sarahjane
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grumpy george. - 2004/12/27 07:30
my baby hedgehog george is very grumpy, when ever i try to go pick him put he would ALWAYS put his quills up =[, it takes him a while to calm down, and im also quite still scared of picking him up....is there anyway that he would recognize me better? or will he ever stop being so grumpy... =[
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rosewoodhhs
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Re:grumpy george. - 2004/12/27 21:40
He'll sense that you're scared of him, which is why he isn't warming up to you so easily. He needs to know that you're comfortable with him before he begins to trust you. Putting a shirt in his cage that has your sent on it, will allow him to become accustomed with your sent.
How old is he?
He might be quilling, which will cause him to be grumpy because he's getting new quills in. As long as you keep holding him, he should begin to warm up to you. Even when he's huffy hold him, so he gets use to your sent. Sometimes it takes different hedgehogs longer to warm up to new owners than others, it just takes time and patients (sp?). It may take a few weeks, maybe a few months, maybe even his whole life, but it takes time, and he needs to know that your comfortable with him. Hold him while your on the computer, watching tv, resting on the couch...etc. Atleast 30 minutes a day!
Also, does he have a wheel to run on?
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dzmeadows
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Re:grumpy george. - 2004/12/31 02:21
good answer Lauren. My best suggestion would just be to keep at it. The more time you spend with your hedgehog, the more your hedgehog will get to know and trust you. If it is too uncomfortable to pick your hedgehog up, use a small blanket, t-shirt, or other peice of fabric to pick him up, then sit quietly with your hedgehog on your lap while you watch tv, read a book, or surf the internet.
Becca
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Proud
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/02/08 09:12
I brought my Hester Sue home in the beginning of November, and was very apprehensive around her, I didn't want to hurt her, and I didn't want her to hurt me. She is my first (of likely many), and I didn't know quite how to take it when she puffed up and balled up and got all upset. She is much calmer now....and it's just been recently that she calmed down around me. When I take her out of her cage I usually let her climb into her excercise ball and let her run a while and than put her on a towel on my lap for some one on one time. I use the same towel all the time, it has both her scent and mine on it, she has started to climb up to my shoulder and she'll sit between my shoulder and the cushion of the couch. I was very happy yesterday when she almost unballed completely on her back for me. I had the same concerns when I got her and asked the same question and the advice these wonderful people gave you is the same they gave me, and I just wanted to let you know that you should listen cuz they're right 
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dzmeadows
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/02/09 03:10
Welcome to the addiction Proud. Sounds like you are thoroughly hooked. 
Becca
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Proud
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/02/11 22:56
Completely and totally...I spent hours the other night looking for local breeders, and trying to figure out where in my zoo of animals I could fit another cage for a young man.
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PRPogs
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/02/18 00:33
Proud,
You are getting another hedgie? You need shelves....then you can put cages on each shelf...LMAO
I have my cages stacked up on each other but I am getting shelves.
Robin
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Toothpick
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/03/27 00:58
hi,
when your hedgehog puts his quills up he is trying to scare you off as well as being scared. If you back off or go away he may feel like he suceeded and will keep doing it. All i can say is to pet him a lot before picking him up, and when he puts his quills up don't back off, or go away. hope this helps!! 
~Toothpick~
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PRPogs
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/03/28 05:14
Not only should you keep handling him but check for dry skin. When my hogs are really prickly I give them Aveeno oatmeal baths to help soothe their skin just in case it is irritated and that is why they are grumpy.
Robin
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sarahjane
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/03/29 07:34
what's "Aveeno oatmeal baths"???
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PRPogs
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/03/29 13:41
Look in the pharmacy section or the cosmetics section of the grocery store or wal-mart or target. Aveeno oatmeal bath is an additive to bath water that soothes sore itchy skin. Basically it is oatmeal. I used it when I got poison ivy really bad a few years ago and it was heaven. Better than the calamine lotion. If you cannot find it just ask a store clerk. Sometimes it is with the calamine lotion and sometimes with the other Aveeno products. I have even seen it next to the bubble bath one time at Wal-mart. They just don't seem to like leaving stuff in the same place twice.
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HamorHollow
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/11/07 19:28
Nothing is ever a guarantee with hedgehogs, but chances are that Mr. Toffee will calm down as he gets older. Young babies are like 4 year old children, they go go go and then they crash. Mr. Toffee should get calmer as he matures.
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. |
Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
Join us for Hedgehog Fest 2008
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MrToffee
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/11/07 21:53
By "petting" do you mean stoking the quills on the hedgie's back? I've had Mr Toffee (8 weeks old) for all of a week and I have to say I am finding it slightly stressful. He has calmed down a few times and played happily but it seems hit and miss. Hearing that it took a few months for Proud's hedgehog to come around is good. I don't mind having patience as long as he will eventually be happy about being handled.
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HamorHollow
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/11/08 22:34
*Maniacal cackle*
You are one of us now!
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. |
Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
Join us for Hedgehog Fest 2008
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MrToffee
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/11/14 10:32
Victory!! Mr Toffee has now been ours for 2 weeks and he's doing so much better, playing happily with my son and hasn't poked me properly for days. He's still only being taken out of the cage for 30 minutes a day but that's all he seems to want. As soon as I put him back he has a drink and then goes back to sleep until about 11pm when he comes out to spend the night galloping on his wheel.
So thanks everyone for your support. I think the most helpful thing was knowing others were also getting poked
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dzmeadows
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Re:grumpy george. - 2005/11/14 13:47
Glad to hear that there is progress. Will keep fingers crossed that it continues!
Becca
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