Hook Training?

Ok I have read in multiple threads about (reference to giants) hook training. I know what a snake hook is but I have no clue what you mean by "hook train." Can someone please shed some light on this :)? I have a baby female burm... and I would like to benefit from hook training if I can :).

I wrote an article a little while back on it. I'll have to dig it up, but the jist of it is this...


When you pull your animal out for handling, before doing so you rub it/bump it on the head very gently. Do this every time you pull her out for handling. When you feed your animal, simply drop the food in her cage and leave her alone. Do not show the hook or anything at this time. What will begin to happen is she'll actually learn that the hook means she's getting pulled out, and no hook means she's getting fed. It prevents you from getting nailed...from any accidents happening. What it will do is if you open the cage one day to pull her out and for some reason (It does happen) she flips into feeding mode, getting bumped/rubbed with the hook will actually kind of cancel out her feeding response.

Hope this short version of it helped lol.

Actually yes you just cleared things up for me. For some reason I pictured 3 people holding hooks trying pick up a 100lb burm for handling. My girl is only about 2' in length (if that!)... should I begin hook training at this age or wait until about 6-7'???

Start hook training asap! It helps in the long run.

i hook train all my retics... its a must with large boids.

Kind of a dumb question but what size hook are we talking about here?

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Originally Posted by Kilo

Kind of a dumb question but what size hook are we talking about here?

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i use one thats 3.5 - 4ft long... you could use a broom stick or a golf club.

:snake:

i use a smaller hook for the little ones.

Ok awesome, you guys have been a big help thanks!

your welcome!

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:

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Originally Posted by Dr Satan

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:

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So eventually she should know who I am and what I am about to do with her. I should have just held her! I will go and purchase a snake hook today.

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Originally Posted by Kilo

So eventually she should know who I am and what I am about to do with her. I should have just held her! I will go and purchase a snake hook today.

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read this kyle... it will help you understand the process of conditioning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlovi...27s_experiment

I made a video a litle while ago... my 8' het albino(clark strain) female
http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...t=100_0116.flv

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Originally Posted by Kilo

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?

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I am by no means an expert on large boids, but you also don't want it to associate hissing with being put back and left alone. So now is the best time to show her just because she hisses does not mean she will be put down.

-Tim

Very good tips. Thank you.:D

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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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Lmbo,Now this is funny I should read this my little girl is in hook training now and just the other day gave her a tap and all seemed good,so I went to grab her and dont you know my arm became dinner.I figured I would wait her out but she wasnt going for it,she clung to my forarm for about 10 minutes the whole while my wife asking me if I wanted her to grab the alcohol.