Target Training Fail!

[Caitlin]

I've mentioned here that I like to use target training to, among other useful things, moderate strong feeding responses. I thought you might find my latest failure amusing...

If you're not familiar with it, in target training you present a target to your snake and immediately reward them with food when they approach and nudge or tongue-flick the target without striking it. Once the association is well-established, your snake knows that if it sees the target, food is on the way but if there is no target, no food is forthcoming.

My Stimson's Python Jake has the feeding response of a T. Rex. Before being target trained he'd strike and wrap first and ask questions later - he's done really well with training, and feeding and handling have gone much better. But a few weeks ago, Jake got a little too exited when he saw the target, and he struck and wrapped it. I decided I'd just leave it with him, retrieve it the next morning, and make some training adjustments. Jake had other plans, though.

Jake figured out that somehow the magic stick produces mice - so rather than sleeping in his usual spot, he went to sleep right next to the target stick, with his head resting on it. He stayed there, basically guarding the target stick, for over 24 hours. He only shifted position once, and that was to rest his head directly on top of the target ball, lol.

He's no dummy. He's a bit of a handful but I really love this little guy.

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