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Flinching? #1086647
03/18/11 02:21 PM
03/18/11 02:21 PM

H
Holydust
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Even my breeder remarked that it's hard not to be startled by a loud crab, and as you guys probably know, flinching or being startled while your arm is in the cage can lead to banging it somewhere, getting you hurt (but most importantly) creating an even louder noise that will scare the gliders further.

In this early, crucial bonding time, I am concerned about always flinching if my babies crab. We know that they react to us, and I know that if I constantly pull away or flinch every time they are crabby, I run the risk of letting THEM train ME. Right?

Has anyone considered wearing earplugs (like the kind you use if you play in a band) to kind of dampen the sudden shock of crabbing, so that you can push through and do what needs to be done without being so startled at the loudness of it?

Note that of course I'm not advocating flat-out ignoring any crabbing! But it seems to me that if maybe I could somehow reduce the sudden loudness of it by using earplugs, I can avoid telegraphing my shock to the gliders, which will hopefully speed up the bonding process as I maybe will be less likely to jolt at the noise... thoughts?

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086651
03/18/11 02:34 PM
03/18/11 02:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,182
Maine
IslandGliders Offline
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Maine
I think you'll get used to it in time. I jumped at first, too. Now--though my gliders rarely crab--I barely even react.

I guess, if earplugs work to tone down the noise, no harm done? Whatever works for you.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086652
03/18/11 02:35 PM
03/18/11 02:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 614
Central Illinois
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Central Illinois
It is hard to not flinch when they suddenly start crabbing. I'm still relatively new (first family in Aug, then more and more, now have 10 in 4 cages). I startle easily and have found the flinching doesn't cause my fuzzies to trust me less. I think as long as you continue what you were doing before you flinched, they start to realize their noise isn't going to stop you. And they will find that your hand does not mean harm. I have one very aggressive boy that we have been working with that would lunge at me (yep I flinched every time) and now he is such a good boy. My newest pair of boys is very noisy but they are all bark and no bite (and yes I flinch every time with them also). You will learn their personalities and maybe it will become easier to not flinch for you.


Tracy
Married to my best friend for 24 years
We have 5 skin kids, 2 with spouses, 4 PERFECT GrandSkins
Owned by 2 cats
Playmate to 5 dogs
Slave to 16 suggies + joeys now and then
www.garlandfunnyfarm.weebly.com
Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086660
03/18/11 02:46 PM
03/18/11 02:46 PM

H
Holydust
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Holydust
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I appreciate the advice. I'll let you guys know if it helps, but it's good to know I hopefully won't send our progress totally backwards if I flinch a lot at first. It's frustrating how even when I know they're going to crab, I still flinch. I wish there was like a crabbing/flinching training program! LOL.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086664
03/18/11 02:50 PM
03/18/11 02:50 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 614
Central Illinois
SugarCrazy Offline
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Posts: 614
Central Illinois
There is... it's called bonding. grin You are doing great. You will get past this. hug2


Tracy
Married to my best friend for 24 years
We have 5 skin kids, 2 with spouses, 4 PERFECT GrandSkins
Owned by 2 cats
Playmate to 5 dogs
Slave to 16 suggies + joeys now and then
www.garlandfunnyfarm.weebly.com
Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086668
03/18/11 02:51 PM
03/18/11 02:51 PM

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Holydust
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Holydust
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Hehe. Thanks. The funny part is, I'm really not worried about getting bitten. I just hate how flinchy I am naturally. I am a real rabbit when it comes to loud noises, but not with pain.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086686
03/18/11 03:08 PM
03/18/11 03:08 PM

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Megs
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I've had gliders for just over a year, and I still flinch and pull back. It's startling as all get out.
Yes, even the 5wk oop joey I have startles me. roflmao
I think the key to training THEM that they are NOT training YOU is continue what you were doing after pulling back.
I think it's when you pull back and then leave them alone that they start to understand that they CAN train you.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086688
03/18/11 03:10 PM
03/18/11 03:10 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
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Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
bonding is really trust building. Both earning the trust of your gliders but also you learning their behaviors and moods such so you can trust them too.

Hang in there. You'll get used to it. When mine crab at me, I usually just laugh at them and tell them "Yes, I know you are a BAD (so and so). Hush and eat a yogie!"


