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Post by easttex on Jul 29, 2015 5:56:48 GMT -5
Yesterday I had to start Peppy's day by scraping off another chunk of concrete that builds up on the side of his face. He doesn't enjoy it much, so I figured he might be irascible for the rest of the day. But they don't like to be predictable. He was in Full Cuddle Mode all day. He does this thing where he gets under my chin and pushes up with his head, like he just can't get quite close enough. It's enough to melt the coldest heart.  |
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Post by aaron on Jul 29, 2015 9:04:04 GMT -5
Aww, what a good boy that Peppy is. Cupcake does a chin nuzzle as well, although she doesn't do it as much as she used to. I love cuddling with that little bird body. So much sweetness.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 29, 2015 16:45:06 GMT -5
I dont really get cuddles but I got a wonderful facial this morning - I was terribly impressed because he was so gentle. He has become very demanding and yells all the time for my attention. He wants what he wants NOW - dont worry that I might be busy doing something else - it has to be NOW. Very exhausting. Back to the vet tomorrow for a check up and blood test.
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Post by aaron on Jul 29, 2015 16:57:59 GMT -5
Cupcake gets in those demanding moods frequently. Today when she started screaming at me (and I was sure it was not an alarm call), I immediately took her into the living room, caged her and closed my bedroom door (my desk is in the bedroom)... She threw a tantrum for about 20 minutes, then quieted down. As soon as she was quiet for 10 minutes I came out and gave her praise, brought her back into the room, and not a single scream since. I think I'm going to have to do this a lot, in the long term, but I'm hoping it will get her to stop using screaming as a way to communicate what she wants.
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Post by easttex on Jul 29, 2015 17:14:39 GMT -5
Don't let me paint too rosy a picture. He's still a quaker, and what he wants, be it cuddles or food or whatever, he wants NOW! Delayed gratification is just not in the quaker playbook. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 29, 2015 20:13:07 GMT -5
Shah never stops screaming. Have tried everything, he just keeps going until I drop everything to see to him. I have to say it is getting a bit overwhelming as I have other things that need to be attended to. In fact, it is really getting me down.
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Post by aaron on Jul 29, 2015 22:49:45 GMT -5
Ugh.. yeah, I have a really hard time with screaming too. It's a problem for me when she gets like that. Have you tried caging and covering him briefly when he starts screaming?
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 30, 2015 0:10:34 GMT -5
Yep, doesnt stop him. I cant get over how he just doesnt stop - it goes on and on and on - even after an hour, it is still going on. He freaks out if I have anything in my hands so cant do paperwork and cant go on the computer. I do an enormous amount of work for a horse rescue group at night and it is mounting up as, by the time, I put him to bed, the dog wants attention. I am organising for my housemate to take the dog for at least an hour each night (when she is home) so I can get some work done  |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 30, 2015 3:40:54 GMT -5
Jan, does he do it he thinks you're not home?
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 30, 2015 4:10:33 GMT -5
My housemate says he is quiet during the day and starts screaming about 4.15pm (I usually get home between 5 and 5.30pm). If I stay in the room with him, he is quiet but the moment I leave, he screams. He is quiet now as he has gone to bed. The dog peed on the carpet right in front of me so she is banished from the room for a while. These animals are wearing me out - I feel I don't have a moment to myself and I am so far behind with so many things that I don't know what to do. It is starting to really depress me as I don't look forward to coming home anymore.
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Post by easttex on Jul 30, 2015 6:02:44 GMT -5
I'm sorry that Shah's medical recovery has not cured all the ills, Jan, but at least now you can be reasonably certain that what you're seeing is truly behavioral, and there are things you can do about it. For starters, can you put him to bed earlier? If you have limited timed time with him already, that may not seem ideal, and it doesn't address the behavior itself, but it would give you a time-out. It sounds like you really need a break. See what you think of this: goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2008/05/stop-you-parrot-from-screaming-for.html |
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Post by aaron on Jul 30, 2015 9:41:37 GMT -5
Yeah, when Cupcake has a day that is really trying for me, I always put her to bed early. I figure more time in darkness is always a good thing if they are acting that way. I'm sure this is extremely frustrating. I can definitely relate to some degree. My nerves really don't handle this stuff well, and between Cupcake and 9 yr old girl, being at home can be anything but relaxing or productive. I used to enjoy working from home, but now, it is an exercise in managing Cupcake's mood. It can be okay, but it is generally less relaxing than going into the office. I find myself feeling trapped at times, so I definitely sympathize with your plight, which is clearly worse than my own. Somehow you've got to find a way to make sure Shah never feels like the screaming works, because he's probably going to keep doing it as long as it is proven to be effective at getting what he wants. I'm not sure how you can do that in your situation though. Perhaps the article Easttex posted will help. |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 31, 2015 3:30:22 GMT -5
Jan, I agree with Easttex that you need a break of some sort....I know it's hard to actually do, but you do sound VERY down. I finally started doing less schoolwork at home (after some scary heart symptoms for the last 3 months) and now take Vit D, Calcium & magnesium tablets and feel a bit better for it. Would it be worth getting a bloodtest/check at the doc? Just a thought.
I realise though that it's not your work that's responsible for wearing you down, so that is quite tough to sort out. I wish I could be more helpful. Is it possible for someone to look after one or two or your animals for a few days so you can recharge your batteries at home?
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 31, 2015 4:22:27 GMT -5
Due to health issues, I have a blood test every 6 months. Already on vitamin D - the rest is fine. I work in a highly stressful job 5 days a week - am out of the house anywhere from 11-12 hours a day and my batteries wear down. I also suffer from insomnia and have only been getting 3-4 hours sleep each night for the last 2 weeks. I was very ill for a long time at the end of last year and have never fully recovered so I get physically exhausted very quickly. Plus I spend one day a week with Izzie - she needs more work. I have arranged for the dog to spend a couple of days at a very swanky dog minding place - she will love it. Shah was good tonight. Believe me, I have tried everything over the years with him - nothing seems to work. I will keep working on things with him. The girl at the dog minding place said that Emma's behaviour is very typical for a Pomeranian so I feel a lot better about that and did some research tonight and the toileting in the house is related to separation anxiety plus Poms like to rule the house. Will work on that so she doesn't get bored when I am not here. I am trying to be a good carer for all my animals but I struggle at times.
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Post by easttex on Jul 31, 2015 7:48:28 GMT -5
I know you don't like to think of pills as the first resort, but I have a recommendation for you if you haven't tried this yet. I've never been a good sleeper, but a couple years ago it got really bad. I got a scrip for sleeping pills, and I took them for a couple months, just to get through the worst of it. The newer ones don't make you drowsy the next day, and in fact I didn't feel drowsy after taking them, but they helped me get some uninterrupted sleep. I didn't like the idea of taking them, but I couldn't argue with the results. I also think I know how this is going to sound to you, but you should forget that you've already tried everything with Shah. (Are your eyes rolling? ) You've probably picked up some things over the years that you didn't have before, and it's worth trying some again. I posted the link I did because she talks about some of the complications that you experience with Shah. In one case, she extinguished the screaming in two weeks, and it took six in another. Now, that comes from a professional trainer, and I know I am never as consistent as she is. But whenever I have tried to follow her advice, and I have not achieved the desired end, it is because I don't do consistently what I know I'm supposed to be doing as the trainer. |
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