Hey all!
Just had to share.
After a long day out, I have been giving the gliders some space, as they indicated (in blood) that they did not have a good time on that outing. But tonight Harley jumped over to me unbidden, so I decided to try another 'sleepover'

And...to my happy amazement...not a single bite.

They even let me snuggle up next to them without trying to kick me out of the pouch. Eventually I was able to open my hand and rub some heads and even scratch behind their ears. No bites--no attempt to kick me out.
Eventually, I put the pouch back in the cage and let them keep sleeping.
Man that felt good. I hope this means we are turning a corner. I get jealous watching videos of you guys being able to handle and pet. :-)

Thanks for looking!
Dave

I does feel great doesn't it! Mine love to go with me in the pouch now, but at first it wasn't easy. And still after about a year of taking them about once in a while, I don't disclose them on my person in public yet.

I have taken them to friends and family, pulled Fiona out, where she assumes her "fetal position", allows to be petted by strangers on her back. Just last week she was curious about a stranger, poked her head up from her "position" and allowed her head to be petted. So it's progress. Dot is barely social with us and very unpredictable so she stays burried deep in the pouch.

Yeah I never disclosed them at Home Depot or the grocery store, for instance. Just at that one store where I knew the reaction would be positive.

I hope they come to like it more.
They were not shy though, when I did take them out. They stayed half in the bag but they seemed to enjoy the pettings and pokings. Which was a big surprise for me. I was half panicking thinking one of these girls was going to get bitten. Nope...the furballs were loving it.
Awkwardly jealous of all of them at the same time...
Anyway...
I am discovering something about my kids, I think.
They only bite men. :-(
More experimentation needed. (Hey buddy...stick your hand in this bag, willya?)

But yeah it's a great feeling to have them on me. I won't get all mushy trying to break it down....yet. :-)

I'm a big scary guy, and a I am pandering for the approval of a 77 gram wad of dryer lint. Don't tell anyone. But it feels so good to get that approval...and feel that progress. Makes it feel like that bond is possible...maybe even close at hand. Earning the trust of an animal like this is very special. Blah blah blah....sorry rambling.

I am confident taking them out with me--even out of the bonding pouch. They don't love me yet, but they know that Daddy Tree is the safe spot.

If I had everything I have now--just adding the hold-and cuddle-factor, I would be there.

Thanks for all the great advice you guys.

OMG, that is one of the funniest things I've heard (& pictured in my head) in quite a while! Like tears in my eyes, laughing!

My Joey, Roo and I have come a long way in 5 weeks. I couldn't get near her in the beginning and my fingers constantly got bitten drawing blood. I tried what PP's suggested but it still didn't work so I let my motherly instincts kick in. I mean, I raised two girl a little bit of a scamp was not going to bring me down. So midway through the day I wake her littleness up and give her a treat. Generally it's plain yogurt that I apply to my knuckles. Then when she wakes up at night to play, I put my hand, fist first into her cage and sit on the floor and roll her little jingly balls. Before I new it she was allowing me to pet her in the cage and she was trying to grab the ball from me. Now when she is in her little bed, I take the bed with her in it out of the cage and all I have to do is put my fist next to her and she goes back to sleep. I pet her and she goes into a deep sleep. If she get's out, all I have to do is put my arm down with my fist showing and she runs up my arm and onto my shoulder.

It is such an awesome feeling!!! We still have a ways to go but this is such an improvement. :D

Leslie

Apply yogurt to your knuckles eh? I think I am going to try that. Can't be worse than what I am doing. Had all but given up giving them treats off my fingers. All my worst bites have been accidental, over-enthusiastic bites from treat grabbing. Like just this second...bah!
Maybe with some practice against the *INVINCIBLE (but oh-so tasty) YOGURT FIST* will teach them where the goodies end and the flesh begins.

That is so cool that she is trying to grab the ball from you. Interactive play is a great sign of trust!
Where did that yogurt go...?

Did you guys ever see Hot Shots Part Deux, with Charlie Sheen?

The great thing about my gliders is I get to take them everywhere with me in my pocket. I have not used a bonding pouch since they were 3 months OOP. I do not recommend anyone doing this unless you have the time to train them. Even if my gliders wakeup and want to come out to check things out, they might climb to my shoulder then go back down to my pocket to go back to sleep.

I would love to have that bond with ours Gary, but I know we, my wife and I, are no where near anything like that with our 4 girls. They do what they want when they want outside of the cage/pouch!!

Phil

My thought would be that it's somewhat more difficult to bond with more then 2 at a time. I'm finding that the one on one I have with Roo is really paying off. I am looking to get another fuzz butt but if it takes a little time that's okay too.

Roo travels with us. We went to VA Beach for a week and we took her and all of her stuff with us. It all fit beautifully in out camper which is 30 feet. I took her with me in the bonding pouch to stores and do so at home too. When she starts to grumble, my husband tells people it's my pace maker going off. I don't have a pace maker but it's amusing! I pretend to look at my phone. :D

I am hoping to train her to go into my pocket or ride around in my bra. :O

I just noticed the fist with the yogurt drops - hysterical!!! I'm not quite that neat about it. I smear it on. While she's eating it I pet her.I hope it worked for you! :D

Seriously, only you, man! ROTFLMAO!

Glad things are going well with the fist yogurt idea.

sugiemom to Stuart

Welcome back!