Buzz
Hedgehogs are renowned for their unique snouts, circular ears, and prickly quills. While they can make wonderful pets, the journey to enjoying their companionship fully begins with taming them. Taming involves training your hedgehog to feel at ease in your presence. Thankfully, there are numerous strategies to earn your hedgehog’s trust and affection, such as familiarizing it with your scent, offering treats, and avoiding frightening stimuli.
Key Steps
Introducing Your Hedgehog to Your Scent
Regularly interact with your hedgehog to acclimate it to your scent. Since hedgehogs heavily rely on smell due to their poor eyesight, becoming accustomed to your scent helps them recognize and feel more comfortable around you. By handling your hedgehog daily, you establish familiarity and trust, enhancing your bond.
- To handle your hedgehog, gently lift it by supporting its belly and raising it. You can then hold it in your hands or allow it to rest on your lap.
- Allocate at least 30 minutes each day to interact with your hedgehog during the taming process.
Opt for glove-free handling when interacting with your hedgehog. Utilizing gloves can hinder your hedgehog's ability to recognize your scent and become accustomed to your touch. Despite their prickly quills, hedgehogs lack sharpness that could cause harm, allowing for safe handling without gloves.
- If concerned about quill pricks, consider wearing gloves only during initial removal from the cage, gradually transitioning to bare-handed contact as your hedgehog relaxes.
Introduce a piece of your worn clothing into your hedgehog's habitat.
Any unwashed garment will suffice. This practice aids in familiarizing your hedgehog with your scent within its environment.
- Ensure the clothing lacks any loose attachments like zippers or strings to prevent potential injury to your hedgehog.
Avoid using scented products while in the process of taming your hedgehog. Familiarizing your hedgehog with your natural scent is crucial during the taming process. Minimize confusion by refraining from scented body washes, lotions, perfumes, or hair products until your hedgehog exhibits comfort around you.
- When selecting hygiene and beauty items, opt for those labeled as “fragrance-free.”
Indulging Your Hedgehog with Treats
Offer treats to your hedgehog when it relaxes from its curled position. Hedgehogs instinctively curl up when feeling threatened. When your hedgehog unwinds in your presence, it indicates a sense of security, warranting a treat as positive reinforcement. With time, your hedgehog will associate your company with safety and rewards.
- Keep treats readily available during interactions to promptly reward desired behavior.
Offer hedgehog-approved treats as incentives. Building trust and affection with your hedgehog can be facilitated by offering treats that cater to its preferences. Given their natural inclination towards insects, freeze-dried crickets and mealworms serve as excellent treats during the taming process.
- Freeze-dried crickets and mealworms are readily available online or at pet stores.
- If preferred, substitute with small portions of fruits and vegetables such as corn, apples, and carrots.
Moderate treat consumption for your hedgehog. Due to the risk of obesity, it's important to regulate treat intake. During taming sessions, limit treats to 2-3 per session.
- Observe your hedgehog's weight and adjust treat frequency accordingly to prevent excessive weight gain.
- Visible facial features, ears, and feet while curled indicate a healthy weight.
Ensuring a Calm Environment for Your Hedgehog
Minimize shadowing when handling your hedgehog. Hedgehogs, with their limited eyesight, are sensitive to shadows and bright lights. To maintain a sense of security, avoid casting shadows over your hedgehog during handling.
- Be conscious of nearby lighting sources to prevent overshadowing your hedgehog. For instance, position yourself away from lamps adjacent to the cage when picking up your hedgehog.
Avoid startling your hedgehog with loud noises. Hedgehogs are easily frightened by loud sounds, disrupting their sense of security. Maintain a serene environment during handling to ensure your hedgehog's comfort.
- Avoid activities such as yelling, playing loud music, slamming doors or cabinets, or dropping objects while handling your hedgehog.
Allow your hedgehog to acclimate to you at its own pace. Hastening the taming process may prolong it. Avoid pressuring your hedgehog for attention as it can induce fear. Instead, afford your hedgehog ample time to familiarize itself with your scent and presence. Over time, it will develop a sense of security around you!
Insights
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Flattened quills on your hedgehog indicate comfort and relaxation.
