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- #241
Yay!!"No real updates!" - OK, that is actually good.
" We've just continued to do French door visual access times, and they've gone about the same - she sometimes starts off wanting to go by the door and watch/growl and he is fine." - Perfect
" They had a couple of batting incidents but that was when he was sticking his paw under the door trying to get out." - OK, expected. Depending on how it goes it could be pretty neutral. And if they rebound to "normal" quickly after it is not an issue.
" Ultimately both went to take a nap in their respective spots (obviously him in the French door room) and it's been good." - Great
" She's grown in confidence going past the door - she sometimes just delivers a hiss and then continues on her way." - I LOVE this!!! This is a big deal and is very helpful. She is responding to his trust and confidence.
"Today we did a brief treats session with him in "his" bedroom and her just coming out of her room." - Wow, this is one of the most "challenging" setups. As he wants out typically.
"He did rush the gate a bit then - not a charge, but quick interest" - Ok, pretty good.
" - and she did two strong hisses and ran away. She didn't run far - just a couple of feet - enough to feel away from him." - OK, pretty good. l like that it was only a few feet. Really great.
"He didn't do his snorting - just a bit of staring - and I called his name a couple of times and threw a treat and then he went for it." - Able to big distracted which is awesome.
"Then, with a bit of coaxing, she came back to the gate area and had her treats too (growling all the while)." - AWESOME!!! This is a big deal. And if he was good when she came back it builds that trust.
"So it's like you said - she's building trust, but still reacts when he does something she doesn't like." - Totally fine, it is a process and she is making it.
"She's growing in confidence too re: sleeping outside in the main area. She has a new spot she likes right by the window - and Hawthorne sleeps in it too, so that's good." - Perfect!!!
"That's all for now!" - OK, well, I think this is actually more progress. I am feeling really good with this.
"We'll try next week with just the gate and see how that goes. " - Sounds good. Do it when you feel confident. Just let me know before you do it.
"The other option would be to put a gate on the French door room and continue to do the same thing but just with the gate instead of the door - Hawthorne in the room, her out here. Just a thought. " - Great option if it is not too much of a hassle.
"Hope you are having a good weekend! " - With updates like this it makes it great!!!
Keep up the great work!!!! You are getting close!!!
A few quick updates although basically everything continues the same. I've been too afraid to try gate visits (I know I need to be brave!! ) so we've continued on using the French door - always the same combo: Hawthorne in the room; Florie out here. Last night we tried me in the room with Hawthorne and Florie outside with my partner again.
I would say she has grown in confidence - she continues to growl at the drop of a hat but now will sit RIGHT in the door window and stare in, even if Hawthorne is there. And Hawthorne, to his credit, has done amazingly well - he still looks away or will come for treats, even with her right there in the doorway. They still do the batting/pawing under the door but that's largely inspired by Hawthorne trying to get out of the room. He did a little bit of his snorting thing but it was minor.
I have another video to share from last night. The link is here: Hawthorne & Florie - French Door.mp4
They both lie down on opposite sides of the door in the video - that's totally new. They've never done that before. They're doing it again now (the next morning) - both lying by the door. She is actively growling. Ok, now she has left to go lie in front of the treat cupboard.
After the video ended last night (a few minutes later, that is), he did run up to the door once but I think it was because she went past quickly and the movement caught his eye - when he's in the room he's on alert for any sign someone might come to let him out. I don't think it was her, per se.
She is getting a bit better just leaving him alone instead of sitting and staring; that said, she still really wants to do that, especially last night with me in the room.
Hawthorne also slept under the bed last night for a little bit, which worried me, but then he came and slept on the bed too, so I'm trying not to read too much into those little things. I still don't think he has really high confidence but he's doing better.
We are doing another French door access time this morning. She's been out for about two hours and Hawthorne is in the room with his litter box/water/etc. I'd say it's about the same. She does want to sit there and growl but she is also distractable (playing, eating treats). She came and took a nap in my lap and on her tree. She's in my lap right now. He's sleeping under the bed, I think.
So that's where we are!