Taming

Rebecca · 06-23-03, 02:47 PM

Ok I have a breaded dragon that I had gotten semi-tame. But now it hates me. It had a bad shed and does NOT like water at all, so when I put it in the sink in the water to soak to help it shed it got REAL mad at me. Now it screams and tries to bite me all the time. It's only about maybe 5" nose to vent. My question is how can I try taming it agian. I tried what I did before ( give it treats everytime I picked it up) and it's not working at all. Any ideas??

reptilez · 06-24-03, 08:47 AM

Just pick it up more then once a day untill it stops lashing out. I take mine out in the sun everyday

Dragon_Slave · 06-24-03, 01:50 PM

One of my friends is having the same problem with her baby beardie. There are a few taming tricks that she is using that seem to be working quite well.
1. Put on a dark t-shirt and then put the dragon under the shirt on your chest. Do this for about 5-10 minutes until it calms down. The darkness will make the dragon feel safer and it might even fall asleep. If you do this once or twice a day for a few weeks, your baby should be tame in no time. Once it learns that your smell means comfort and safety, it will learn to trust you more.
2. Do what Drewlowe said, take him/her out of it's cage for a few minutes a day. If she puffs up and you and flares it's beard, don't feed it, that would be rewarding it for bad behavior.
Good luck and keep us updated on her behavior!

drewlowe · 06-24-03, 03:03 PM

i didn't say anything yet dragon slave. LOL at least i don't think i did.

But ya that's some good advice.

when mine where younger i would just take them out for 10-30 min. depending on their attitude. to get them used to being handled. also on a daily bases i will stick my hand in the cage and pet them, and i try to hand feed them as much as possible. I really don't have to many problems with my beardies seeing i got mine when they were only a month old and i would handle them almost daily.

Dragon slave i never thought of the shirt trick but i will remember that one. I usually just put my hand over their eyes for a few min. until they calmed down.

ohhh that made me think of another idea. Try taking he/she (sorry you didn't mention sex of the beardie) out at bed time. And have he/she lay on you why the lights are out. just a thought. i used to take my baby girl out almost every night. She would nuzzle into my neck and i would have to lay my head on her her. If i would move my head she would nudge me until i put it back. hehe beardies are so cute!!!

Rebecca · 06-24-03, 03:13 PM

I try to take it out (too young to sex and I don't even know who to anyway

but it's very jumpy and kinda a spaz, and I don't want it jumping off of me and loosing it or it getting hurt. I usually pick it up, from the front so it can see my hand, and just lay it on my hand a pet it's back. It likes to be pet on the back but still freaks out if it sees my thumb or finger. Right now taking it out of the tank is out of the question. When ever I try to pick it up when it's sleeping so it can get used to my scent it wakes up and freaks. I guess it's going to take a long time to tame it agian. I'll keep at it though. Last night I did have a bit of a break through. I did my usual pick it up rub it for a few and put it back thing, but it wouldn't get off my hand. I sat there with it on my hand for a little pick and it never freaked at all. So I'm hoping I'm making a break through.

drewlowe · 06-24-03, 03:49 PM

i know beardies can be itimidated by things that are bigger than themselves. try not to approch it from the top i know thats probly kinda hard. but try to slant your arm as you go into the cage. i've stuck my hand in the cage almost daily so they aren't scared of me anymore. hehe and i love that i can still pet under their chin and the side of their mouth without them even budging. actually i can pet them pretty much anywhere and they don't get upset. also my male bit me once when i was hand feeding him (didn't hurt too bad and their wasnt alot of blood) but i actually think he felt bad about doing it. cause after he bit me he licked the spot he bit and then wouldn't hand feed for a week. now when he hand feeds he won't try to bite down on it he will try to lick it from my hands.

Dragon_Slave · 06-25-03, 05:20 PM

Drew, I'm sorry... Lol... silly me putting the wrong name, haha!

Rebecca: The young one's will be jumpy and Drew had some EXCELLENT advise!

If you don't feel comfortable taking it out of the cage, everyday, just put your hand in the cage(remembering not to approach from the top) and pick up the dragon with your other hand from the side and place it in your other hand. Just allowing the dragon to sit on your hand for a few minutes should calm it down and get it used to your smell.
Also, Drew's advise about handling at night is GREAT! I take Chester out at night and he falls asleep on my shoulder, nudging my neck just like Drews beardie does. Soo cute, it makes me melt every time he does it! Of course, we wouldn't expect you to put him on your shoulder quite yet, but just holding it in your hand should do the trick. Also, I wouldn't suggest trying to hold it just after it wakes up... dragons are cranky sometimes just like humans. I know, in the mornings I don't want ANYONE or ANYTHING to touch me! Lol. Hope this helps! Keep us updated!

drewlowe · 06-25-03, 07:35 PM

Don't worry dragon slave i laughed about it. you were foreshadowing. LOL

ummmm as of now i cant think of anything else i do with them to try to keep them tame. i'd be wary of the morning thing thats when mine don't want to be messed with my boy usually just sits their and flares his beard in the morning. i know i'm cranky in the morning. so i let them be to. Also i've been leaving out a big piece (in my mind.) Try to learn his moods. I can tell when i stick my hand in the cage if they are upset or not. if they don't want messed with i can tell and i won't bother them too much. (just do what i need to and leave em alone.) other times i can tell they want some attention. and i'll sit there and pet them or take them out for a bit. also try taking chester for a walk when it's real nice outside. and let him run around a bit (make sure you have a leash or a outdoor cage, no glass outside) maybe that might wear him out and he'll let ya hold him. ok sorry thought of that after my first sentence. if i think of anything else i'll let ya know.

Dragon_Slave · 06-26-03, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drewlowe
also try taking chester for a walk when it's real nice outside. and let him run around a bit (make sure you have a leash or a outdoor cage, no glass outside) maybe that might wear him out and he'll let ya hold him. ok sorry thought of that after my first sentence. if i think of anything else i'll let ya know. [/B]

LOL Drew... Chester is MY dragon! :-p

I agree about learning moods, if Chester gives me the ''Leave me alone!'' look, I do exactly so. Lol.

drewlowe · 06-26-03, 09:49 AM

LOL my mind was lost yesturday. i was thinking of so many different things yesturday. Oh well were all allowed to mess up. LOL

I know someone has the same name as your beardie i guess i just can't remember who. Damn mind!!!!

Dragon_Slave · 06-26-03, 09:39 PM

Haha, yeah... there is someone, they stole the name from me! LOL.