Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom  This reminds me EXACTLY of "breaking" a horse (though I hate that term). With Layla, like horses, you want them to learn that in the presence of chosen stimuli, they are safe.
For ex., for a horse, you'd be hanging onto it's rope, take a plastic grocery bag and start introducing it - mildly at first, progressing to waving it all around their ears and face - all in one session often. They simply learn, very quickly, that there is nothing to fear - even though it's a new noise. You're basically extinguishing skittish behavior.
So w/ Layla:
*sit w/ her and bowl in your lap - move bowl around, wave it around
*Layla in lap - start tapping bowl on floor; continue until "flinch" response stops
*make louder, unexpected noises w/ bowl (Layla still in lap); toss bowl etc.
*progress to her out of lap and you making noises w/ bowl
You're truly teaching her that she is safe among this noise.
Good luck! |
GREAT idea... not sure why i didn't think of that.. i've taken tons of psych courses and one way to extinguish a phobia is flooding, which is JUST what you said... thanks! poor Layla.. lots of stress coming her way! but i think this will work so well!!!