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Biting #21963
06/09/04 11:06 AM
06/09/04 11:06 AM

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Dear GliderCentral Message Board Members,
I have some questions about sugar gliders biting. How many times has your sugar glider biten you, could you identify the reason for the bite, where were you in the bonding process, and was your home your gliders' first? What does a sugar glider bite feel like? Do sugar gliders "nibble" or "gently bite" thier owners, and if so, what does this feel like? What are some ways to get a glider to stop biting, and are these usually sucessful? What are some reasons that a sugar glider will bite? Once bonded, is a biting glider pretty rare, or not uncommon at all? Thanks so much, for answering my previous posts as well as this one! The information that I get from this board is extremely valuable! Thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sincerely,
gLiDiN <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />

Re: Biting [Re: ] #21964
06/09/04 11:52 AM
06/09/04 11:52 AM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
How many times has your sugar glider biten you, could you identify the reason for the bite, where were you in the bonding process, and was your home your gliders' first? What does a sugar glider bite feel like? Do sugar gliders "nibble" or "gently bite" thier owners, and if so, what does this feel like? What are some ways to get a glider to stop biting, and are these usually sucessful? What are some reasons that a sugar glider will bite? Once bonded, is a biting glider pretty rare, or not uncommon at all?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Well, from my experience, and I have only had two gliders, the bite and whys can depend on age, whether or not they are full of hormones (older ones), fear factor, testing you, displeasure, etc. There is a lot of personality in those little guys. You are almost always going to get bit while you are in the bonding process. I had one that was his first home and have one that this is his second (if you don't count the pet store). Some gliders nibble (taste), some chomp hard (mine has drawn blood to assert himself), some feel like a pinch... The older gliders will definitely have the possiblity to draw blood since they are stronger as they are bigger. As to stopping it, discipline him/her verbally but firmly rather than loudly, and try gaining trust through bonding (you'll see a lot of those kinds of posts too). Mine used to bite a lot when he came of age. I didn't know it at the time, but he was testosterone driven. Biting for a glider is also instinctive, considering those sharp non-so-little teeth are used to puncture trees. I am sure more people will be by to add, but I hope this gets you started.

Last edited by gliders-n-pits; 06/09/04 11:53 AM.
Re: Biting [Re: ] #21965
06/10/04 12:12 AM
06/10/04 12:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
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Rock Falls, IL, USA
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Boy this is a lot of questions and I don't even know how to answer some of them, but I'll try the best I can.
I haven't been bitten much because I use a no biting method of bonding with sugar gliders that I have come up with called Gentle bonding. There bites (when they are biting out of fear or anger) really do hurt quite bad and they do draw blood. They do go through nippy phases usually twice in their life and that is when they are small joeys and then again when they hit sexual maturity and these nips do not really hurt, but they can be uncomfortable. We do try to deter them from this so they don't get into the habit of biting and the way I do this is by making the pssssssssssst noise as this is the noise their mom makes to yell at them and it usually works like a charm. I do this with sever biters as well when they bite me. You can also say the word No very loud to startle them. Gliders can bite out of fear, anger, different scents on your hands may upset them, and they may bite you thinking that is a way to get food, because in the wild they bite tree branches to get sap out of them. So there are different reasons that gliders will bite, but the most common reason is fear. Yes it is very common for a glider to bite out of fear when they are not hand tame gliders. I would say it is more common for a glider to bite when you get him rather than not because not a lot of gliders hand tame their babies. I would say a majority don't, but there are plenty that really do as well. Once the glider is bonded I would say the only time you may get bitten is if they are hurt and you are trying to help them or you scare them for some reason. Sometimes they may bite you if you smell differently as well. Other than that I would say a bonded glider tends not to bite at all. I hope this helps to answer your questions. I'm not sure if I hit all of them, but I tried my best <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Danielle
owned by 4 dogs and 2 gliders really soon
Formerly known as K & D Exotics

Re: Biting [Re: ] #21966
06/10/04 01:50 PM
06/10/04 01:50 PM

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Dear K&D Exotics (And anyone else that would like to ansewr),
First off, I'd like to say thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU! Not only to you, but to everyone else that has answered my never ending questions! I can't say thanks enough to you guys! I have a few more questions for you. What is "gentle bonding"? Would you be willing to share this method with me? What is the difference between "gentle bonding" and regular bonding? Which have you had/heard more sucessful stories with? If male joeys are neutered, than would they still get nippy around sexual maturity, also at what age as joeys are they expected to be nippy? Has the "pssssssst" sound worked wonders for you, and usually how long does it take before they catch on? Thanks so much!

