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- Apr 17, 2006
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He's an odd little duck. Soft does not even begin to describe his temperament. Seriously, think Chinchilla level of soft, and you've got it.
He's a smart little fellow. I watched him today trying to slide the bolts on a cage at work to get food. He clearly has some puzzle solving skills, and decent focus.
When I work with him, though, he just shuts down. If he can't figure out what I want in a try or two, he just sits there and looks at me. I try to keep sessions short and lively, and make sure I throw in plenty of things he knows so that he can continue to earn treats and stay interested.
I don't get a sense of frustration from him, just a total giving up. He does not offer behaviors to me at all, just stares.
On the other hand, when things click for him, they click hard. He goes from the blank look to "OMG Mom! This is what you wanted? This is it? This is the greatest thing ever. Wheeeeeeeee!"
The latest trick we've been working on is jumping onto my back. We started on a level where he pretty much had to step on. Ok, he got that. Then I moved a step or two away. Several days of work got him to do a quick leap. Jumping up a few inches with me bent over like Quasimodo took several weeks. Then, in the space of 10 minutes, it clicked and he was flying at me while I stood straight up and hitting the mark every time.
I have never used harsh methods with him. I do not know what the previous owner did, but it doesn't seem like it was anything, positive or negative.
He lacks confidence with just about everything, with I know is in large part from poor socializing before I got him.
How can I boost his little confidence? He's so afraid of making a mistake that he just won't do anything.
He's a smart little fellow. I watched him today trying to slide the bolts on a cage at work to get food. He clearly has some puzzle solving skills, and decent focus.
When I work with him, though, he just shuts down. If he can't figure out what I want in a try or two, he just sits there and looks at me. I try to keep sessions short and lively, and make sure I throw in plenty of things he knows so that he can continue to earn treats and stay interested.
I don't get a sense of frustration from him, just a total giving up. He does not offer behaviors to me at all, just stares.
On the other hand, when things click for him, they click hard. He goes from the blank look to "OMG Mom! This is what you wanted? This is it? This is the greatest thing ever. Wheeeeeeeee!"
The latest trick we've been working on is jumping onto my back. We started on a level where he pretty much had to step on. Ok, he got that. Then I moved a step or two away. Several days of work got him to do a quick leap. Jumping up a few inches with me bent over like Quasimodo took several weeks. Then, in the space of 10 minutes, it clicked and he was flying at me while I stood straight up and hitting the mark every time.
I have never used harsh methods with him. I do not know what the previous owner did, but it doesn't seem like it was anything, positive or negative.
He lacks confidence with just about everything, with I know is in large part from poor socializing before I got him.
How can I boost his little confidence? He's so afraid of making a mistake that he just won't do anything.