Training Our Bettong!

[@brandilee520]

Holy mother of cuteness it's like a kangaroo and rat had a baby. 😍🦘🐀

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

Brandi LeeMa I just glanced over at my ratties, and O M G YOU’RE TOTALLY RIGHT!

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

I thought Sydney was rat-sized based on the preview but she's comparitively huge! 😁

[@thebugbear]

She's doing so well! We adopted an older cat and have been able to train her to sit, give her paw, turn, and stay in a marked spot while we're preparing her dinner (that one still takes a couple of tries usually). Guests are always really surprised we were able to train her but with a clicker it was really easy and fun.

[@KarlBunker]

Never heard of bettongs before, but now I know you can teach an old one new tricks.

[@Pixaley]

Jessie, this was wholesome on a whole level of THANK YOU for all of us stuck in a world of worry and stress.

[@carolprince16]

Hope you're keeping well and safe, Jessi. Always a pleasure to see Sydney - been a while since we've seen her. She's stinkin' cute!

[@DrSteelRose]

My cat used to meow everytime she thinks it's time to give her food. I somehow ended up training her that if she wanted to ask for food she should touch my nose instead (I thought it would be less noisy this way). Now, even though she does that, not ever time she asks for food it's time to give it to her, so when I don't give her food she now meows and touches my nose until I give her food. I think I messed up. :S

[@MrMctastics]

SteelRose that sounds like a good way to get your eye scratched

[@Tekker2234]

you could try giving her food after an alarm (or other distinct signal) which would ensure you give food on time and tells your cat when they are going to get food

[@enviromental2565]

My youngest kitty used to bite feet when she was hungry. We soon taught her to give kitty kisses instead. Now she licks my neck and kisses my eyelid. Silly kitty.

[@DrSteelRose]

@@Tekker2234 I like that. I think I should try it. Thanks!

[@DrSteelRose]

@@MrMctastics No, she's very gentile. She touches my nose with her nose and then looks at me with very big eyes waiting for my reaction.

[@r7yrb7]

That was great. I totally love Bettongs. It’s been so sad here seeing so much habitat lost to fire.

[@BrittanyMichelle4]

The little kisses at the end are just the sealing of her training! Shes so sweet! 🥰

[@nanobyte1]

finally, some good and needed content on my feed!

[@Apostate_ofmind]

First impulse upon seeing the bettong: "bbbabyy"

[@mobius273]

Big rat baby

[@taylorfreyermuth]

These are the cutest animals ever!!!!❤️😊

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

Bettongs are cute, but they've got nothing on Quokkas or Numbats

[@moiraaoibheane]

Great job Sydney! Clicker training is the best. I use it for both my cats and my budgies.

[@blueguy12345]

What a cute animal. And she does look very smart.

[@latieplolo]

After I taught my cat Shake Hands, she started touching her paw to everyone’s hand that came to our house and became furious when they didn’t give her a treat.

[@lyndacarter5090]

So much for the adage, ‘old dog, new tricks’.

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

I want to call it a "KangaShrew"

[@kaiyakershaw1028]

She's so cute and so smart!

[@annettemurielle]

Ah! I'm totally in love with Syndey! :-)

[@I_am_Lauren]

Such a fast learner!

[@pyrebird7567]

My family fostered a dog for just over 2 weeks, a 5 year old, male,newly neutered, mutt. We know he had Amstaff(or Pit Bull) and Labrador in him, but I’m pretty sure there was something else in the mix. This dog had never lived indoors, probably not properly socialized at all and had not be taught how to walk with a leash. We’re also pretty sure he was pushed down some stairs at some point in the past. And while 1 member of my family has extensive experience with dogs, she hasn’t owned a dog for probably +25 years and everyone else was semi-experienced. Sounds like a recipe for disaster? It was the complete opposite. He was probably the most enthusiastic dog I’ve ever interacted with. He was so happy and just really wanted to listen and please us. So with just over 2 weeks, and no really formal training sessions (except walking on a leash) we managed to get him to completely understand sit, back up, wait and go ahead, and we would also had had down down if we had a couple more days. My mom also did manage to get him to walk properly on a leash with her, no one else did but we did at least get him to stop chocking himself with his collar(a normal collar, not a choke collar). At least until someone walked past him, because them he got way to enthusiastic about saying hello, but not so enthusiastic that we couldn’t handle it. We would have kept him if for some weird reason he set of my dads fur allegedly, that normally only reacts to cats, he had great potential and was just a really sweet dog. I just hope he’s happy in his forever home.

