nodding in agreement ~ again .....

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Posted by iZ's mom on July 17, 2001 at 14:02:56:

In Reply to: Re: SWIMMING! posted by alisha on July 17, 2001 at 13:11:28:

make sure the water is shallow enough that the ig *can* touch the bottom, so he can stand rather than just float ... when i had a little "foster-iglet", i'd put a big rock in the middle of the tub so he *could* get out of the water if he waanted to and it seemed to help him relax a bit knowing that he *did* have some sort of choice in the matter ...

iZ was 10"svl when he + i met and it took him a LONG time to 1st get over his fear of the water and then to finally actually *enjoy* it the way he does now ... i started out the same as you're doing ~ leaning over the edge of the tub with iZ holding onto my arm ... since he had NO intentions of letting me put him IN the water at that point, i'd just let the tub slowly fill up so his tail + legs would be in the water ~ since he still had a death grip on my arm, he felt safe enough + finally got to understand that the water is ok ... and i had a little cup that i'd *slowly* pour water on him with ... talk softly + soothingly to him the entire time ...

it helped when realized that iZ positively HATES the sound of the faucet running, really freaks him out even now ... so i'd have the water fixed before bringing him in ... (now i have a shower hose attachment with no shower head on it ~ it's just a hose ~ so the water can keep trickling slowly + it keeps the water warm the whole time he's soaking) ...

but really, it's like everything else regarding igs ~ lots of time + patience, LOTS of reassuring conversation + praise + encouragement ... and MORE patience! *grin* ...

if you're *brave* ... you can set him on your knee while *you're* in the tub ... make sure his nails are trimmed before trying THAT one tho!! (ouch)

it took a long while, but iZ has got to where he *enjoys* his bath, not just "puts up with it" ... some nites, he'll soak for an hour ~ or more!

Bon. + iZ

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: make sure the water is shallow enough that the ig *can* touch the bottom, so he can stand rather than just float ... when i had a little "foster-iglet", i'd put a big rock in the middle of the tub so he *could* get out of the water if he waanted to and it seemed to help him relax a bit knowing that he *did* have some sort of choice in the matter ... : iZ was 10"svl when he + i met and it took him a LONG time to 1st get over his fear of the water and then to finally actually *enjoy* it the way he does now ... i started out the same as you're doing ~ leaning over the edge of the tub with iZ holding onto my arm ... since he had NO intentions of letting me put him IN the water at that point, i'd just let the tub slowly fill up so his tail + legs would be in the water ~ since he still had a death grip on my arm, he felt safe enough + finally got to understand that the water is ok ... and i had a little cup that i'd *slowly* pour water on him with ... talk softly + soothingly to him the entire time ... : it helped when realized that iZ positively HATES the sound of the faucet running, really freaks him out even now ... so i'd have the water fixed before bringing him in ... (now i have a shower hose attachment with no shower head on it ~ it's just a hose ~ so the water can keep trickling slowly + it keeps the water warm the whole time he's soaking) ... : but really, it's like everything else regarding igs ~ lots of time + patience, LOTS of reassuring conversation + praise + encouragement ... and MORE patience! *grin* ... : if you're *brave* ... you can set him on your knee while *you're* in the tub ... make sure his nails are trimmed before trying THAT one tho!! (ouch) : it took a long while, but iZ has got to where he *enjoys* his bath, not just "puts up with it" ... some nites, he'll soak for an hour ~ or more! : Bon. + iZ

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*nodding in agreement* ~ again .....

nodding in agreement ~ again .....