Posted by SGRUEN on March 24, 2003 at 17:33:34:
In Reply to: Socializing posted by lilgrl7799 on February 24, 2003 at 16:41:04:
Congratulations on your new pet!Chinchillas are skittish at first, but if you take the time to do it right, your new chinchilla will love to be held and to nap on you. He/She needs to learn you are his/her colony so to speak. What you want to do is "successive approximation". Start small and work up to holding. Start by reaching your hand into the cage and keeping it still. Place it so she will sit on or walk on it. After she is comfortable w/that, reach into the cage and stroke her. Wait until she is ok w/that. Do not attempt to pick her up. After that you want to let her out in a smallish area w/you sitting in it. Let her jump on you. When she shows signs of napping on you, go ahead an cuddle her. You'll be best friends forever!
Enjoy
Sarah
:I need some advice. I just purchased a 2 yr. old chin who hasn't been socialized. I am trying to socialize her but not sure how. She will let me pet her a little but runs when I try to pick her up. She wants to come out of her cage to play but doesn't let me pick her up. She's lonely and doesn't get adequate play time because of this. I feel like I'm terrorizing her if I chase her to hold her and dont want to go about this the wrong way. Please give me some advice.
