Caitlin, that's really interesting about target training your Children's python. My spotted python has a very strong food response but I have no trouble with her mistaking
me for food. When I pass by my snakes & they're up, brimming with anticipation, I give them my scent thru the screen top: to be honest I'm talking to them too, usually,
but obviously they don't hear, lol- it's just my way of saying 'hello'. They all back off with my scent, knowing it's "NOT food". Now going thru the room WITH food, they
all pay close attention & are ready to pounce, but my snakes appear to have learned that MY scent alone means no food. Sort of the opposite of target training, but it
works for me.
I got in the habit of identifying myself to snakes many years ago when I often had "temporary house-guests" (snakes removed from property for safety of residents) and
wanted to reduce their terror every time I had to pass by them...you can't blame a wild creature for fearing the unknown. I noticed in no time that they learned to relax
and stop rattling (yes, these were rattlesnakes) and were obviously relieved that the "lurking monster" was just "the same ol' familiar one" as before. For any snakes
that had to remain in captivity, most became quite complacent towards me as something "familiar & harmless" and seldom rattled. Even if my dog ran by and startled
one, I "took credit" with my scent & the snake would quickly relax. This resulted in them being easier to feed also, as stress (fear) is a big appetite-killer for snakes.