Posted By: Bee
Bonding--Next step? - 04/18/17 06:12 PM
So we've had our two guys for over a month now. They were both just over a year old when we got them. They seemed somewhat use to humans, but hadn't bonded to anyone before. We're at the point where they easily come up to us, from the cage, for treats. But they're still pretty skittish of us. When we let them out for play time, they'll climb on us, but run away from any perceived hand movement. My question is how do we move forward from here? We're pretty much staying at the point of them taking treats from us, but wanting nothing more to really do with us. And we've been here for about three weeks. How do we move along the bonding process? Because to me it's looking like it might not progress from here unless things are helped along.
We do have the gliders in a pouch with us pretty regularly. Not every day, but pretty constantly. And when we do have them with us, it's generally for pretty long periods of time. We feed them food/treats in their pouch, etc. And they do really well in pouch (though getting them in pouch is another matter, haha). I've tried putting one glider in my shirt, but that didn't seem to go too well. So I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to move the bonding process along.
One of the gliders is super calm and sweet but way more timid. I think he'll be such a cuddle bug, but I just don't know how to make him feel safe. I don't know how to get them to associate any "safety" with me. If they're on me at all, they'd just run away. And I don't want them to been terrified by me trying to force them to stay on me, etc.
I know most people will say that they just need more time and I agree. But things have been like this since I first got them. They were pretty socialized from previous experiences, but never bonded to anyone. And that seems to be where they are at and have been since they came home. I guess my question is how do you go from them feeling safe around you, to being safe with you? The process just feels a bit in a rut, and I'm unsure what is needed here. First time glider mommy here! Thanks!
We do have the gliders in a pouch with us pretty regularly. Not every day, but pretty constantly. And when we do have them with us, it's generally for pretty long periods of time. We feed them food/treats in their pouch, etc. And they do really well in pouch (though getting them in pouch is another matter, haha). I've tried putting one glider in my shirt, but that didn't seem to go too well. So I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to move the bonding process along.
One of the gliders is super calm and sweet but way more timid. I think he'll be such a cuddle bug, but I just don't know how to make him feel safe. I don't know how to get them to associate any "safety" with me. If they're on me at all, they'd just run away. And I don't want them to been terrified by me trying to force them to stay on me, etc.
I know most people will say that they just need more time and I agree. But things have been like this since I first got them. They were pretty socialized from previous experiences, but never bonded to anyone. And that seems to be where they are at and have been since they came home. I guess my question is how do you go from them feeling safe around you, to being safe with you? The process just feels a bit in a rut, and I'm unsure what is needed here. First time glider mommy here! Thanks!