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Posted by iZ's mom on August 19, 2001 at 13:24:20:
In Reply to: need some advise on rescued Ig (kinda long) posted by Sheri Shoemake on August 19, 2001 at 12:05:41:
THAT is one big ig!!!
i think that just about ANYthing is possible with an ig and that it is prob'y also possible that he will adjust given enough time ...
he's been the the only ig in the world as far as he's concerned and so it makes sense that he doesn't wanna even KNOW there are others, let alone actually have to see/smell them ... :)
i'd hazard a guess that he's only going to be happy if he is an "only ig" ...
and it makes sense that he's happier in the closet right now ~ that's what he's used to and we know igs tend to really HATE change ... at the same time, i'm guessing that he's feeling frustrated cuz he's now seen that it's possible to have a nicer home + be outside ~ but it's new and so it's scary ...
in the grand scheme of things, 5 mo prob'ly isn't a very long time as far as this guy is concerned ~ it's going to take alot of patience + effort to earn his trust after all he's been thru ...
WHAT reaction does he get when he charges open-mouthed??? from my experience with iZ, the more reaction he gets, the more it reinforces the behavior ... i've gone so far as to "suit up in armor" and face iZ down + let him charge ... this is definitely NOT something i recommend just ANYone do!!!
iZ went temporarily insane last summer ~ combination of mating season hormones, jeaslousy over a new g-baby AND a small foster ig i'd taken in AND health problems that i hadn't picked up on yet ... he was "only" 10#'s compared to Lizzie's 20#, but still ...
i finally decided i was going to have to reason with him in HIS language ... i put leather ankle boots on, my heaviest blue jeans, my heaviest long-sleeved sweatshirt and then a quilt over my shoulders like a cape ... (+ checked to make sure i had plenty of betadine + bandages, just in case ...)
i'd go into his room and he'd be above my head on his shelf ... he'd bob, i'd bob even harder back at him ... he'd posture + flare his dewlap ~ I'D jump up on a milk crate and flare my "cape" ... he'd lunge, i'd catch him in the cape and hold him til he'd calm abit and talk nicely to him ... and then he would go take his bath ...
at one point, i'd resigned myself to the fact i was prob'ly gonna get chomped ~ so i decided ok, i'm going to at least have control of WHERE i get chomped ... my right forearm is always the closest thing to his face ~ it was also the most "heavily armored" part of me! when he did finally get ahold of my arm, he got the *2* layers of sweatshirt and none of my skin ... well gee whiz ~ what's the point of biting someone if they don't REACT at all, except to pick you up + say dumb sweet things to you!?!?!? :)
but he learned that *I* am the alpha ig here! :)
don't know if any of that helps ...
i DO think with alot of time + effort Lizzie's attitude can turn around ... and i think he's still prob'ly really stressed/scared from the drastic changes in the last few months ...
good luck!
Bon. + iZ
