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Originally Posted by Beer Belly  Thanks for the articles and suggestions.....I've got some reading to do. Yesterday he was at the door barking at someone walking thier pup down the street, and the wife had put coins in a can, and shook it when he started barking.....he coward down and stopped......I like his reaction of stop barking, but not the fear reaction. |
Suspect you are saying what my novice eye sees, the distraction worked, but that triggered its own fear rather than calm. What happens if you quietly put the can down in front of Toby? Will he play with it?
As with Katy (who was not toy motivated--"Look at me") and Nellie (who was toy motivated--"Find your toy"), the trick is to find a distraction that comforts him. Then calming down becomes something he has more control over.
My little one will be socialized in the stroller for only another week, and she'll probably travel around in her pet sling for a while longer. As she has more an more freedom, I'll surely be seeking out a distraction that comforts her.
I do intend for her to go to school. We may learn a lot in that process.