[@stardust6771]

Sooo Cute!☆☆ ☆She's like a mix of a fancy mouse & a super tiny kangaroo.♡

[@lizd.2343]

Yes, this is the perfect birthday video! Bettong is so cute

[@StarScapesOG]

So precious...

[@elizabethharttley4073]

Well done you two. Thanks for creating another useful video.

[@GiggleBlizzard]

A+ to your camera person, this intimate sor t of filming is amazing. I know you had a reason for doing it this way but I gotta say, if you can, I'd love more of this kind of footage where we are focused on the animal and sort of following it... It's like a documentary, I loved seeing the little bugger up close and intimately (from the zoom) and your camera person certainly can handle it! More freely filmed/motioned camera stuff! She's gorgeous up close!

[@atonegames]

Dude, she is so cute and smart! Really informative, I'll use these techniques.

[@nathandupuis2565]

Thanks for posting, marsupials are the best! If you guys do target training with your reptiles that would be fascinating to see sometime!

[@breearuffo9214]

She did sooooooo good omg 😁

[@kathysurber51]

That was fabulous. I use target training with my Goffin's Cockatoo. It real does work on pretty much any animal. Thanks for this video, it was just what I needed to get my mind off the stressful CORVID-19 video's. Take care, love you guys. 💖😊

[@LaineyBug2020]

Have you guys been negatively impacted by any closures or shortages? Have you had to implement any sort of routine changes for the animals? I hope all staff & residents can stay safe because your all too adorable!

[@quantumdino]

I love you guys so much and I love your human friends too. Thankyou for making me smile everyday. Keemosabe is amazing!

[@gordonwiley2006]

Someone's got to figure out some kind of hat with a pouch to help carry treats for the terrestrial animals.

[@jredmane]

You make training look so easy!

[@AlanCanon2222]

I wondered some time ago how we have marsupials (opossums) in the Americas, when the rest of the marsupial mammals are in Australia. It turns out I was asking the question completely backwards! Marsupials diverged from placental mammals like us, 50 million years ago, in present-day North America! In fact, some of the earliest marsupial fossils are found in Montana, where Sydney the Bettong now lives. Not only that, but the radiation to Australia took place by way of Antarctica (long before it was where it is now, at the South Pole). Think of Sydney's 50 million year journey across time and space, to come back all that way, to where his first pouchy ancestors lived! What a "hop"!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

She’s smart!

[@mmw55122]

Smart Girl!!

[@ross8671]

Amazing creature!!

[@amys1399]

I now want a Bettong!!! (Just kidding). She is soooo adorable and so very smart!!!!

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

Amy S ha ha! Exact same reaction of “I TOTALLY WANT ONE OF THESE [except for the part where they’re not actually domesticated animals, and seriously, why are they not!??]

[@melissasmith6762]

I almost bought one, but they can't cross state lines.

[@SamiBennett]

This is what I need right now ❤️

[@joselynmiller7452]

You should gives us a tour of your facility!!!

[@LanceTitan]

Look at the cute little face awwwwwww

[@kirstenbass9533]

Can you do training with the tortoises. Also, what kind of enrichment do you provide for them. I’m always looking for something new for my little guy.

[@turdl38]

she's adorable

[@jenniferleek833]

So cute .

[@QueenOfPessimism]

I’ve never heard of a Betong, but you saying they have very large tooth os frightening considering how small and cute they are😲

[@freddyfourfingerz9126]

That was awesome!

[@KenSharp]

Beautiful

[@chrisherbert9924]

Very cute

[@staceyroberts3468]

Too cute 😍

[@plot2themoon]

What do you do for animals that are not food motivated and can be scared of verbal praise as well?

