patience, patience, and more patience

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Joan on March 04, 2000 at 16:42:36:

In Reply to: Okay, so I have the diet, habitat, lights and heat all under control, about the handling part this is where I am still having some problems. posted by Linda on March 03, 2000 at 12:28:57:

What helped with Sneakers is that I would go to his cage and just talk with him. Then I would open the top, yes I would have to come in from above, wasn't good in the beginning, and put my hand in the cage. Just leave it there and talk until Sneakers calmed down. That was all I did. After a couple of days he didn't freak at having the top open or my hand in the cage.

Then we progressed. With my hand in the cage I would move it as close to Sneakers as I could get without him going crazy and just talk with him. I would not leave the cage if he went nuts. Only leave after you have been able to have your hand in the cage for 5/10 min without problem. Be sure and do this exercise when you have the time.

It will get to where you can touch the chest without them getting upset. Resist the urge to pick them up, just stand there and talk to them. This will then follow by you being able to slide your hand under them a little and they still don't freak. Anytime they freak out, you must stay there. Only end the sessions when he is being good. My theory is that you are first teaching them that you won't go away it they are being bad, but if they are calm you will go away, which is what they want. After a while I think they forget that they wanted you to go away.

I did this 3 to 4 times a day for a couple of months slowly progressing. During those sessions I didn't take him out of his cage but was just there. However, I did take Sneakers out once a day to be with me. This formula worked great for me. Just remember always move slowly and in little increments, nothing fast and threatening.

Joan (good luck & patience)

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: What helped with Sneakers is that I would go to his cage and just talk with him. Then I would open the top, yes I would have to come in from above, wasn't good in the beginning, and put my hand in the cage. Just leave it there and talk until Sneakers calmed down. That was all I did. After a couple of days he didn't freak at having the top open or my hand in the cage. : Then we progressed. With my hand in the cage I would move it as close to Sneakers as I could get without him going crazy and just talk with him. I would not leave the cage if he went nuts. Only leave after you have been able to have your hand in the cage for 5/10 min without problem. Be sure and do this exercise when you have the time. : It will get to where you can touch the chest without them getting upset. Resist the urge to pick them up, just stand there and talk to them. This will then follow by you being able to slide your hand under them a little and they still don't freak. Anytime they freak out, you must stay there. Only end the sessions when he is being good. My theory is that you are first teaching them that you won't go away it they are being bad, but if they are calm you will go away, which is what they want. After a while I think they forget that they wanted you to go away. : I did this 3 to 4 times a day for a couple of months slowly progressing. During those sessions I didn't take him out of his cage but was just there. However, I did take Sneakers out once a day to be with me. This formula worked great for me. Just remember always move slowly and in little increments, nothing fast and threatening. : Joan (good luck & patience)

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]