Re: training/tranquilizers

[K S Swigart <katswig@deltanet.com>]

On Fri, 17 Apr 1998, Lysane Cree wrote:

> -I have been working hard and consistently at getting him to pick up 
> his hind feet, it is just a long slow process because we are equally 
> stubborn (I prefer "determined") - he is determined to not let me 
> pick his legs up and hold them up and I am determined to get him to
> let me do this.

Don't know if you have tried this, but you may want to consider being less
determined (i.e. stubborn).  Frequently it helps (yuo may already be doing
this) to let go of them before he tries to pull them away.  To start with,
this may mean all you do is touch them for a second.  What you are doing
is never pushing him > so far managed to get him to hold them up for a few
seconds, which is to the point where he has to complain to get you to
stop...you stop before this. 

Don't try to hold onto his foot...if he pulls it away, just let go.  What
he is learning is that just because you are holding up his foot doesn't
mean you are holding on to it so he can't use it if he wants to.

Over time you may find that he lets you hold it for longer and longer
between pulling it away.

kat
Orange County, Calif.