Youtube hearted comments of Stephen Villano (@spvillano).
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After the hurricane ravaged North Carolina, some locals uncorked the ultimate rescue tool that they had available and well, the optimal tools.
Mules and donkeys.
Initially, donkeys only, as being smaller, they could negotiate through narrower, hairier spots that the larger mules couldn't manage and help clear paths for larger animals and eventually, equipment. Supplies got through the old fashioned way.
One supreme upside to a donkey over quite a few other load bearing capable animals is, they're loathe in the extreme to walk into a situation that could result in being harmed. So, if you try to walk them onto a dangerously unstable path, into a predator, over a sheltering or sunning snake, it just ain't gonna happen. Work related commands I'd work with first, directional commands, left, right, forward, back, stay and "show me" for the dog or donkey especially, to indicate what is worrying them. If it's worrying them, I needed to worry enough to evaluate what was going on and the trust needed to develop that the animal could trust my judgement - and that required I exercise good judgement as well. Working with an animal isn't some robot and controller relationship, want that, get a robot or a politician. It's a partnership.
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