From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2008-11-12 13:54:21 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Obsession with digging
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "mackenziew82" <mackenziew82@...>
wrote:
I happily close
> the cupboard but then she digs the tiles outside constantly until i
let
> her back in. If I continue to ignore her, will she remember to eat?
> This is a serious question, she's not the brightest spark, and I
worry
> that her little brain only holds one thought at a time!!
Hi,
Challenge of course is the ferret's stubborn nature : ) I don't think
its likely that she will forget to eat. However, she has already
learned that persistence pays off because you have opened the cupboard
for her on at least one occasion or more.
We know from animal studies in conditioning that a behaviour is more
strongly reinforced with an intermittent schedule - that is, sometimes
there's a payoff and sometimes there isn't. The way to extinguish her
behaviour is to NEVER open the cupboard door for her. It will take
time and patience but eventually she'll get it. Right now she has
learned that you will eventually open that door for her, key is not to
open the door.
Tressie
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