Close up, he looks like he's wearing Cherry Chapstick! I love it!
I held him in his blankie while I ate an ice cream cone and then I sat down in the rocking chair and watched a cool program on PBS about Himalayan burial grounds. Neville only freaked out once when I tried to cover his head. Nope! He hated that.
I stroked his head a little bit and rocked in the rocking chair. He looked around and stayed very calm and mellow.
I held him for over an hour and wouldn't quit until I saw this:
Success!!! He was comfortable enough to fall asleep on me. I let him rest for a few minutes and then I put him back in his tank.
We'll try again tomorrow.
Earlier today, I thought back to a few of my first "Aggressive" bearded dragon rescues. They did sorta terrify me. I used to give my grumpy ones to my friend Kristin. My definition of "Aggressive" is SOOOOO different now thanks to multiple iguanas, a couple monitors, and two starving 10 foot long Burmese. Even being bitten doesn't worry me as much (not that I like it) since I've been bitten a half dozen times by mean iguanas, a Savannah monitor, and a Burmese python. It's all about perspective.
Plus, I think beardies become used to reacting a certain way and having people respond back in a certain way. If they flare up and thrash, they are used to the reaction of withdrawing. Neville did that earlier and I just laughed at him and kept holding him. I expect he'll still try to be a brat with me, but he's going to learn very quickly that I don't back off. Ha! He will like that blankie! ;)
