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Post by petmadness on Apr 8, 2013 15:25:02 GMT
I had Janet out only a moment ago and after reading that they were very responsive to sounds, I started stroking her and going memememe which she seems to like and making a squeaking sound with my lips like I do to call my cats. During this my partner walked in and gave me an odd look and asked me what I was doing. I explained that i'd read that Degus were very vocal creatures and was trying to interact with Janet by making high pitched sounds, after mocking me (as partners do) he then whistled. Janet lept up and scrabbled away down the back of the bed. Luckily she came back to me rather fast but seemed very on edge after that so I put her back in her cage. Has anybody else had a similar experience or can explain why it had that effect. Also has anyone tried communicating with their degu? And has it made the Degu more responsive? Thanks x
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 8, 2013 15:38:16 GMT
Janet will have taken the whistle to be an alarm call and subsequently taken cover! Normally the degu alarm call is a plain, sharp squeak, usually repeated. It's something they normally do often, as is running away and taking cover, they don't know that their lives aren't dependiing on it any more!
Have you heard them make many noises yet? They normally chitter chatter and squeal at each other quite a bit, particularly if they are grooming each other or when they get together to make a sleep heap.
Some degus respond to human noises more than others. Mine mostly ignore me unless I make a warning sound or yell NO at them very harshly, others learn their names and talk quite a bit with their humans.
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Post by petmadness on Apr 8, 2013 15:45:58 GMT
Eeek poor Janet! They make quite abit of noise :') Susans the noisy one though, Janets more active whereas Susan's fatter and is happy to sit in a sawdust pile which she piles up or theres a yellow snug hanging from a ribbon, when shes not asleep in the snug she will leap on top of it to make it swing and then settle on it whilst its rocking So when Janet barrels into her or wants to climb over the top of her Susan squeaks. Susan is happier with Dexter during the day because Dex will want to curl and snuggle up with her whereas Janet wants to climb and explore. I've been trying to get them to learn their names but its early days yet :') They all settle if I go memememe and Janet will lift her front paws for a tummy rub xx
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 8, 2013 16:11:56 GMT
Oh, you are very lucky to be honoured with a tummy rub so soon! Some never offer those at all! If they are different sizes and you already mentioned you rescued them from a dubious situation, so I would check that the degus are both the same sex, see this thread deguworld.proboards.com/thread/13070/degus
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Post by petmadness on Apr 8, 2013 16:28:38 GMT
They're very friendly considering, but then I think animals know people better than people usually give them credit for. I've always been good with animals, oh except snakes, snakes seem to hate me. Shall do, I've come to call Susan, Big Suze :') x
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Post by Kins on Apr 9, 2013 14:24:58 GMT
I love their names very cute, I've got a thing for calling pets by 'human' names. Sounds like they've settled in well. My cat was called Gemini too, great minds think alike and all that.
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Post by saddlers on Apr 9, 2013 14:29:21 GMT
My daughters boyfriend used to be able to get into a warbling match with Jose when he whistled, and it would be back and forward for five minutes!!
As others say a high pitched squeak usually sends everyone running and acts as a warning sign, I use a quiet squeak when they are grooming just to let them know if they get a bit rough and it does work...remarkably well
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Post by bluedreamer on Apr 9, 2013 14:56:55 GMT
My degus get confused when I make chirping sounds while cuddling them. I hold them in my hand then I put my nose on their head and I start to chirp while gently rubbing them with my nose. You can really see how confused they are. It is like: "What are you talking about?" But they seem to like it most of the time... Lunjo almost always responds to me, but Nika (the girl) just looks confused... It is really cute...
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 9, 2013 15:42:11 GMT
Hahaha Bluedreamer, you probably accidentally insulted their mother! BTW Saddlers means you can squeak at the goos when they groom (gently nibble) your fingers if they do it too hard. (At least I presume he didn't mean they brush his hair and apply face cream to him )
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Post by saddlers on Apr 9, 2013 16:06:27 GMT
BTW Saddlers means you can squeak at the goos when they groom (gently nibble) your fingers if they do it too hard. (At least I presume he didn't mean they brush his hair and apply face cream to him ) Yes thanks for clarifying..I might have been misunderstood to be the forum weirdo....I only wish I had hair for them to brush
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Post by petmadness on Apr 9, 2013 18:07:06 GMT
I love their names very cute, I've got a thing for calling pets by 'human' names. Sounds like they've settled in well. My cat was called Gemini too, great minds think alike and all that. Same haha I just cant imagine myself calling an animal "cuddles" or "fluffy" my partner chose it, my first cat was called Orion and then Gemini who had a litter and one of them was called Leo and ofcourse my cat Phoebe which isnt a star sign but a godess x
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 9, 2013 18:14:00 GMT
petmadness I was wondering if the goos seem to communicate vocally with Dexter? And vice versa?
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Post by petmadness on Apr 9, 2013 18:17:53 GMT
petmadness I was wondering if the goos seem to communicate vocally with Dexter? And vice versa? I'm not sure, they certainly get along and sleep together. Dex is rougher with the sounds he makes where as the others can be more high pitched he has more of a cough, if that makes sense, but they definitely all make noise :') x
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Post by dusty on Apr 11, 2013 1:06:00 GMT
Ours love a lot of human interaction. Since we had to split Chunky from the group she has got much more vocal and we chat away all the time. I think I'm just starting to get some of what she says, normally it seems to be can you fill my hot water bottle. She loves to be stroked while she has treats and has taken to lifting her front paws for me to scratch her armpits The other two only seem to chat degu language to eachother but all 3 always come and greet me when they hear me getting out of bed - they're all lined up ready for breakfast treats. Chunky always greets me with a lot of squeaking which sounds like "what blimin time do you call this"
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Post by rmazeds on Apr 25, 2013 20:53:19 GMT
bluedreamer I've started to rub mine with my nose, their little eyes close like they're being groomed, it's so cute!
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Post by bluedreamer on Apr 29, 2013 15:38:53 GMT
I do it every time I pick them up from the cage, they already know the drill
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