Still Skittish Goo's

[meade]

So I've had Ellie and Ainsley for nearly a month now. And they're still verrrry skittish. I've done the thing where I put food in my hand to gain their trust, but Ainsley approaches snatches it out of my hand and scurries away. Ellie knows my game though so she'll have none of that. Does it always take this long? I mean, they are still babies..but they've been with me for a while and I've been gentle and sweet with them.

I did have to be forceful ONCE when I needed to clean the cage, but I gave them lots of treats afterwards so they'd know that mommy still loves them.

Anymore advice?? Or even someone telling me that this is normal would make me feel better! Haha.

[Wendi]

Don't worry. Doogie is still skittish and shy. Just keep doing a bit every day. I sit in front of thhe cage with my hand in and let them nuzzle. Doogie actually climbed on and fell asleep tonight. But slightest sound or movement and he is off. Just different personalities. xx

[meade]

Thank you:)
I just couldn't help but feel responsible considering BOTH of them are skittish. But I guess that's because they're from the same litter..

[Joe Sinclair]

I've had my degus for two months now and they still aren't completely happy around me yet...

Two of them will eat the nibbles I give them still sitting on my hand... to encourage that behaviour I stopped letting go of the treat too easily. Sunflower seed kernels, for example, snap quite easily so if the degu nibbles off half of it and eats that they tend to hand around sitting on my hand to get the other half once they're ready.

A few attempts at this kind of thing and now the brave one will grab a treat from me and then scurry up my arm to eat it rather than back into the cage. But not without a bit of 'warming up'

Each time I go to see the degus it takes a minute or so of me just observing them running around before they'll start paying me much attention and then I have to have treats on hand or my baggy jumper for them to climb into.. they don't actually come to see ME, but soon enough they will do...

Its a long drawn out process but I'm sure it will be worth it when they do trust you... I figure the harder they are to win over the bigger the satisfaction when it finally happens

[kate]

We are finding it hard with our two as well, Bubble and Squeak. The children are a little disappointed that they can't cuddle them yet, in fact the boys have got to the point where they can't really be bothered. My daughter is still perservering and doing really well they take food from her and don't run away quite so quickly. We had a real disaster today though. Whilst trying to clean their cage they both escaped and we had to sit like statues whilst encouraging them with our voices. They eventually approached their cage and Bubble got it, but unfortunately I had to catch Squeak with the little box and pop him in. My daughter has been sitting and feeding them treats ever since .... so hopefully they aren't too traumatised. Don't give up, I think us new owners are all in the same boat and must just keep up the hard work - .. xx ; ;

[kerry]

yeah keep going it will work. all my goos are really friendle now except danielle. she sits on my hand but thats about it-although she will lift her leg and let me stroke under her arm pit...mmm???

[stew3becky]

our two have their moments, they are just over a year old. i think its just that they are fairly nervous by nature.

sometimes they react to nothing like us humans would sh1t ourselves and run. funny little guys.

[jumpinjanet]

We have had Kate n Abbey for a year now and we have tried every trick on here and can only now get Kate,the bravest one,to sit on our hand for a treat!We usually try training on an night when we have more time but this morning we were ready early so got the treats out.They were well up for it!Then it dawned on me they were hungry of course so we're going to start training on a morning.This might work for you too.Good luck and don't give up.

[goldenglory]

this is funny, cuz ive had mine for a day, and already one of them will sit in my hand, even without a treat. not for very long, mind. he will also sit in my arms when i hold him but again, not for very long. i reckon if i keep doing it every day he will get used to it, and sit still so i can stroke him

[Rachel]

When I first got Mali and Bu, Mali had no problem coming straight onto my hand, I could do whatever I liked really with her. Bu was always more skittish.. then out of the blue, they both turned and decided they didn't like me. They weren't violent, just decided they wanted to stay away from me.
More recently, through reading an old post on here, I decided to go for the sleeve trick. I have a green jumper I never wear anymore, so I put that on and bingo - they can't resist it! I now will have both goos on me... and if you tuck the jumper into your trousers, no falling degu

Worked for me anyway, just thought I'd put my thoughts in