[@cathyb1273]

Very cute little critter. Apparently you're are tasting good as she was licking your arm with a lot of enthousism. 😊

[@CarrotVeggieQueen]

Any advice for training a deaf ferret? Or any animal who is deaf and a clicker would not be usable with?

[@FellowLee]

+

[@DontTrippMe]

Very cute bounce mouse

[@rainbowraver666]

OMG where is the alligator pouch from? its so cute!!

[@Ravenzpeak]

She is sooo cute! I love her little ears, and she has very unique and elegant hands and feet. Does she interact with the other animals? I bet you could teach her all kinds of games as she seems very willing and interested .

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

My animals usually train me, cats and cavia are very good at training their humans... :)

[@spicypickle9815]

Bring it back home thanks

[@mstout2u]

Ok in 9 minutes you were able to get this weird animal to follow your target yet in a half hour my labridor retriever just sits there and just stares at either me or the treats. How long did this actually take?

[@gemmatus]

Can you train chickens? I imagine it would be harder because the ones I know don't trust me to be very close to them, & a target stick would probably scare them too

[@hpekristiansen]

I have a friend who was hospitalised after being beaten by one of those.

[@Judymontel]

I have two dogs - is it possible to train two at the same time or is it too prone to confusion and I'd best train them separately?

[@jm98]

If the dogs are not competetive you can try to teach one of them while the other is watching - I know a lot of dogs who learn by copying other dogs. It's best if you try both styles and decide which one works best

[@Judymontel]

@@jm98 Thanks! I'll try!

[@palomitapergamina]

I have a deaf cat. What could I use instead of a clicker? Some kind of gesture instead?

[@animalwondersmontana]

You can use a little keychain light that only comes on when you're pushing the button. Sometimes a distinct hand gesture can be used successfully as the marker (the clicker is just one tool that can be used to mark the moment the trainee does the correct behavior, we call it a marker). Vibrations through the floor might also work like a soft foot tap or better yet a small object that makes a vibration with a button touch, then just hold that against the floor. And if none of those options are working for you, keep in mind that you don't really need a marker to train basic behaviors like target, spin, and rise up :)

[@KY_CPA]

Can we get a did training video with best tips and tricks?

[@Chris_Denora]

I love Sydney’s tiny hands ♥

[@electronicsheep0911]

I managed to clicker train my ferrets. However only one of them is very food motivated, he's learning how to give high five at the moment. The other one is way too laid back and disinterested in treats. :/ I guess it's a half win. :)

[@kitsune0rei]

I've been thinking about training my monitor lizard, but I'm not sure what I should get him to do. I'm sure he could learn. Though it may be hard to keep him from just going for the treat bag haha.

[@lNFINlTEx]

I suggest the spinning (walking in a circle) trick. I'm trying to teach that to my gerbils now.

[@pramitbanerjee]

can they get injured from using the scissors?

[@animalwondersmontana]

The treats were being delivered with forceps, smooth and round at the tips so she wouldn't hurt herself. Scissors would definitely be dangerous.

[@pramitbanerjee]

@@animalwondersmontana Oh! They were forceps. Thanks for answering.

[@whychoooseausername4763]

Why didn't you train her before? As your only marsupial, I'd imagine you would want to take her out on shows as an animal ambassador? Edit : explained halfway through the video, sorry!

[@animalwondersmontana]

😊 She's also not our only marsupial. We have sugar gliders and (recently) an opossum! We mainly use our sugar gliders for our Life Cycle lessons and Sydney is joins us for our Endangered/Survival lessons.

[@Cillana]

Betong kisses 😍

[@kiyanhassan6013]

❤️❤️❤️

[@kiyanhassan6013]

❤️

[@kiyanhassan6013]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ryleeking1570]

Are you Cali's sister the girl from The King of Random

[@belizeguy]

How did you end up with Sydney. Really sweet looking critter!

