She really didn't want me to put the tip of the tube in her mouth, so I had to change tactics. I put my finger in the corner of her mouth and clicked her for that. Then I held the tube in my hand while I put my finger in her mouth. Finally I moved the tip of the tube so it went into her mouth with my finger. After that, I built a little duration until I finally just pushed the plunger on the tube.
Her reaction? Completely non-remarkable. She said "hmm, that tastes funny. Can I have another treat now?" After all that work it was completely anti-climatic, but exactly what I was looking for.
In Coriander news, he got his teeth done again on Friday. Unfortunately he decided that he wasn't going to let the vet put the float tools in his mouth so he had to be sedated. That was depressing for me since he was so good about being wormed Wednesday. Part of the problem may have been that I wasn't the one holding him, the vet insisted I stay out of the stall due to my recent injury. She is pretty hopeful though that he'll eventually let her do it without any drugs at all, so after I told her that I've been clicker training him she said she'll stop back on evenings when she happens to be in town and work with me to desensitize him to the equipment. Pretty awesome, eh?
Remember when I mentioned that I'm planning on registering Gwen this month? I'm still planning that but getting decent pictures of her to send in with the paperwork has proved difficult. I asked one of the other boarders to take pictures while I held her earlier this week. Unfortunately, Gwen said "can't stand still. Going into heat." She was a complete wiggle worm and I only got two useful images. I tried again just tying her to the arena fence yesterday morning. I got a few more usable pictures but the square picture from the front is still eluding me, hopefully the third shoot will be the charm.
Good work on the worming! Gwen looks good. The injury on her back leg looks healed.
ReplyDeleteYour vet sounds great. I really like that fact that she wouldn't allow you in the stall for your own safety and to help you desensitize Coriander to the equipment is pretty darn awesome.
Yeah, her leg looks good. I'm hoping a little more hair will grown in and thin down that scar. I'm not betting the ranch on it though.
ReplyDeleteMy vet is great. She worked with my mom at the Equine Research Park here when she was a vet student. She remembers me from when I was knee high to a grasshopper so she's a little protective.
"so after I told her that I've been clicker training him she said she'll stop back on evenings when she happens to be in town and work with me to desensitize him to the equipment. "
ReplyDeleteWow. How cool. Best vet ever!!
Mary
Hi Mary, yeah, she's definitely the best!
ReplyDelete