620-704-9109
Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance


The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1086694
03/18/11 03:12 PM
03/18/11 03:12 PM

H
Holydust
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Holydust
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Ahaha! Good advice, all. smile I try to talk to them before I approach the cage when they're in the pouch, and I keep talking after they start crabbing and they seem to sort of calm down. I just think at this phase Echo is really not cool with anything she can't see, and she has no problems telling me so.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087014
03/19/11 12:31 PM
03/19/11 12:31 PM

R
rachellemarie88
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rachellemarie88
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I was petrified of my baby crabbing when I first got her. I was even afraid to put my hand in the cage; so much so I was 45 minutes late for work all because I sat scared in front of her cage for so long. I used the pouch alot when getting her out in the beginning but the more assertive I was the less she was scared. When she crabs now I either become protective because I know something has scared her or I kind of laugh and tell her to stop acting so tough. Its great to be able to look back and see the changes in the relationship!

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087070
03/19/11 03:38 PM
03/19/11 03:38 PM

H
Holydust
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Holydust
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Thank you, Rachelle -- I actually sat in front of the pouch yesterday (out of the cage) for like 25 minutes because I was shaking so hard. *LOL* But last night they crabbed a little in the cage and I realized I wasn't quite as startled as the first few times. I think I'll get used to it.

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087118
03/19/11 06:26 PM
03/19/11 06:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 913
Casper, Wyoming
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 913
Casper, Wyoming
That has happened to me too. The first time I jumped because I got licked and was totally shocked. I laughed. I have jumped from crabbing, but it has never been around my hand. I have jump if I walked next to the cage in the day and sudden crabbing I wasn't expecting since I didn't even glance their way, or if I am wearing them in the bonding pouch and distracted by what I am doing like being on the net, wink I jump if they suddenly start to crab, esp. if its quiet with no tv or anything. I don't think they have me trained, yet anyway. They have not actually crabbed at my hand. I think jumping and flinching is a natural reaction, I have high anxiety and always have, and have always been on the jumpy side, its my nature sadly. I feel your pain. I jump in my office all the time, so much so I turned my desk sideways so that I can see people before the talk, and I STILL jump. I get very focused on what I am doing and tune out things, so a sudden noise even if its someone just talking to me causes me to jump!


Melonie

:grey: :wfb: :leu: :rtmo: :plat: :cream:

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087364
03/20/11 12:18 AM
03/20/11 12:18 AM

K
kevinBsuggie
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kevinBsuggie
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LOL this was a fun thread to read! i just bought an almost 1yr old WFB boy LAST NIGHT!!! he is so sweet and nice that he sold himself when i went to look at a joey... he has only crabbed twice and both times it wasnt at me!!! i think its because the woman i got him from didnt feed live insects and i always approach him with mealies in hand lol whether he is in the pouch or not! as soon as he finds out im the "new guy" with the yummies he chills right out...but it is most definatly startling when he does crab! im not sure if mine is louder than the average glider but he can really let you kno he is there lol...
~kevin~

Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087529
03/20/11 11:45 AM
03/20/11 11:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 524
Grand Junction, Colorado
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 524
Grand Junction, Colorado
I am realizing some are more vocal than others~ Zinger is making vocal noise no matter what he is doing lol~ I think he loves the sound of his own voice.

So .. maybe it will never end?
Today Zinger crabbed at me when I peeked in the pouch and I yelped shakehead (and my 4 year old laughed~ now that makes me feel silly!)
and worse, he likes to peek his head out at me and crab again. I would normally think he is scared.. but no matter what he is doing he is yapping in some way (chittering, chirping, clicking...and some noises I have yet to identify!)

So don't feel too bad for jumping/flinching lol~ It can be a startling noise!


~~Chrystal~~
My beautiful pair~

Zinger (aka:Evan) :wfb:
Karma (aka:Ivy) :grey:

:rbridge: Thor 12/24/10
heart Twinkie 11/26/11
Re: Flinching? [Re: ] #1087568
03/20/11 01:29 PM
03/20/11 01:29 PM

K
kevinBsuggie
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kevinBsuggie
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i think he is just messin with you now lol...he knows he controls the way you act around him...
~kevin~


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