[@animalwondersmontana]

She was born at Animal Wonders! We took in our original male, Quigley, from another animal facility and then we ended up rescuing an older female, Babette. Babette was a displaced pet who's previous owner fell ill unexpectedly. The two eventually bonded and over several years had 6 joeys while they lived with us. The youngsters were placed with other education organizations across the country. When their 6th baby was still in the pouch, we sent Quigley and Babette to a larger animal facility who focuses on breeding endangered species, Oakcreek Zoological Conservatory. Sydney, the 5th joey, remained with us as an ambassador since we couldn't find a good genetic match to pair her with.

[@belizeguy]

@@animalwondersmontana Wow! What a story. I had not imagined that there would be that many Brush Tailed Bettongs in all of Montana! Awesome for you, Bettongs in general and Sydney. Be well and Stay Well!! Great video.

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Positive reinforcement training works well for all animals, including human offspring!!!

[@thegardenofeatin5965]

You have bettongs again?

[@animalwondersmontana]

Sydney has been with us since she was being born 6 years ago. Quigley and Babette are her parents, and Dundee is her brother. Those 3 were the ones in the video we made years ago being transferred to another animal facility. Sydney stayed at AW to be an ambassador.

[@pokemonhunter4life831]

so shes pretty much like a wallaby

[@animalwondersmontana]

Like a pint sized wallaby 😍

[@eshashujau4341]

Do a meet all my pets video

[@DrSteelRose]

I give food to my cat at specific hours. But she tends to ask for food before it's time. Is there something I can do so she knows to wait for her time to get food?

[@hajarmdn4883]

Personally I just ignore my cat if it's before time and I make him do tricks before his food. Such as sit, stand, spin etc so he knows that in the morning he'll have to wait for dad to wake up to give him food and he knows that if he wakes him up forcefully. He won't get any food. In the evening he comes to me and stand in front of me and meow, if I ignore him, he just sits down near his bowl until I come back with the clicker and then he's so eager to please so that he can get his food

[@DrSteelRose]

@@hajarmdn4883 Yes, I don't give her before it's time either. I don't want her to get used to eating sooner and sooner. But it's not her fault either that she doesn't know how to read a watch xD When she's hungry, she asks.. it's perfectly normal.

[@dorabrooks76]

@@DrSteelRose A lot of cat behavior/training sites recommend diverting their attention when they beg for food. For example, cat meows for food so you give them hugs and pets instead of food. This is supposed to condition them that begging doesn't result in food. 🤷‍♀️ Another thing I've heard is that some people have had luck with using an alarm with a unique sound or song as a signal that it's time to eat. That way the cat knows the alarm/song means food and that it's the _only_ time there is food. To be clear, I've not tried any of this myself, just read that a number of people have had these tips work for the exact issue you described. If you type "stop cat from begging for food" in Google, lots of ideas come up. No doubt one of these many techniques will work with your fur-baby. Good luck! 😊

[@smartfonegamejk1137]

♥️👍

[@esoteric9333]

It would be super neat to train an open mouth behavior to show off her teeth at education programs!

[@rosenmartin914]

"Betong" is Swedish for concrete 🤣

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

Lol, Americans say Australian names so funny!

[@animalwondersmontana]

I've heard it pronouced "bay-e-tong", is that how it sounds with an Australian accent?

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

AnimalWonders Montana no, there’s just a shorter ong at the end. As in song.

[@safuwanfauzi5014]

Potoroos more smaller than bettong, potoroos the smallest kangaroos

[@kimzastrow1268]

Looks like bingles but it is not a bingles

[@freddyfourfingerz9126]

"9:06" kisses

[@MrMovieman174]

Bettong in the native language means “tasty rat”

[@simgingergirl]

Looks like a rodent but assuming she isn't since you said she's related to kangaroos.

[@KitsukiiPlays]

Wish I could train some coworkers like that...

[@dorian4646]

Not gonna lie, i thought you're training a rat

[@markxxx21]

You should so something such as animals and the contravirus. Also I assume when you clicker train your animals you have to adjust their food at mealtime, otherwise they'd get too heavy???

[@kiyanhassan6013]

❤️❤️