Training Sheldon

[Talka]

I realize Russian tortoises can sometimes be spectacularly stupid, stubborn, or both. I think I have a case of "both" here. Sheldon continuously tries to get behind the lining of the terrarium in one corner, and tries to climb up the wall (nearly flipping himself over every day) right under his basking lamp.

I've started pointing a finger at him and then moving him away, in hopes that he'll understand
1. not to do those things
2. a finger point means no

What are the chances he'll understand this within the next 6 months?

 

[ascott]

You are funny I think that finger pointing is a great outlet of human frustration when we have yet to outsmart the thing we are pointing at...

I believe Russian Tortoise happen to be very smart and tenacious

You are dealing with a very determined mind. I believe that you will need to remedy the "crack" as tortoise are determined that the best hiding place in the entire world has to be behind that particular "crack" and no where else....lol...hence you must banish the crack from his world (hide it, fill it--banish to the land away from the tortoise)

Flipping is another tricky thing to deal with...again determination seems to lead the tortoise to believe (and some know) that if they can only get to that high up place they seemingly have achieved their goal in life to reach the highest best spot in the world...again, to the determined, tenacious, curious tortoise....again, we must outsmart this awesome creature that has developed these skills over, well, along time

I am of the human species that believe, YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!!

 

[wellington]

Your chances. You probably don't have a chance in H---

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I have never seen any of our tortoises display any conditional responses!
I wish the best in your training, repetition and consistency might work, LOL!

 

[Zamric]

hehehehe.... as my 1st wife used to say "...even Bad Attintion is attintion" Sounds like Sheldon is training you VERY well.

Be sure to keep us up on how well YOUR training is comming along....

 

[Talka]

There's a clean laundry pile I keep on the floor (jeans, underwear, sweaters, towels) until I get the time to sort it out.
Sheldon has already trained me to take him to the laundry pile once a day, whenever he scratches at the walls of his terrarium. He loves loves loves loves digging up clean clothes. Which of course means I have to re-wash a few things.
He doesn't go anywhere else in the room. He only likes his terrarium and his laundry pile.

 

[ascott]

ahhh, he shows his karate is stronger than yours.... LOLLOLOL

have fun, he sounds like a fun

 

[Zamric]

'Nuff Said!

 

[jaizei]

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