Proud
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Suggestions?? - 2004/11/18 20:17
I brought home a wee little girl a couple of weeks ago, she was 11 weeks old when I brought her home. She has become much more social in the last week. She climbs up on her log house and asks for out of her cage, but when I reach in she still spikes up, or at least rolls her head up and head butts me. She will climb into her excercise ball by herself and I can get her out that way....she adores her ball and would likely be in it 24/7 if I'd let her. The only other way I can get her out is with a towel to avoid being spiked. Once she's out she's fine and I can pet her and hold her for the most part, but given the chance she bites, and it's not nipping there is no warning. The other day she was on the table and I put my palm down to let her climb onto my hand so I could put her back in her cage and she walked onto my flat palm and chomped into the fleshy part of my palm by my thumb, I was so much in shock that I didn't think to blow in her face when she did it. Now I'm a bit afraid of being bitten, I know it's silly, she didn't break skin and it didn't hurt THAT much, I just don't want to take the chance of it happening again.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me on how I might make it easier to get her out of her cage and to avoid the biting?
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PRPogs
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/20 04:55
Proud,
Have you been putting cloth in there with your scent on it? I did that and then I would use the cloth to help scoop up my pogs. I think (I may be wrong since I am a new owner as well) but in my experience with animals, you little girl may actually know you are scared and will continue to intimidate you.
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dzmeadows
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/20 04:59
At 11 weeks, she may be dealing with quilling related issues, which can make her irritable, but it sounds like if she has made progress, you are on the right track.
I would probably give her a small blanket (like a human baby recieving blanket) for a blankie in her cage, and use it to pick her up with. This way, it will be something she is familiar with, and will help protect your hands from the quills until you get used to them.
As far as the biting, I have to wonder if there is something on your hands that is particularly attractive to her. Food smells? Scented soap or lotion? Make sure you wash your hands very thoroughly with plain water before you handle her, and try to blow in her face when she bites you. It is much easier to stop her NOW from biting than it will be if you let her get away with it for a while and then try to stop her.
Becca
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Proud
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/20 06:29
PRPogs, I hadn't thought about a blanket or towel in there with my scent on it. I was worried she may eat it. I was thinking the exact same thing about her realizing I'm scared and tense. I have had pets and animals around my whole life, everything from hampsters, to ferrets, to snakes, rabbits, rats, newts and birds and than the normal things like cats, dogs. I'm getting more used to her and as I do that she is balling up less.
Becca, Thank you for the blanket idea as well, I will definately try that. I checked her quills before I bought her and they seemed ok, but what kind of quilling issues can they have? I actually use a mandarin hand soap, and cocoa butter hand cream, so I am guessing that my hands smell pretty good to her cute little nose. I will start washing my hands really well with just water before I pick her up. Both times she bit me really hard, I thought instantly to myself "blow in her face" but I was so shocked it didn't happen, I will have to start though to break of the habit. I of all people know what can happen when you don't break cute little animals of bad habits...I have a 14 year old pomeranian and he is so full of bad habits it's not funny.
Thank you both for your suggestions, I'll keep you updated on her progress and mine as well 
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dzmeadows
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/20 19:16
Proud- I recommend checking out the articles section on this site, there is an article on quilling in the health section, I believe. There are MANY wonderful articles that have gone up on this site in the last few days, and would be a great source of information for you.
Becca
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PRPogs
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/21 01:38
Proud,
Hedgehogs get new quills. Look at the articles and you will find some awesome information.
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SarahAdele
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2004/11/21 14:27
Younger hedgehogs go through stages of quilling where their old baby quills are replaced with larger adult quills. Think of a child teething. You shouldnt notice any real bald spots during this time, as they seem to loose and gain quills at a pretty even rate. They will be itchy, irritable and some aveeno bath can help soothe the skin
Sarah
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Toothpick
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2005/03/26 06:41
hey, I just got my pog so all I can say is to pet it for awhile before even trying to pick it up. your pog needs to feel comfortable around you. About the bitting thing, just make sure your hands are washed before you play with you pog. It may smell food on you hands. hope this helps. this works for mine.
~ Toothpick~
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Sassafras
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2005/06/26 04:36
I had the same thing with my hedgie. He was fine and friendly the first day I got him but then suddenly turned into a vicious biter... I know everyone's telling you to wash your hands before you hold him, and that's good advice, but I also know the difference between a "that smells yummy" nip and a bite (which it sounds like you got).
Also, I know that everyone says not to wear gloves, but I'm going to suggest them anyway because that's what I did and it worked: After being bitten several times and it was very painful, I was nervous holding my hedgie and didn't enjoy it because I was so afraid, and I'm sure he sensed it. I decided to do the blow-in-the-face thing, but didn't want to have to get bitten 10 times before he stopped. So, I wore gloves for several days, and he continued to bite them, but every time he bit I was able to blow in his face right away (since it didn't hurt and I wasn't in shock!) and then keep holding him so he didn't think he could bite to get put down. After a few days, he stopped biting the gloves, so I stopped wearing them -- and now he is a perfect little angel who never bites!
So, that's just my suggestion... you don't have to put up with getting bitten painfully many times before your hedgie learns. Just wear the gloves only long enough so that he learns to stop biting, and then take them off (maybe one off and one on for starters, and then both off after another day or so).
Good luck! (And don't worry. When my hedgie started biting I got so scared and upset that he was going to be one of the very rare very mean ones, since I had always read that hedgies didn't usually bite except for a taste. But, he turned out to be lovely and nice!)
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PRPogs
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2005/06/30 08:08
One of the reasons you do not wear gloves is because they encourage biting behaviour. The cloth is an acceptable thing for the animal to bite and if they are leather then the hedgie will want to bite the glove for sure. This can easily be seen as it is ok to bite hands.
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Vangardt
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2005/07/15 07:27
I probably don't have much to offer that hasn't been said, but I think a big key (from my experience) is to not be afraid of the spiking and huffing, even the biting x.x as tough as that may be. Do know that the biting is rarely agressive, but rather wanting to taste something you had on your hands, even if the smell is long gone to you, hedgie may still smell it. They examine many things with smell and taste so do not be too surprised and try not to be afraid.
I have even seen my hedgehog learn that other pets are afraid of her so she will even chase them. Yes, that may be adorable, but it makes the point that they are fast learners on what can and cannot scare off potential predators. If you seems scared to little hedgie, they may interpret that as a success and learn to spike more in the future.
I recommend regular handling during calm, quite times. Also giving hedgie an old shirt or something of the like that smells of you, to sleep with in the cage can work wonders, associating your smell with a warm, happy shelter.
Treats are a common recommendation, but should not be over-used. In place of the treat route, I would recommend getting hedgie out of the cage and waiting until it calms down. Then (as odd as it may seem) put hedgie back in the cage, only to get hedgie out again 15 minutes or so later. This may be a tad disorienting to hedgie, but it teaches it that even in the most scary of moments (like being pulled from a warm nest by a giant creature) you are still no threat and are just loving and caring.
Best of luck and sorry for the wordy post,
Vangardt
Post edited by: Vangardt, at: 2005/07/15 07:27
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PRPogs
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Re:Suggestions?? - 2005/07/16 08:08
My hedgies love the scent of the soap and hand lotion I use. UGH! Antibacterial stuff too.
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