Training Philosophy

Mutual respect and deep understanding can bridge human/equine differences and create a therapeutic bond. Melody Johnson trains the owner or caretaker how to train the donkey using resistance free training. Donkeys are strong, your safety is number one. When you understand the behavior of the brilliant desert equine the donkey everything will change in your life. Donkeys have photographic memories. Donkeys are visual learners. The donkey will find you interesting and most importantly will trust you for life. Donkeys must trust us before moving a step forward in the relationship. Stay On Donkey Time ®, never drill or betray a donkey.

Donkey 101 & Donkey 102 video on demand creates games and exercises for you and your donkey. Donkey 101 & Donkey 102 Video Series will change your life forever in all areas. You will provide fair leadership and offer your donkey a reason to trust you and follow you as a leader, not a bully, not a treat dispenser.  You will learn how to be a fair leader for your donkey 100% of the time you are with your donkey. Humans and equines can empower one another, provide psychological and spiritual balance and encourage one another’s instinctive and intuitive senses. In essence, together you become healers.  Your donkey has something to teach you, donkeys are human healers. This is why Donkey Whisperer Farm trains you, the owner or caretaker, to train your equines personally. This bond, this healing must be forged between you and your equine, not a third party trainer. After all, it is you that your donkey will be sharing its life with.

It is from this perspective that Donkey Whisperer Farm Online Training Courses have evolved. Each equine is unique and carries with it a cellular and energetic memory. No training technique is a blanket solution for all equines. Each donkey is an individual with personal experiences, needs and defenses. Every domestic equine has a history with humans whether tragic, indifferent or supportive that must be considered in a holistic training program.

Donkey and Human Personalities. Learn how to match the personality (energy) that shows up each time you step into the donkeys space. I teach you to teach your donkey to follow you as a fair leader, listen, connect and follow you as the leader each time you step into your donkeys space. This fosters a strong foundation of kinship and leadership which in turn allows you and your equine to achieve your goals, animal assisted therapy (hospital visits, nursing homes) standing for the farrier, trailer loading, cart pulling, taking a hike and trail riding.

Donkeys are unique and deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and patience. Donkeys are incredibly intelligent, reflective and deep thinkers. This is often misunderstood and fuels the cultural myth of donkeys as stubborn and unintelligent. They are not! They are very smart and know when a human does not have their best interest at heart.

Donkeys look over a human in a matter of seconds :

1. Treat Dispenser – Donkey is the leader

2. Bully, Abuser or Tyrant – Donkey shuts down (introverted donkey) or fights back (extroverted donkey).

3. A Fair Leader – Donkey will follow this human everywhere.

When training, I use only resistance-free techniques. I train the owner to use words, facial expressions, voice and timing, release pressure, endorphins. Never bribe, abuse or drill a donkey, stay ON DONKEY TIME ®. The three-second rule, not clicker training, endorphins. Endorphins are used with a rub, massage or a bite of a carrot. Never give a bite of a carrot for a try. I train the owner to stop being a treat dispenser. Learn how to be a fair leader. Safety is number one as donkeys are strong and can learn how to train a human quickly.

The donkey, mule and  horse learns at the release of pressure. Learn how to stop before your donkey stops. Training a donkey can be challenging as donkeys do not learn and respond like a horse. Donkeys are visual learners and are seriously into self-preservation. Donkeys require you to think ahead and have a positive plan and you must move and respond On Donkey Time ® meaning never drill a donkey.  Donkeys gravitate towards firm leadership and clear, calm boundaries. In this way donkeys inspire us to cultivate our finest human qualities.

Donkeys are the reason I have a diverse training background. In order to cross species lines and train donkeys, mules and horses, I have had to understand equines not only at their most refined level, but also at an evolutionary level.  I have studied with the great masters, including Parelli, John Lyons, Chris Cox, Clinton Anderson, Meredith Hodges, and Monty Roberts. For the past decade I have done extensive research into equine personality types and I am certified by the Parelli “Horsenality/Humanity” Seminar. I have also participated in special education courses addressing Donkey Welfare, Natural Foot Care and Donkey Psychology and Behavior.

Join me and learn more by participating in our Online Training Courses. All video training courses can be taken to the farm using any smart device. Each video series has a written PDF to print out and learn Melody’s training program.

Continuing Education

The Donkey Whisperer Farm trains the owner or caretaker world-wide to train the donkey via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand. Melody Johnson is a donkey behaviorist and a teacher, coach of humans. Never abuse a human or animal. Learn how to be a fair leader. Humans and animals cannot learn from a teacher who is abusive or a tyrant. The brain cannot do two things at one time. Pain will trigger the brain to move into survival mode. Endorphins will create trust and the ability to learn.  Soon both human and equine are living in peace and harmony for life.

Personal coaching, solving any issue needed, reviewing your videos. Melody has personally trained thousands of owners of donkeys and mules.

2007 – Present. The Donkey Whisperer Farm and Trainer Melody Johnson are dedicated to continuing education and ever-deepening insight and understanding into equine communication, training, behavior, personality and healthcare.January 31st through February 4th 2014 ~ Melody attended the Parelli Horsenality/Humanality Course in Ocala, Florida with Linda Parelli and Patrick Handley. This extensive hands-on course focused on equine and human personality types and their role in developing a holistic paradigm for equine communication and training. Certification was completed. November 1st through November 3rd 2013 ~ Melody participated in the University of California, Davis Veterinary School Donkey Welfare Symposium. The Symposium addressed donkey behavior, training, psychology, hoof care, dentistry, parasite management and the management of Sanctuary and Feral donkey populations. Course was completed.