Alright it finally did it. It pooped on my lap. I was handling it as normal, and it pooped on my lap as it was laying on my thigh. I went "ARGH" and lifted him so he would finnish pooping on the ground instead. Then I put him back in the cage. I had too.

I know some of you will say it did it because it was upset with me and hates me and it was a revenge, and others will say it just needed to go and wasn't doing it on purpose and just didn't know any better, and others will say that it is getting to know me better enough to relax blah blah blah but the fact is that until we come up with an iguana language we will never know.

My question is, in the general socialization, training, taming scheme of things, how should I respond? Should I act tough and pretend I don't care so it knows it doesn't affect me or what? That's the first thought of but I just couldn't sit there and let the pee soak into my pants anymore he is pooping small dogs size poop now and I just had to put him back in the cage.

How should I respond in the future?

I just gave it a bath because it got all dirty from this episode. It hates baths. Absolutely hates them. Do you think that one way is whenever it poops on people, that they immediately be given a bath, a good idea so it knows not to poop on people?

I'm so glad I have hardwood floors instead of carpet.

By cleaning yourself up?
Sorry Anthony I couldn't resist.
This is not a puppy that you can housebreak by discipline. Discipline to an iguana simply means "you are attacking me and that makes you my enemy". Not an option. As aggravating as it is, it is something you may have to deal with for a bit.
When Zok was little I started each handling session by putting her in the tub and running a little water, which would induce her to let go and empty herself.
Problem solved.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I do the same thing. If they haven't already pooped before I let them out for play time, they get a few minutes in the bath tub to take care of their business. But, sometimes accidents happen, lol, I don't let it bother me. It's just poop, lol. I clean it up and go about my day, I never yell at 'em or act upset, lol. Maybe all the years of changing diapers has made me indifferent to cleaning poop, I look at it as just something else that I have to do.

Oh, and congrats Love! We've all been pooped on, lmao!

Try putting a hospital blue pad under where you are sitting with him. If he has an accident it will go on you and or the blue pad. When Sean takes our Iggy he will put him on the blue pad and he does his business and then roams around for a bit.

Colleen, along those lines, are there any of those absorbent things that are used for lining cat and dog litter boxes (the sheets, not the particulate gravel) that are safe for use as a substrate? I've seen them they are like absorbent diaper material stuff in the form of large sheets.

I'd do the bath thing but first I have to tackle the issue of it thinking I am attacking it everytime I even put it NEAR water. Anything more than a small water bowl of 5 inches diameter it freaks the heck out. I'd have to give it a bath anyway after it poops like that for hygene not discipline and it freaks as soon as it enters the bathroom and sees the tub/sink of water. I've never bathed it aggressively either, just submerge it and rub with a toothbrush gently. The only force I use is to stop it from attacking me during. Should I start with feet high water and slowly work to shoulder height or something?

My iguana Freddy hated baths but with alot of insistance on my part he gets a bath daily or every 2 days... He has learned to like it because he knows I am going to put him in the tub weather he likes it or not LOL , After he is in he actually loves it... I use pretty warm water but not hot and pour over him and he loves that...He is 4 1/2 ft long and seems to be always shedding It sure makes his skin peel easier... Don't want your iguana's skin to dry out...He needs that bath for many reasons....In the summer he has his own kiddie pool for when he is walking me in the yard for excersize...He has a small dog hater collar and a 10 ft lead. He can feel a little freedom with that length away from me LOL...

The puppy training pads is one of the substrates that I have recommended before. A couple of people I know use them and love them. They usually have a blue plastic backing with soft diaper like lining. The plastic makes it where it doesn't leak to the floor or litter pan. Very easy clean up if the ig uses it.

__________________
Jan. 25, 1963 - Sept. 10, 2006 (R.I.P)

Anthony...BAHAHAHAAAA! (Sorry, couldn't resist). :P

OK, let's not forget about behavior modification here.

Iguanas, especially babies, will poop on you to try to escape your grip. If you react, and especially if you put them back in their cage, all you are doing is reinforcing the fact that if it poops on you, you will let it go.

My son went through this episode for months when Rex was a baby. Got to a point that you could lift him up and hold him over the cage and pretty much guarantee that poop was coming soon (Rex, not my son).

This is a behavior you want to thwart. Trick is to not react. Use a small towel, or those very scary blue pads, and keep that between the iguana and you. Be prepared for the episode and do not react. Eventually the iguana will learn that pooping on you will not make you go away, and it will move on to the next trick.

Welcome to the "club" Anthony! Just wait until you see what's coming up next. ;-)

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_____________________________________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

Yessir Anthony you have been duly initiated into the ranks of the iguana slave!
It's happened to all of us at one time or another. Some of us SEVERAL times! SSSSH Dom!
You will scare the boy! LOL!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Dom, actually it wasn't in my grip when it pooped on me. I wasn't holding it and it had just been laying on my lap for about 5 mins. Then it got up looking around a bit and I thought it wanted to jump off, but it just pooped instead.