When can I start handling my new foal that's scared of touch?

Hello. Your colt may allow you to touch him, but he may already consider you either a threat or a playmate. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference. Foals are incredibly capable of learning & being trained, even within the first weeks after birth. I do not see a halter on him, so this is the first thing you need to do. He needs handling several times a day, learning especially to walk quietly with you. Carry a crop or whip & use it only defensively if he strikes at you. The earlier training begins in the life of a horse, the more effective it will be, providing it is done properly. Always keep an eye on this guy & expect him to take shots at you. Use your voice & the crop if he looks like he is up to mischief because he is not too young to learn that you are the boss. Horses learn by reinforcement, so be consistent & he will learn. I've been kicked by a few foals in my life, too. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. He may just be scared and needs time to get used to people petting him on the head. I would associate treats with being pet on the head so that he enjoys it rather than fears it. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is gorgeous!! Some cats are just a bit more timid though that tends to get better with time. I would encourage you to speak softly to her and try to avoid sudden movements when interacting with her. There is a product called Feliway which can help cats feel more at ease in situations that are stressful to them and this may be helpful. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recently raised a litter of puppies from a dog I adopted, & at about the same age, 1 of the puppies became very shy & scared. If you picked her up, she would sometimes scream like she was being murdered. With extra attention, over the next 4 weeks, she became much calmer & less anxious. She was never as assured as her litter mates, and all I can hope is she continues to mature & do well. All animals have different personalities, & at this young age, you cannot say how one will turn out. Give him as much of your attention as possible, & when it comes time to place him ( if you decide to ), it might be best to find someone with some experience raising dogs ( not a first-time dog owner ), & is possibly willing to put a little extra time in to train & socialize this pup. Take care.

Hello. The best thing to do is start slow & put the harness on for a few minutes 2-3 times a day. Reward her with many treats & lots of petting to calm her. Then attach a leash & just let her drag it around for a few days. Once she seems comfortable, ask her to follow or approach you while gently pulling on the leash. I always have a tasty treat in my hand to encourage her. With just a little time & patience, all dogs will get used to being on a leash & harness. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with Bear so far. Continue interacting with her like you are as often as possible because this will help you gain her trust. If you want to try and hold her, try placing your hand open in her enclosure (palm up) with a small treat inside. Allow her to slowly come to you and walk into the palm of your hand. After she does this a few times then you can gently close your hand and lift her out of the enclosure. The first few times you hold her only do it for a short period of time so she doesn’t become to stressed. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. First, know that this is normal behavior. Mares especially can be aggressive to geldings & even other mares. It can take several days to up to 3 months for everyone to settle down. If possible, the horses should be separated where they can see, smell & possibly touch each other, but can flee if the situation requires it. If you can not place the horses in adjacent paddocks, they should have separate resources far enough apart so that no guarding occurs. 2 water sources & feeding far enough apart ( or confining the mare ) until all grain is consumed & for up to 20 minutes after is necessary. Once the gelding has finished & is grazing quietly, you can release the mare. If any of the horses are wearing shoes, pulling them temporarily may prevent significant injury. If the behavior does not seem to at least be calming down in another week or so, you may need to have your mare evaluated for an ovarian problem or even granulosa cell tumor. These can cause significant hormonal changes in mares resulting in almost stallion type behavior. Have patience, a week is only a short time to try to buddy up two horses. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.