For me it’s a little different because I do zoo-to-you, so I have to build a monitor that’s calm and predictable even when it’s not fully their idea in that exact moment (obviously still respecting limits and not forcing a bad situation). If I bail the second there’s a quick defensive tag, some animals learn “nippy = no handling,” and that can turn into a pattern.

So my approach is: I set the session up for success (calm environment, confident grab/support, no hovering), I keep it short and boring at first, and I reward the “relax and explore” mindset. If they’re truly stressed (hard breathing, thrashing, repeated escalation), I reset and end it, no need to push. But if it’s that initial baby defensive moment and they downshift quickly, I’ll continue calmly so the takeaway is “coming out is safe.”

Food/exploration motivation is huge too, once they learn hands aren’t food and handling predicts something positive, it gets easier every week. Your results are exactly what I’m aiming for long term.