A long time ago, before there was a Frankie, when I was a Wanna-Be-A-Sulcata-Owner, I hung out with turtle people to learn more about sulcata tortoises. I really wanted to have a sulcata so I listened very carefully to sulcata owners for tips and advise.
One of those sulcata owners had a large 20 year old male sulcata tortoise named “Sam.” The owner told me that he had trained Sam to come to the sound of a bell by feeding Sam a strawberry every time he rang the bell. It took Sam a while to catch on but his owner thought it was worth months of training: when that bell rings Sam comes running.
I have never tried to train Frankie to come running to the sound of a bell. I never had to train Frankie to respond to the word “carrot.” He figured that word out all by himself. A key word I’ve tried to train Frankie to understand is “No!”.
Maybe Frankie doesn’t really understand the word “NO!” but he certainly responds to my loud, high pitched, panic screams of “NO! I think it’s thetonerather than the word that catches his attention.
So Frankie does recognize the word “carrot” and “treat”. Sometimes he ignores me but usually he responds with a beeline dash in my direction the minute I say, “Hey, Frankie! Wanna carrot?”
This evening I went outside to admire Frankie grazing on a freshly mowed lawn. Upon reaching the bottom stair step and stepping onto the ground I was puzzled when I spy Frankie making a fast double-time trot in my direction with enthusiasm in those dark glistening eyes.
I hadn’t said anything. I didn’t announce myself. I didn’t say, “Hello.” I didn’t wave at Frankie or show a carrot or anything. Still, Frankie was heading my way so fast I checked my clothes to see if I was wearing orange.
I prudently took a step to the side from where Frankie was coming to avoid being shin slammed. The side step gave me a needed extra moment to wonder what Frankie was up to or was expecting from me.
There was no slow down to Frankie fervent pursuit to reach me. By the time Frankie was nose to feet with me I was still side-stepping so he didn’t run me down. Frankie finely came to a screeching halt right on my heals.
“Hello, Frankie.”
Frankie immediately started grazing all the grass around my feet.
“Okay. Well, it’s nice to see you too, Frankie.” I was a bit relived.
I took a couple steps away and sat down on the grass. Not to be left two feet away from me Frankie turned around to follow and then commenced to grazing the grass all around me.
Grazing next to my hip Frankie was dangerously close to grazing my shorts.
“No, no, no! No eating the shorts. Good Frankie.” Frankie looks …read more
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