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][/IMG]