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1

Q & A / Re: First-time chin owner, three bonding questions

« on: February 05, 2015, 08:54:11 PM »

That's actually a huge relief, GrayRodent. Everything I've read online basically says to treat them as if they're made of glass, so I've been afraid of ruining our relationship from the moment I got her home. At this point, I'm going to leave her alone for a little bit, maybe until she starts playing in the cage when we're in the room.

Fortunately, she is not at all aggressive--the only times I have been nipped were when I was offering food and treats and she missed and slightly bit on my finger (not hard enough to hurt, though). Mostly just scared--running away, hiding, squeaking when she really wants me to go away.

I'm the type of person who over-thinks and catastrophizes when faced with something unfamiliar that seems to be going awry. This is usually solved by knowledgeable people reminding me to chill, so thank you.

2

Q & A / First-time chin owner, three bonding questions

« on: February 05, 2015, 12:53:02 PM »

I have had Sophie, who is about four months old, for a full week now, so there's a really good chance I'm overreacting, but I'm worried about our bonding. She and I had been doing pretty well the past couple of days. She's taken to hanging out in her dust bath (which is fine, I don't want to take away her safe spot), and she frequently pokes her head out to see what's going on. I usually give her a treat (1/2 raisin per day max, and I just got some rose hips), and if she sticks around, I'll start giving her pieces of her food or hay. Here's my first question: is that an acceptable tactic? Would this encourage bonding or would it perhaps make her think that she's always going to be hand fed and thus won't eat on her own? Basically, should I take these opportunities or is that ill advised? The main reason I ask is because I tried giving her a rose hip for her treat last night, but she absolutely would not take it or anything I tried to give her after that (though, I left it in her cage and she did eat it during the night). Does she perhaps feel like I'm violating her safe space?

My second question relates to the first: From what I've read in chin guides to bonding, it's best to offer treats and the like when the chin comes out from their hut/safe spot and approaches the bars. Sophie has not done that once since I brought her home--except when everyone is sleeping but her, which is why I've been offering the treats and food when she's still in her hut. I've been sitting by her cage and talking to her softly like the guides suggest, but it has done nothing from what I can tell, and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong that she doesn't feel safe enough to come out of her hut or bath house when I or my boyfriend are in the same room.

My third question comes after what happened today: How should I be cleaning her cage? I have no way of getting her out of her cage without scaring her, so I started cleaning her cage today just by taking out the old bedding. It was okay for a few minutes, but as soon as I started moving around the bedding that surrounds her hut, she started squeaking and wouldn't stop until I had been completely away from her cage for about five full minutes. I don't want to upset or frighten her, but her cage needs cleaned. What can I possibly do here?

For the first two, it may be that I'm entirely too worried too soon, but the third question really needs an answer because I can't just let her sit in her own filth. Help?