How to Keep a Donkey as a Pet
Donkeys are becoming beloved as pets because of their affectionate nature and intelligence. These sweet animals respond well to the right training, and will be faithful companions for life. Read on to learn how to keep a donkey as a pet.
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Instructions
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Choose whether you wish to buy a domesticated donkey or a wild one. The former are available through farmers and breeders, which are found either in the phone book or online. The Bureau of Land Management has wild donkeys for sale. These can be found on their site or by calling the Bureau of Land Management.
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Buy a jenny (female) or a gelding for a pet as they would be more evenly tempered than a male (jack) who is not neutered.
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Investigate the donkey's history if you decide to buy a domesticated donkey. Whether or not the donkey has been well-trained is important information and can affect your relationship as owner and pet.
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Treat a donkey with kindness and respect. A donkey has a long memory, like an elephant, and will remember ill treatment received, as well as the person who mistreated it.
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Get a pair of donkeys, but not a jenny and a jack unless you are experienced with handling these animals or horses.
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Keep unsupervised children away from jacks.
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Prevent canines from coming near donkeys unless you train the donkey to tolerate the family dogs. Donkeys have an animosity toward dogs, and will naturally try to attack the animals. Donkeys have been used as guard animals to keep coyotes and wolves away from flocks of sheep and cattle.
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Attend to the pet donkey's hooves. A farrier should trim the donkey's hooves every six to eight weeks.
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Train wild donkeys with kindness and patience. You may have to resort to such tactics as brushing the donkey with a broom until the animal gets used to being touched. As the animal becomes acclimated, you will be able to gradually get closer and closer, thus forging a cooperative relationship between man and beast.
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Avoid feeding donkeys sweet feed and grain, as that can make the animal seriously ill as well as lame. Donkeys evolved in harsh environments, and can subsist on a diet of roughage like thistles and pigweed, as well as simple hay.
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De-worm your pet donkey regularly. Contact a veterinarian to set up a worming schedule. Veterinarians may be found in the phone book.
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Keep the donkey's area clean and free of manure. This cuts down on the presence of harmful parasites.
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Provide shelter for the donkey to protect it in bad weather.
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