Winning their trust back could take a long time

[Joe Sinclair]

Well, I'm typing this message using hands that have plasters (band-aids) on two fingers. When number 2 (I haven't named them yet) got hold of my finger she actually tried to kill it I think. Bit on and wouldn't let go!

It turns out that me getting excited whilst trying to 'encourage' the degus out of their cage so that I could clean it isn't the best tactic. High speed grabbing doesn't make them think I am being kind.

I didn't want to upset them and I wish I had been better at all this but I'll try and hopefully I can make it work. I promised them I won't do it again but I don't think they really believe me. I'll be spending the next week being nice to them and figuring out a new technique to get some time alone with their cage! ;

Seriously, how do you guys do it? I don't understand, I've seen people talking about degus running around on the floor and jumping back into their cage, or jumping back onto their 'owners' (I hate that word - is there a better word?) hand. The only times my degus have been on the floor my hand or their cage was clearly the last place they wanted to go!

I dread the thought of my Degu's running around on the floor until I have managed to build up the trust/tameness that you guys have achieved.

When you first got Degus, like weeks 1 and 2 of Degu ownership, how did you go about cleaning and exercise time? Don't tell me they were completely tame from day 1?

[Lala]

I left my guys alone for a week or so, just talked to them through the bars and made noises and fed them treats. After about a week [and cleaning time] I opened the cage and coaxed them out with a bit of broccoli. I was patient, just waited at the front of the cage for them to come up to me and when they did I gave them a treat.
Luckily from having to take Jack&Coke to the vets really early I had a cat carry case which we popped them in when cleaning them out.

Don't try and grab them, my goo's don't like it and nip me if they can when I do. If you grab them like that it's like their being grabbed by a predator so their initial reaction is to bite. Scoop your goos up and you'll be much more trusted.

For exercise time, my boyfriend and I let them run about on the sofas while we kept an eye on them so they didn't get on the floor. When it was back in the cage time, scooped them back up gave them a treat to say well done and put them back in the cage
The only one who hasn't learnt this is Jack. Punk, Rocket and Coke all know when play time's over they'll happily wait to be picked up or come to me/bean. Jack will try his best to stay out. I usually have to open the door and let him in the bathroom cos he's easier to catch in there ;D

Try starting from scratch in training them. For next few days leave them alone, just say hi to them whenever you go in the room. Then start talking to them and offering them treats through the cage bars. After a week or so open the cage [treats ready] and let them come to you and reward them when they sit on your shoulder/hand etc. You'll soon regain their trust and they'll begin to trust you.
Most things, like, cuddles and whatnot are mainly on their terms not yours!

Learn to be patient, reading on here might make you want to rush letting them out and run around when it takes time. When my boyfriend was on his xbox 360 I used to play with the goos for hours at a time.


Good luck and I hope your owies get better!!

.x.x.x.

p.s. sorry I realised most of this post is me repeating myself lol.

[ra]

I put a few sunflower seeds in the bottom of a large glass flower vase. A jar of any kind would do. I opened their cage door and held the vase so they could see it, get curious and hop in then I would put the vase into the opening of the smaller carrying cage to transfer them there until I cleaned the "condo". Eventually I didn't need the vase anymore.

Now I just say ok girls cleaning day and they run to the cage door. I open the door and put the open door of the carrying cage next to them, they hop in and off they go!! I always, always have a special treat and a new toy in the carrying cage. They are smart and remember. They look forward to cleaning day! They know they'll have new dust in the dust bath jar so they are happy to return to the condo once it's cleaned too. I started asking that they hop out of the carry cage onto my hand then into their condo just to acclimate them better to coming to me and getting on my hand. They aren't afraid of me they just would rather not!

[Joe Sinclair]

Cheers for the input guys... I will definitely try out some kind of method to get them to climb into the pet carrier...

I have spent the last few days being incredibly nice to my 3 boys and they are beginning to see me as a friend again I think... :-)

The large hole in my finger is now a great deal better too, which is nice. Didn't get inected or anything luckily...

Joe