Andrea
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small victories - 2008/03/21 14:19
We are having some small victories on the Spikey front here. I have read everybody's feedback and suggestions here (thank you again) and I have been much better with Spikey--reaching in his hedgie bag and scooping him up and not getting flustered by the little huffing/forehead quills down that seem to happen. This morning I scooped him up really early (I got up extra early today for some reason); he was awake still and it was really nice. I had my PJ's on and I was cuddling him in my shirt. He was not in defensive mode but he was doing major major sniffing. And a little trembling but no huffing sounds.
I guess my question at this point is, how long does it take for hedgehogs to realize who you are and that you are the same person everyday who comes for playtime/visit? Do hedgehogs have memories and do they eventually get to know you as an individual? I ask because I almost get the sense that Spikey thinks I am a different person everyday and he does the major sniffing and huffing initially. I dont know if he understands that it is me and I am not going to hurt him.
He is still dropping quills but I dont see any bald spots nor is he scratching himself. So I dont know if that contributes to being scared initially or not.
I am going to keep plugging away at bonding with this little hedgie. I love him so much.
Andrea
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saabgirl9000
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/21 14:46
Mostly all hedgehogs will huff a little bit when you initially pick them up. If they settle down right away it is a sign that they know who you are and are comfortable with you. Hedgehogs will eventually bond with their owners, if held enough.
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HappyHedgie8
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/21 14:48
To me it seems like all hedgehogs are going to socialize at different speeds. Some might take a week, some a year, and some may just never be fully socialized no matter how much you try.
Not that I'm a master at hedgehogs yet, but I'm pretty sure that a main way they can recognize you is smell. So it was good to hold him in the morning because you were wearing your PJ's all night and they were nice and andrea-smelling.
Keep trying, it looks like your doing everything right and you're making progress already!!
~Felicia
**Mommy of Tweetle the hedgehog!**
~Felicia :] |
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Stasi
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/21 17:42
I imagine he's still quilling He's being such a good sport about it though!
Hedgehogs definitely get to know you, and while he may be huffing and sniffing at first, it's most likely at this point because he wants to know where you've been since he saw you last. You're doing great, and I'm thrilled with your progress!!
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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Andrea
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/21 18:42
Stasi--I have resisted calling you (LOL) with my realtime minute by minute updates on Spikey. He is so cute and seems happy. And yes, I am now reaching into his hedgie bag and scooping him up (versus picking up the whole bag). And I still peek in his hedgie bag late afternoon and give him a few kibbles--I think he know it is me when I do this but when I hold him I think he is still trying to figure that out. Lots of mega sniffing but he is not huffing or quills over face.
But he is a total joy. I have evidence of recent some mid-day activity i.e. pieces of carefresh in his food bowl in the middle of the day (when the bowl was clean of this in the morning). And I know he is really active at night because everything is all over the place in the mornings. I just love him so much!
So, slowly we are bonding and I am getting better and more comfortable in handling him. That is why I am now thinking about a well-pet visit because I think I can manage it now. Jim will go with me, too, just for another set of eyes and hands.
This board is awesome and you are so awesome for all of your help!
Andrea
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Hedgehogmadhatter
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/21 22:15
Spikey already knows who you are. He might be confused and wondering when he gets to go back home to Stasi's house but you are doing all the right things so he will settle in and bond with you. There is no set time frame. It just depends on your hedgie.
I got Harley in December and he's always been friendly but he never really cared for me until recently. I just pulled him off my shoulder so I could type this! 
I love the forum too. I'm not a new hedgehog owner but I've never had anyone else I could talk hedgehog with! My boyfriend loves the site too because I think he's thrilled not to hear all about Harley now that I get my fix here. haha.
~Sara
“The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”
Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)
There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!
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CThogs
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/22 06:22
I guess my question at this point is, how long does it take for hedgehogs to realize who you are and that you are the same person everyday who comes for playtime/visit?
My animals love me because I am the one who brings the food
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
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LORI611
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/22 07:20
Congratulations!! It's such a great feeling to know in some weird little way that our hedgies do love us, even when they were REALLY cranky at the beginning!!
LORI, SOUTHINGTON, CT
Mom of:
Chloe(dog), Mr.Toad(frog) and Hazel the hedgie!! |
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CandJ327
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/22 10:04
It sounds like you are doing great!
Ava was REALLY huffy when she was quilling. She started quilling soon after we brought her home. She was really friendly but did a bit of nervous huffing when we first got her and then she quilled and you would have thought she was a completely different hedgehog. She's always been a cuddler and during that time she didn't even want to do that but she got over it.
Have you put a shirt of yours in his cage that smells like you? We did that with Ava and she definitely knows the difference between us and other people. We're old news to her. When someone new holds her she usually tries to anoint with them!
And at least for us, Ava is huffly 80% of the time we pick her up at least for the first two seconds. She's really friendly but a huge diva. If she is in the middle of something and doesn't want to be disturbed she'll huff at you but relaxes right away. She's very vocal about everything she dislikes... stop picking the bedding out of my quills *HUFF*, stop cutting my nails *HUFF*, give me my toilet paper tube back *HUFF*. It's hillarious too because most of the time she'll throw a huffing fit but her quills are barely raised! But then she'll cuddle right in the crook of our arm, fall asleep and you can feel her purr.
Sounds like you're doing great! Everything is new to Spike and I can tell you that after having Ava for 7 or 8 months now we notice a huge trust difference between now and the first month we brought her home.
Ava's mom!
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omelette
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/23 14:40
i have nothing really to add here, just support. Omelette stills huffs everything i go to pick her up. but then again, most of the time she's sleeping. (but i'm grumpy too when someone wakes me up) i'd say it's definitely a good sign if Spikey relaxes after a while to let you hold him. and i'm glad to hear that you also are finally able to relax! but if he's still quilling, that may be why he is so grumpy. try giving him a bath (not too often) with Aveeno oatmeal to help soothe his skin. so far i'd have to say you are doing a great job! so keep it up and soon enough you'll be giving new hedgie owners advice!
Lisa
My Heart Belongs to:
Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies
Emery (Black), Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats
Omelette - Hedgehog
Jack - Guinea Pig
Artex - Hamster
Lesley - Hermit Crab
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Andrea
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Re:small victories - 2008/03/24 18:17
Thank you all for the feedback and support! I am really making strides in handling Spikey and my anxiety is way down, too. He is still dropping quills but no bald spots so I am assuming he is still finishing with quilling.
Andrea
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