GliderCENTRAL

Pouch Protective?

Posted By: Anonymous

Pouch Protective? - 03/07/05 05:43 AM

I heard this term recently, and it seems to fit Jeepers. She only crabs when she's in her pouch, but she crabs a lot if she is. Most of the time, if I reach a hand/finger in a pouch she's in, she will crab loudly and frequently bite.

If she's outside a pouch, she hardly ever crabs. If she's out, she will even sometimes step on my hand very cautiously if I have a mealie or other goodie in my palm.

When she's in a pouch, I try to give her licky treats and/or mealies as often as possible. She will take them after she figures out what I'm doing, but at first it's crab, crab, crab. She will also sometimes settle down if I rub/scratch her a little.

So here's my question. Is this something that will go away as we get more bonded (I've had her a little over a month, and she doesn't come to me like Peepers does, but she doesn't really seem scared of me either, except in a pouch.) or are some gliders just protective of their pouches and never really get over it?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective - 03/07/05 06:03 AM

My Allie is very pouch protective. You touch the pouch and she crabs, you look inside and she crabs, you move it and she crabs. She also will not tolerate a bonding pouch unless she is tucked into my bra -- any movement seems to set her off. She does take treats from in the pouch, but then crabs with her mouth full while eating them (too cute)! But in addition to crabbing, she also takes a defensive position, almost on her back, when she's doing all her crabbing.

I've found that if I dump her out of the pouch she is just fine. Its just while inside the pouch that she seems to have problems.

Allie is almost three years old. She came to me from Charlie & Mary, five months ago. Both Allie's crabbing and defensive position are much better than when she first arrived, but I sometimes wonder if she will ever calm down. I've always blamed it on her history, but who knows...

~Lynn
Posted By: Dancing

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/07/05 06:05 AM

I have two that are pouch protective. But I let them be. I figure, everyone needs a place that is their own and have a right to feel completely secure in it.
I did have a third that was but she isn't anymore.

I do know that McKenna is showing more signs of being pouch protective but she is very big with a joey ip right now so I figure that is the reason with her.

This probably doesn't help a bit. Sorry
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/07/05 06:36 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Lynn, Jeepers does the defensive position sometimes too, and once in a while she even "puts up her dukes", lol. Oh, and that crabbing with a mouthful of mealies IS too cute! I always have to laugh when she does that.

You brought up a good point about it stopping if you dump her out of the pouch. I've been wondering if I'm making it worse every time I take her out of one pouch to put her in a bonding pouch or my bra. I try to just give her treats without grabbing her some of the times to make up for the times when I have to grab her out of a pouch. By the way, she does the crabbing thing from in a bra or my shirt pocket too. So I wonder if it helps to carry her with me as much as possible, or if every time I pull her out of a warm cozy pouch to do that, I take a step backwards.

I'm expecting a sissy pouch soon, so hopefully that will make it easier to let her crawl in while it's hanging on the cage and I can just take it out without disturbing her so much.

Jeepers is also a rescue, but just barely. I got her from Angie and Mel's. Her parents were rescued with her IP. So she got a good start with Melanie. I think they still considered her a rescue just because her parents weren't tame. I got her at 4 mo OOP, and now she's about 5 1/2 months.

Ya know, I just hope she will become as quiet as Peepers is. I can take Peeps anywhere and no one knows she's there unless I tell them. Jeeps, on the other hand, often crabs if she gets jostled, so I have to think about where I'll be going that day before I pop her in the bra. I just feel badly that Peeps gets to have more bra time, and Jeeps sometimes has to be left behind in the cage. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" />

Dancing, you are ALWAYS a help. I was hoping you would reply.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/07/05 06:59 PM

My new male is a little pouch protective, not to the extent that jeeps seems to be, but i just give him an apple chunk or some licky treats till he calms down and I leave my hand in the pouch with him, he might nible it a little but after a few minutes hes comfortablewith my hand in there Ive already seem alot of improvement from doing this, Maybe it's worth a try:) Good Luck:)
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/12/05 08:42 AM

Thelma and Louise are very pouch protective and Louise is exactally like Jeepers. Out of the pouch she is ok, but once she is in there LOOK OUT!! So I should just let her be crabby in her pouch or is this something that I should try to break her of?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/12/05 07:18 PM

I've had this same problem, and I posted it a couple days ago, but only got one reply. I've been using the licky treat approach where I leave my hand in there while she eats so she gets comfortable with it. I've also been turning the pouch upside down on my hand or my chest(if I'm laying down)and letting her crawl onto me of her own free wil. Celeste only crabs at the sight of my hands really, but she's been getting better. When I show her my face she's fine, she just kind of looks up at me with a kind of curious expression. I'm hoping time will make this go away, because I want her to feel comfortable whenever I go to handle her.

Dave
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/12/05 07:23 PM

I don't know that you can "break" a glider from being pouch protective. I'd just offer lots of treats while she's in the pouch -- it will probably lessen, but may never go completely away.

~Lynn
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/12/05 10:39 PM

Roxie is VERY pouch protective! Sometimes she gets Stitch going but Stitch only will crab for a second or two. The funny thing is- Roxie is usually fine if we pet her in the pouch with just our fingers but once Chad puts his thumb in there she goes nuts! I just keep my thumb out.. he'll never learn <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif" alt="" /> I just figure she has thumb issues so I don't press the issue!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/14/05 07:20 AM

I didn't really mean break the habit. The thing is I don't even TRY to put my hand in the pouch. They both act like they want to tear your fingers off if they get close to the top. What I meant to ask was should I just let them be that way or should I slowly try to put my hand in the pouch *knowing i'm going to get bit* so they get used to it.
Posted By: Srlb

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/14/05 02:10 PM

Sorry, but I am one of those who do not believe in *you have to take the bite*

What I recommend is getting a different type of pouch for your baby. One that has a more open top to it, for example, My glider Spike is a lover boy, loves everyone, loves to be loved on ect, however you put him in a Pillow pouch and you are sure going to know he is in there if you get too close. He will even lunge and try to bite you through the pouch itself. Now put him in a no frill pouch or a bungalow (btw, all these pouces can be purchased at Glider DayDreams )and he is fine and I can put my hand in there (after I wake him a bit to let him know I am going to reach in there)with no problems and he will curl up in my hand and go to sleep.
Some gliders are pouch protective some are nest box protective, silly creatures for sure, but there is always a place to even get them to compromise! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: GliderMeCrazy

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/14/05 07:18 PM

I didn't read everyones post so I'm not sure if this was said or not. But, A good way to get a glider out without having to 'dump' them out is to turn the pouch inside out while they are in it.. kinda like you would a sock.

It's what I do with most of my gliders.. none of them are pouch protective but if I was a glider I wouldn't be crazy about a hand coming into my bed to get me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: glidergrl1513

Re: Pouch Protective? - 03/14/05 09:11 PM

Chester used to be pouch protective, he still is a little. He doesn't really crab at me if I touch it anymore, but he used to. Now he'll occasionally nip if I reach in there. This was because the former owner had never bothered him while he was in the pouch though, because she said that it was his own personal space and she didn't want to disturb him.

What I did to help it (I don't think this would be a good idea to do with a glider that isn't fully bonded yet, becuase you're covering your hand) was I wrapped my hand in a dish towel or a fleece glove, and just let my hand just stay in there for awhile. Then I would adjust it so he was laying on my hand. Now I can do it without the hand covering, it didn't really take that long, only a few days.
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