?

some of mine hiss and push their coils when i try and take them out... you should get a snake hook to start off. that way you can tap on the head, and move their body around with the hook, and then pick them up with the hook as well. its gonna take some time...

take her out of her cage anyway... unless she goes ballistic.

:2cent: