uneven training?

[alex]

Hey, im new to the site, so hello to you all.

Got my first Degus a few weeks ago after reading up on them. I have 2 Degus called Optimus and Prime (yes laugh now lol) who are brothers. I think Optimus has established himself as the dominent one, although Prime does win the occasional fight. Optimus always sleeps "on top" though.

Now They have become used to me and are ok with me. Optimus is very happy with me and will happly sit on my shoulder chewing my ear or eating a degu treat (no sugar etc lol).
Prime however wont. If i give him food when he is on me he will always run back to the cage to eat. If he cant get hold of it to run back, he will ignore it even if it is his favouirte, whereas Optimus will happly eat from my hands and sit on me. Prime however has no problems running onto my legs, altough he loves jumping on top of his cage and then down the back.

Same is true when i let them run around my living room. When i need to put them back Optimus will happily be "scooped" up or will walk onto me, whereas Prime just runs round and is very hard to catch as i dont want to just grab him.
Is this difference in behaviour normal?

[exile57]

Absolutely hun. Nothing to worry about there at all. You will often find, no matter male or female, there will just about always be one who crawles all over you and one who does things in their own time on their own terms.

You sound like you're having fun, long may it continue

Jo Bash n Slick (love the names by the way)

[Lala]

Hiiiii .

Exile's right there's nothing to worry about. I've had Jack & Coke since November and Jack hates to be handled at all. She won't come to me at all and trying to get her back into the cage after playtime is a half an hour job! Whereas Coke will quite happily be scooped up, handled and even come to me when I call!

Just be patient, unless you've got a stubborn little madam like Jack [] Prime will eventually come around

Shouldn't laugh at the names they're ace ;D

[phe]

youv got great advice there! just wanted to say those names are great, wish id thought of that !!!!! oh and welcome as well!!!! xxx

[eightball]

Welcome to the forum im new hear to and eveyone seems really nice, I thought I was on to a winner with Chip and Dale but I want to change the names now, wicked names ;D

[jackdaniels]

Same
Bonnie could be handled if i wanted to loose a finger or 2.

[kerry]

cool names, and welcome. i think we all seem to have a goo with different personalties. thats what makes them fun.. he he ;D

[kimberley]

yea welcome! I have the same scenario. a baby who will climb all over me but refuses to be picked up and a 2 and a half yr old who is more tolerent of being picked up but very rarely climbs onto the top half of me - he is very happy just to climb onto my knee and stay there!

[Wendi]

alex said:

have 2 Degus called Optimus and Prime (yes laugh now lol)


So are they robots in disguise??? Sorry - only messing. I think that they are great names. The monster child from hell (my 11 yr old son) will be wanting to re-name Doogie and Alfie now! ;D ;D

[alex]

lol thanks guys. My friends at work suggested I get another 2 males and call them Mega and Tron, but im afraid they would be arch enimies to the other two ;D

[deguconvert]

LMAO!!! You may have a point there!

[rsnooks]

I have the same problem, but in pairs.

My "older" pair will happily crawl into my hands and get out the cage, but once out they will try to evade capture at all costs.

My "newer" pair won't even come out of the cage even if i have all the doors open and go into another room... but once i have them in my hands they will just sit there and go to sleep in my shirt or on my shoulder.

[phe]

aaawww thats so cute... my goos hv never fallen asleep on me xxx

[kate]

Hi, I am new to this forum, and computers full stop, so forgive the long text and sorry if I don't use any computer jargon!! Just wondered how you managed (what techniques you used etc)to tame Optimus and Prime. We have two new degus (Bubble and Squeak - so unoriginal - loved your names!!) and they seem so scared of us all!! We gently sit and talk to them, say their names a lot and they will - just about - come and snatch a treat (all approved etc) from my fingers with the cage door open. Nothing like what you have achieved - any tips. Regards Kate