Recent content by Linda Brodzik

  1. Linda Brodzik

    Odor Concerns

    Mark, thank you for your response. The are og=f the habitat that has substrate is 5' x 7'. This is where she mainly hangs out. To reitterate, I change the entire substrate a few times a year. I clean up emidiately if she eliminates (urine/feces). I also remove any contaminated substrate and...
  2. Linda Brodzik

    Odor Concerns

    Unfortunately this is not an option for me at this time. Thank you for your input.
  3. Linda Brodzik

    Odor Concerns

    Hello All, I am wondering if others have had to deal with odor concerns with an indoor habitat? My Leopard Tortoise has both an indoor and outdoor habitat. She is in at night (due to preditory wildlife) and in colder weather. Luckily I live in an area with a long growing season and the ability...
  4. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    I found my Sulcata to be extremely engaging and interactive. My leopard, a much shyer/cauyios species, takes a lot of patience and continual exposure to me to be comfortable. She is comfortable with me and my spouse but will "shell up" if anyone else is near.
  5. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    Hi Jeff, this is a very good question. The reason for training is to study the expanse of what a tortoise can learn. I am presently in the very beginning stages of doing sent detection training study with my Leopard Tortoise. This will not only shed light on her ability to learn a more complex...
  6. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    She is aware of the cue (two fingers). The behavior is reliable and can be repeated.
  7. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    Thank you for the welcome. I am enjoying looking around and reading the many articles.
  8. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    I am not touching the leg/foot. The cue is me placing my two fingers behind her leg and the behavor is her lifting her foot to touch my fingers. The goal behavior (at this point of her training was: her foot targeting my two fingers. *THis also came with teaching her to balance in a manner that...
  9. Linda Brodzik

    Tortoise Training

    I have trained my Sulcata to offer a "High Five" on each front leg when cued. She also learned several targeting behavuiors. My Leopard tortoise has learned to offer two different "consent signals" to being picked up. She is also involved in a project to teach scent detection and is doing well...
  10. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    As a professional animal trainer I would agree, patience is very important. But it is only one part. Good observational skills and excelptional tiniming are an absolute must. Knowing how to "mark" a behavior (or element of a behavior) is crusial for the animals comprehension. Being able to break...
  11. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    Hi Gillian, Yes, I was quite successfu with the Sulcata learning to 1. Balance on 3 legs, and then, 2, Lift either front appendag/lege to offer a "high five" as I cued with two fingers. See videos. I also taught taget training to the Sulata. My Leopard is target trained, has learned to offer a...
  12. Linda Brodzik

    Is Anyone Training Their Tortoise?

    Hello, I am new to the group. I have a 6 year old Leopard tortoise. I am a professional animal trainer and have engaged in several training projects with my tortoise, as well as with another tortoise (a Sulcata). I am cyurrently at the very beiginning stages of engaging in a scent related...
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