Need help: Fear of object

[Sendiulino]

This is regarding Jasper.

I play the flute, but I haven't picked it up in probably a couple of years due to the fact that it needed repair. Recently I finally took it in to the shop.

So now I have my working flute back! I bring it up, put it together, and Sam is all "oooo LEMME LICK IT" and I played it and she was very interested in it.

Then I realized Jasper was no where to be seen. I figure he was fearful of the sound. So I went and got him, brought him out, had Jordan hold him, and I played a few notes. We were going to give him treats for sticking around.

... but something we didn't expect happen. Jasper is PETRIFIED of this flute. He started shaking like a leaf and wouldn't move or look up or anything. I tried introducing the flute to him sans-sound, and he just shook more. So I put it in the case and closed / latched the case and showed it to him. He wouldn't go NEAR it, nor will he even consider eating anywhere near it (a sign of severe anxiety).

I put the flute in its case on a table and left it for two days. Then, while Jasper was on my lap today, I reached back and touched the case.

He FREAKED out! He started shaking like crazy and finally he fled from the room. We tried taking him back into the living room but he immediately left and went back to the bedroom. He didn't come out for hours.

I barely even touched the case and this is what happened.

What the heck am I gonna do? I'm expecting to join the community band soon.

Suggestions?

[Eskies4Us]

I don't have any words of advice for you, but I also play the flute. Bandit does not like it, but he just howls at me. I can usually snap my fingers at him and he will stop. If it seems to be bothering him, I let him outside while I play. The other two don't react to it.

[Geno]

Find something he loves like playing tug, and just have the case near by until he ignores it. Then keep moving it closer slowly over time (days), until he ignors it. He needs desensitized to it very very slowly.

Good luck!

Geno

[Sendiulino]

I took the flute case off the shelf, I put it on the floor on the opposite end of the living room, and Jasper left the room and ran to the bedroom.

Sigh.

He won't get anywhere near it, I've never seen anything like it. 

[Yukon]

It seems to me that you're doing the right things -- leaving it out where he can see it and get used to it (in the same spot for at least a few days), giving him treats when it is around and he's around it, etc.  It just may take more time for him to realize that the flute isn't an evil monster. Being in the same room is probably a bit much yet, so just break it down further and make it easier. Maybe have someone feeding him in another room while you practice?  Play in another room during their mealtimes (so they can hear the sound and associate it with dinner, but it's not right in his face)?  Use really, really high value treats (whatever is his absolute favorite -- hot dogs, steak, cheese, etc). Let him dictate what he's comfortable with (he'll take treats) and start there -- on a different floor with no playing, in a different room with no playing, in a different room with soft playing, and very very slowly work him up to more. Don't try to do too much too fast.  Each session start with where he was confortable last time and make sure he's okay, and when he seems to be doing well you can try to bring him a little closer (eg. closer to the door of the room he's in that leads to the room where the flute is, etc).

Hang in there and good luck!

[Geno]

Maybe cover it with a towel, or something with your scent or his scent on it. then slowly over days uncover it bit by bit. It could be a scent issue too.

Geno

[Sendiulino]

Last night I got him in the same room with the open flute case voluntarily. He seems to have a better relationship with the flute in the bedroom than in the livingroom, probably because if I take it out in the living room the first place he runs to is the bedroom, so I decided to start out in the bedroom this time.

He stuck around while I opened it up, he sniffed it in the case, I took out the head piece and he sniffed that. Then I put it together and he fled, haha.

Baby steps

[Geno]

Keep repeating, he'll come around...

Geno

[Yukon]

Keep repeating, he'll come around...

Geno

Yes! He'll get there eventually.  Next time, try to quit while you're ahead -- put it away before he gets scared and runs off.  If taking it out of the case is as far as he can go, that's ok -- once he's fine with you doing that a few times, try putting it together.  Baby steps!