Barb Training: Last week we worked on getting her to take steps toward me and get closer to me. I know this doesn't look like much but it's huge for her. She's been pressed against the wall in a tight ball for a few weeks. The day after this video, she moved from hiding behind the recliner to laying onto the recliner. Soooooo proud of her. We have a loooooooong road to go and I still don't know what she went through to make her this fearful.
Today we worked on Barb standing up confidently and taking steps. Yes, mild setback near the end of the video but I wanted you to see it bc that's part of the process. It's important to remember that and not get discouraged. Patience and persistence are the keys to changing behavior (for humans and animals). What do you think Ginny Hahn ?
Training Barb: This terrified tripod needs a lot of work. Ginny Hahn saved her from life on the streets, but she's not quite adoptable yet.
I videoed a training session and my followers on IG enjoyed it so I wanted to share it here! The idea is not to reinforce the fear, so she only gets a treat when she's calm and quiet. I started with clicker training her to accept pets, but now am just using the word "pets" when I pet her. As the training continues, I increase the number of pets. When you are training, you always want to reward the positive, not punish the negative. I'm not punishing her for growling, but I am rewarding her for being calm and accepting pets.
Spitting is a form of defensive aggression and she doesn't swat or try to bite, so I know I'm safe in these situations, which is why I'm okay allowing her to lick my hand. She doesn't want to engage, she wants me to go away. (Do not put your hand in a cat's face if you aren't sure of your safety. I've been working with Barb for weeks so there is experience behind all of this.)
Barb doesn't have a rescue yet. She has already been vetted but I know a rescue will likely want to vet her again themselves, and she's just not handlable right now. A vet visit would also set her back. Once she's a little more accepting of contact, I hope to find a rescue to help her find a home.
