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Post by jumpinjanet on Oct 14, 2008 14:28:48 GMT
We've had Kate n Abbey for a year now and have found training very frustrating!We've tried every hint,tip and treat on here and have,until now,made no progress.They don't go crazy for any treat apart from skirting board paint, glue and their new fetish...elastoplasts!!!So we had to re-think.
I was sitting against their favourite skirting board and had my dressing gown open to stop them chewing it!And...eurika in they scrambled!!!So,so tickly but up they climbed,inside,then into my hand and I put one onto my daughters shoulder and their she sat!!!So now we do this every night and my daughter now also sits with her legs across the cage entrance so if they want to be in or out they have to climb on her!!!And it works.
We've even noticed they're chewing the skirtings less and actually coming to us to play and climb!!!
I can't tell you how good this feels and we're spending more and more time with them cos it's fun now...So if you feel you're struggling don't lose heart you'll find a technique that works for your goos...stick with it...good luck!!!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 14, 2008 18:47:11 GMT
What a lovely success story!! Thank you for sharing it! My dressing gown was a HUGE key in helping our goos to trust me. They loved the perceived safety of if, and would run up my sleeve and dive into the neck line. I would tie a sash around the middle so they didn't slip down. What I took to doing, was putting my dressing gown on two or three times a day, inviting them in, and then just walking about the house doing chores whilst they rode along. Lots of times they were either on my shoulder, or in the back in a bunch all fast asleep. To this day, that is their most favorite thing for me to wear. If they are frightened by something and needing help to calm down, I go get it on, and it works a charm. Anyway, carrying them around on/in me like that made for great strides in gaining their trust. Well . . . I should say gaining trust according to the temperament of each goo. One that was particularly skittish and bitey would come inside and hide, but he took his own sweet time about deciding I was safe. I think he needed his literal pound of flesh first.  Now he is truly sweet. |
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Joe Sinclair
Burrowing Degu
Three degus: Nibbles, Spotty and 'the other one'
Posts: 210
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Post by Joe Sinclair on Oct 14, 2008 21:16:07 GMT
I agree Janet, I have had my degus for about 9 months and had come to the conclusion that they were just not the sort of degus that do hand-tame stuff.
Then this week I have had Nibbles climbing all over me and 'the other one' is gradually warming up too.
Spotty isn't having any of it, but that is OK, I think with time all three of them will be very tame degus.
The 'big moment' was simple actually I just forgot that I don't think they'll like me picking them up and picked up Nibbles. He was OK with it. I think maybe I could have done it along. He needed plenty of sunflower seeds to remain relaxed. But now he won't get off me! I can't dedicate time to 'the other one' or Spotty because Nibbles is hogging my arms and shoulders!
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Post by taipan on Oct 15, 2008 9:34:22 GMT
we've not had ours very long and neither will walk on to our hands. but they don't mind climbing all over us when their out of the cage and my 6 year old daughter has discovered that they will go on her hand if she puts her woolly gloves on. |
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Post by Rachel on Oct 15, 2008 12:10:56 GMT
I've had mine about a month and I hadn't thought about sleeves until I saw a message on here, and while Mali would happily jump onto my hand, Bu was unsure. However, since introducing them to an old green baggy jumper, they love it! Now, no matter what top I'm wearing (provided it's long sleeved) they will always go into the sleeve. Not so comfortable when it's a skin tight thing but nevermind lol
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Post by jumpinjanet on Oct 16, 2008 15:25:09 GMT
Wonderful moment this morning,the least skittish goo walked up to my daughter and virtually begged for a treat then sat on her arm looking around!!!I never thought we'd get to this point and its great!!!I love degus me....
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 16, 2008 17:46:09 GMT
WOO HOO!!! CELLLLLLLEBRATE! COME ON!!
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bobman
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 144
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Post by bobman on Feb 5, 2009 23:17:11 GMT
Have only just read this and have decided that I must go out and buy a dressing gown!!
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Post by phoenixm on Feb 5, 2009 23:44:57 GMT
ok....i'm in too....i'll put on the old white robe ((the guest one...lol )) & try it too...... cross your fingers =)
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Post by deviates on Feb 6, 2009 15:26:07 GMT
I've been very lucky that my goos were very open to hopping on to my hands within a month of having them. Having said that though, they do love my dressing gown. Up the sleeves or in the pockets and they are vey happy.
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Now he is truly sweet.