Sincerely,
gLiDiN

Re: Biting [Re: ] #21967
06/10/04 02:07 PM
06/10/04 02:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
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Rock Falls, IL, USA
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I wrote the article gentle bonding and it is all about taking things at the gliders pace and sure here is the article Gentle Bonding I hope that helps when you get ready to bond with your glider.
I am not sure if males still go through their nippy phase if they have been neutered once they hit sexual maturity as I have never had a neutered male myself. I would imagine they still go through some form of that. Joeys tend to go through the nippy phase anywhere from 7weeks-12 weeks oop. The psssssssssssst noise tends to work immediately. This is how mom yells at them so they always stop and look around as if what did I do and where is mom. It doesn't scare them though. The difference between gentle bonding and regular bonding is that with gently bonding you do not have to take the bite and it takes things at the gliders pace. I have had more success with the gentle bonding personally becuase I can't take the bite due to medical reasons. Now taking the bite tends to work faster, but I think it is because you are taking away all their defense mechanisms and I'm not sure if the initial thing is bonding or just that they have given up and we have broken their spririt so to speak. That is why I have always used the gentle bonding techniques and I have had really good luck with them. You must be patient because if you have a difficult glider it could take a really long time to bond, but it is always worth it in the end. Hope this helps explain things a bit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> No problem with answering the questions as that is what we are all here for.


Danielle
owned by 4 dogs and 2 gliders really soon
Formerly known as K & D Exotics

Re: Biting [Re: ] #21968
06/12/04 11:07 AM
06/12/04 11:07 AM

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I have 2 older gliders that have found a home with me. The person who first rescued them ended up allowing me to have them. I have had them since Feb. of this year. They or at least the male had been abused and neglected. The person who did the actuall rescue told me the male is a bad biter when he wants to, draws blood. The female just is untamed but not a biter.
Since I have had them in Feb. They have gotten used to my smell and the male no longer tries to attack when I feed them. I always had to do it before he woke up. Now I can at least put my hand in there if he is awake.
I also because of an autoimmune disease can not take bites, my immune system over reacts and sends me into a major flair. So Is my process working do you think? Since he no tries to attack me? She Raven still is wild. He is neutered and has no interest in sex but when she goes into heat she jumps on him and starts working on his neck as if she was the male. Otherwise she shows no aggresion except to other females.
Neither will come into my hand to sit. Should I try a next level for bonding? We are not ready for the tent yet. I do place them in a bonding pouch when they are sleeping I just wait till they crawl into the pouch from their cage pouch. I made a large pouch now that is divided so I can try and work with each seperately. Do you suggest any thing else right now?
My first girls were joeys when I got them and handtamed already so completely different.
So any advice you can offer would be great or any one else for that matter.

The technique you talk about letting them bite you until they finally stop is called learned defensless, if I remember right. The animal only learns to give up and give in, it is useless to fight to protect itself. Which is not always the best in case they ever to get free and have no way to protect themselves.
In training Service assistance dogs it is sometimes called flooding and not highly looked upon any more.
So this is another reason I will not "just let them bite and take it"

You can pm me or even e-mail me privately if you prefer. I really want to help these two to have the happiest life possible.
Thank you

Cindy
and all the critters that live here.

Re: Biting [Re: ] #21969
06/12/04 11:33 AM
06/12/04 11:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,398
Rock Falls, IL, USA
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Rock Falls, IL, USA
You could use the Gentle bonding technique then. It sounds as if what you are doing is working. Generally a sugar glider will not just sit in your hand as they want to run and explore. There are some calm gliders out there that love to be held, but I have to say in general most like to run and explore when out of their pouches and cages. I agree with you on the biting until they stop issue. If you read my article you will see where I say they are just giving in to you and not really bonding. I also can't take the bites due to medical reasons. I have a connective tissue disorder and I don't heal as fast as normal people so I develop infections, etc.. That's why I had to develop techniques where I wouldn't get bit repeatedly. I hope the article will help you. The link is in the above post. If you have any questions after reading it or while you are using the tips let me know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Keep up the good work with your gliders. I am happy to see that they are no longer really using the learned defenseless method as I don't think you really get bonded to the animal as much as they just give in to you and finally allow you to pet them. I have to say that with biting sugar gliders it does seem to work as far as getting them to stop biting and then I agree once that happens then you can begin to bond with your gliders. It does work faster as far as getting them to stop biting, but it is painful and most people can't stand to take the bite for one reason or the other. That is why it was so important to have a different method available. I would use tent time above all and that is explained in the article as well.


Danielle
owned by 4 dogs and 2 gliders really soon
Formerly known as K & D Exotics


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