There is a huge difference between training and response behaviour. For instance a dog will learn to sit for food if it is trained. Trained behaviour is a direct result of the repetition of an exercise until it is done inherently or on one command. reward is usually the basis for speedy training. This can either be by positive reinforcement or treating. Snakes however, do not "train" easily. Some snakes will hold their defecation/urates until they are released onto grass and some owners thinks they have "trained" their snake to only wee or poo outside their enclosure. The fact is the snake, when outside and wriggling, is using all muscles the way nature intended rather than in the confined space of most enclosures. The wriggle/muscle action assists in the snake almost instantly releasing the waste material. As longqi said above, hatchys react to being touched by striking, head-butting and wriggling (or all three at the same time!!). When they are constantly handled firmly but gently and re-directed to where YOU want them to be, they settle down as you are no longer posing a threat to them and they get used to it. And that's the difference between training and learned behaviour - trained behaviour is inherent and instant after a given command (ie: SIT/STAY), a snake can't hear or recognise hand signals but it can remember how it has been handled, picked up, re-directed etc and therefore learns to react passively (in most instances anyway!). Your thoughts???