DennasMom
Well-Known Member
I agree with Hector, 100%
Here are some additional/complementary thoughts:
1. Let him eat in peace - find him a good, quiet spot where he can see people approach with his good eye, so he can relax and eat peacefully. Stressful eating can cause bad reactions (like gulping food and bloat issues).
2. Work on impulse control - search youtube for "it's yer choice" for a good starting point, but there are LOTS of examples out there.
3. Trade up... when he's comfortable eating, alert him to your presence with either a "hey" a "psssst" or a soft touch on the bum - have him "sit" and "wait" while you put something REALLY tasty in his dish (like a small piece of cheese or deli meat). Do this often to start, then just randomly, so interruptions when eating become a cue that "something GOOD is coming".
4. when out and about, make sure he knows YOU will alert him to new stuff coming up and protect him from the unknown... then work on his self-confidence in supervising crazy stuff - go watch some kids soccer games, for example, and just have him sit and watch, and give LOTS of praise and treats for him being calm and curious, or even ignoring the game and looking at YOU (that's a REALLY good reaction). Watch from a distance where he's comfortable to just sit and not get anxious, which might be far away to start with.
Try to keep things fun and light, let him know he's safe and he'll hopefully relax around everyone a bit.
Here are some additional/complementary thoughts:
1. Let him eat in peace - find him a good, quiet spot where he can see people approach with his good eye, so he can relax and eat peacefully. Stressful eating can cause bad reactions (like gulping food and bloat issues).
2. Work on impulse control - search youtube for "it's yer choice" for a good starting point, but there are LOTS of examples out there.
3. Trade up... when he's comfortable eating, alert him to your presence with either a "hey" a "psssst" or a soft touch on the bum - have him "sit" and "wait" while you put something REALLY tasty in his dish (like a small piece of cheese or deli meat). Do this often to start, then just randomly, so interruptions when eating become a cue that "something GOOD is coming".
4. when out and about, make sure he knows YOU will alert him to new stuff coming up and protect him from the unknown... then work on his self-confidence in supervising crazy stuff - go watch some kids soccer games, for example, and just have him sit and watch, and give LOTS of praise and treats for him being calm and curious, or even ignoring the game and looking at YOU (that's a REALLY good reaction). Watch from a distance where he's comfortable to just sit and not get anxious, which might be far away to start with.
Try to keep things fun and light, let him know he's safe and he'll hopefully relax around everyone a bit.