How to tame a chinchilla hands?

Among pets a special place is occupied by chinchillas. These are clever small rodents that are amenable to training and taming. The owner will have to work hard to chinchilla became his true friend, but with the right approach, the result will meet all expectations.

These rodents are from South America and reach sizes of 40 centimeters with a tail length of up to 70 centimeters. Chinchillas have taken a firm place among pets. What are they so attractive?

• There is no denying that the chinchilla has a pleasant and comely appearance, which is an undoubted advantage.
• These rodents do not smell bad.
• Chinchillas are suitable for people suffering from allergies. Wool and allocation of these animals are harmless and do not cause allergies.
• They do not need to be vaccinated, in general, these rodents almost do not suffer from any diseases.
• Chinchillas tolerate loneliness well, which is a plus for busy and working owners. These rodents can be left to themselves the whole day, subject to the availability of food with water in the cage.
• Chinchillas are completely non-aggressive and can be tamed.

The contact of these animals depends on the following factors.

• The place where they were born. If a chinchilla has appeared from already domesticated parents, then it will treat the person with confidence, and therefore, it is easy to interact with him.
• Tactile contact. If the breeders communicated with the animal from the first days of life, and not just fed and cleaned after it, then the new owner will be easier to communicate with the chinchilla.
• Content. As a rule, single chinchillas are more willing to come into contact with a person than those who are caged in pairs or entire groups.
• Floor. Males are usually more susceptible to training and taming, but you can find a common language with females with the proper approach.

The little chinchilla is rather shy, so the taming should be gradual and careful so that the animal is not under stress. How to tame a chinchilla to the hands at a young age?

• It is important to speak kindly with a rodent and often flash before his eyes, so that the chinchilla gets used to the owner. But when communicating you should keep a distance - do not come close to the rodent too close and do not touch it with your hands.
• It is necessary to approach the pet with a quiet and slow pace, sudden movements and noise can frighten the chinchilla.
• At first the animal will behave fearfully. But when he stops hiding, you can try to open the cage door, the movements should be smooth and careful.
• No taming is complete without treats. Therefore, in the event of 3-4 days, you can give a small chinchilla some delicious treat, opening your palm.
• After already 7 (sometimes 14) days the chinchilla will take treats from hands. And only after that you can try to stroke it and take it in your hands.
• Some owners make a certain sound before approaching a cage (for example, a clatter). After some time, this sound is associated with a chinchilla approaching its owner, which means there will be games or treats ahead.

It happens that for various reasons, people acquire an adult rodent, and here the process of domestication depends on many factors: the conditions in which it was kept before, whether it contacted people, whether it was frightened or not. A mature pet requires a special approach, sometimes even a long one. But you can still teach to be on the hands and an adult. What do we have to do?

• No need to start the taming process immediately. It is better to give chinchilla to get used to the new place, atmosphere and smell. It may take a couple of days.
• In order for a chinchilla to feel safe in a cage, it is better to provide it with a special house where she could hide.
• Communication with the owner - an important step taming. But the intonation should be calm, smooth, affectionate. If the animal does not look frightened and does not hide, then you can proceed to further action.
• Chinchilla should be given a tasty treat, while trying to stroke. After some time, the rodent will be tame.
• The name of an adult chinchilla should not be changed if it has already been somehow named by its former owners. So the animal will be easier to adapt to the new environment and make friends with the new owner.

It seems that all animals love stroking, but it’s not so easy to touch a chinchilla if she is frightened and shows disbelief. You can get an aggressive response in response to the bite. Therefore, if the owner wants to stroke a new fluffy friend, then the following rules should be observed.

• At the moment when the rodent takes a treat from his hand, you can try to touch his chin to scratch it. From the first time it may not work out, but you should not abandon the attempts, the main thing is to act gradually and not assertively.
• After the chinchilla has climbed into the palm of your hand for a treat, do not remove your hand. Let the rodent sit a little, so he will get used to the owner more. If the animal immediately jumps from the palm of your hand, as it takes a treat, there is nothing to worry about. Sooner or later, chinchilla will get used to the hands.
• If the owner opens the cage, the animal can already meet it and climb on the palm. Then you can stroke your pet with the index finger. It should be carefully held on the cheeks and chinchilla chin, trying not to touch the antennae (sensitive area). If the rodent escapes, do not worry, after his return, you can repeat the same actions.
• If the animal does not resist stroking its face, you can stroke it on the back with the help of your other hand. At first, these actions can make the rodent nervous, if you give it time to get used to it and repeat it the next day.
• It is important not to wipe the palm over the chinchilla, because such an action is associated with a rodent attack by a predator. The same goes for grabbing the neck. Such movements can not only earn the trust of the pet, but also really scare him.

To make the process of domestication comfortable, it is better to avoid some actions that may adversely affect contact with chinchilla.

• Keeping a pet in your arms is not highly recommended. Such an aggressive approach will not contribute to the establishment of friendly relations with the pet. If the owner sees the resistance of the animal, it is necessary to release it into the cage.
• When a chinchilla sits in the palm of your hand, the second palm should not cover it from above. For a pet, such a shadow will be associated with a bird flying in the sky, and this seemingly innocent gesture will frighten the animal.
• When talking to a rodent can not raise your voice. Kids are afraid of loud noises.
• If the owner's clothes have plastic buttons, then the chinchilla will chew them off with joy.Therefore, before taking it in your arms, it is better to wear clothes that are safe for the health of the animal.
• The chinchilla is a pretty nimble pet, so the owner should be alert while holding her in her arms. The animal can easily jump out and run. Therefore, it is important that all the doors in the room at this time were closed.
• If there are other pets in the house, it is not recommended to immediately introduce the chinchilla to them. It is better to wait a few days.

Here are some more secrets of chinchilla hands training and important tips, which will help to make friends with a fluffy pet.

• Chinchilla need to treat raisins, it is not indifferent to this delicacy. The main thing here - do not overdo it.
• If the rodent is standing on its hind legs or urinating, then you should leave it alone for a while. These are all signs of protest.
• Stretching a palm with food for a chinchilla should be palm up.
• It is necessary to speak with the pet gently and quietly.
• No need to allow a furry animal to run around the apartment until it gets used to the owner's hands.

It should be understood that the chinchilla is not a cat that will sit on your hands for days on end and enjoy stroking and scratching. However, this pet can also become a devoted friend. It is only important to show him a little patience and care.

How to tame a chinchilla, see the following video.