How to tame chinchilla hands?

Among pets, a special place is occupied by chinchillas. These are smart little rodents that can be trained and tamed. The owner will have to work hard so that the chinchilla becomes a real friend to him, but with the right approach, the result will live up to all expectations.

These rodents come from South America, reaching sizes of 40 centimeters with a tail length of up to 70 centimeters. Chinchillas have taken a strong place among pets. Why are they so attractive?

• It is undeniable that chinchilla has a pleasant and pretty appearance, which is an undoubted advantage.
• These rodents do not emit an unpleasant odor.
• Chinchillas are suitable for people with allergic reactions. The coat and excreta 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 on their own for a whole day, provided that there is food with water in the cage.
• Chinchillas are completely non-aggressive and tame.

Contact of these animals depends on the following factors.

• The place where they were born. If the chinchilla came from already domesticated parents, then it will be confidential to the person, which means that it is easy to interact with him.
• Tactile contact. If breeders communicated with the animal from the first days of life, and not just fed and cleaned it, then it will be easier for the new owner to establish a connection with the chinchilla.
• Content. As a rule, single chinchillas are more likely to make contact with a person than those that are contained in a cage in pairs or whole groups.
• Floor. Usually males are more susceptible to training and taming, but even with females, with the proper approach, you can find a common language.

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

• It is important to speak kindly to the 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 get too close to the rodent and do not touch it with your hands.
• You need to approach the pet in a quiet and slow step, sudden movements and noise can scare the chinchilla.
• At first, the animal will behave fearfully. But when he stops hiding, you can try to open the door of the cell, the movements should be smooth and careful.
• No taming is complete without refreshments. Therefore, after an incident of 3-4 days, you can give the little chinchilla some tasty treat, opening his palm.
• After 7 (sometimes 14) days, the chinchilla will take treats from his hands. And only after that you can try to stroke it and pick it up.
• Some owners make a certain sound (for example, a clatter) before approaching a cage. After some time, this sound is associated in the chinchilla with the owner approaching it, which means that there will be games or refreshments ahead.

It happens that for various reasons people acquire an adult rodent, and here the process of taming depends on many factors: in what conditions he was kept before, whether he was in contact with people, scared or not. An adult pet requires a special approach, sometimes even a long one. But still, you can teach an adult to be on hand. What do we have to do?

• No need to start the taming process right away. It’s better to let the chinchilla get used to the new place, atmosphere and smell. It may take a couple of days.
• In order for the chinchilla to feel safe in the cage, it is better to equip it with a special house where she could hide.
• Communication with the owner is an important stage of taming. But the intonation should be calm, smooth, affectionate. If the animal does not look scared and does not hide, then you can proceed to further actions.
• You should give the chinchilla a tasty treat, while trying to pet. After some time, the rodent will become tame.
• The nickname of an adult chinchilla should not be changed if it is already somehow named by the previous owners. So the animal will be easier to adapt to the new environment and make friends with the new owner.

It seems that stroking is loved by all animals, but it is not so easy to touch the chinchilla if it is scared and distrusts. You can get an aggressive reaction in response, up to a bite. Therefore, if the owner wants to stroke a new furry friend, then the following rules should be observed.

• At the moment when the rodent takes treats from his hand, you can try to touch his chin to scratch him. The first time it may not work, but there is no need to abandon attempts, the main thing is to act gradually and not aggressively.
• After the chinchilla climbed into the palm of your hand for a treat, you don’t have to remove your hand. Let the rodent sit a bit, so he will get used to the owner more. If the animal immediately jumps from the palm of its hand, as it takes a treat, there is nothing to worry about. Sooner or later, the chinchilla will get used to his hands.
• If the owner opens the cage, the animal may already meet him and climb into the palm of his hand. Then you can pet your pet with your index finger. Chinchillas should be carefully drawn along the cheeks and chin, being careful not to touch the antennae (sensitive area). If the rodent runs away, do not worry, upon his return, you can repeat the same actions.
• If the animal does not resist stroking the muzzle, you can use it with the other hand to stroke it on the back. At first, these actions can make the rodent nervous, it is worth giving him time to get used to and repeating the actions the next day.
• It is important not to wave a palm over a chinchilla, because such an action is associated with a rodent attack by a predator. The same goes for grabbing a scruff. Such movements can not only not earn the trust of the pet, but also really scare him.

To make the taming process comfortable it is better to avoid certain actions that may adversely affect contact with the chinchilla.

• Keeping your pet in your arms by force is highly discouraged. Such an aggressive approach will not contribute to building friendships with the pet. If the owner sees the resistance of the animal, then it is necessary to release it into the cage.
• When the chinchilla sits in the palm of the 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 with a rodent, you can not raise your voice. Kids are afraid of loud sounds.
• If there are plastic buttons on the owner’s clothes, then the chinchilla will gladly nibble them. Therefore, before taking it in your hands, it is better to wear clothing that is safe for the animal's health.
• Chinchilla is a pretty nimble pet, so the owner should be alert, holding it in his hands. The animal can easily jump out and run away. Therefore, it is important that all the doors are closed at that moment in the room.
• If there are other pets in the house, it is not recommended to immediately introduce the chinchilla to them. Better to wait a few days.

Here are a few more secrets to making chinchillas hands and important tips, which will help make friends with a furry pet.

• Chinchilla needs to be treated with raisins, she is not indifferent to this delicacy. The main thing here is not to overdo it.
• If the rodent stands on its hind legs or lets out urine, then you should leave it alone for a while. These are all signs of protest.
• Stretching out a palm with food for the chinchilla, you need to palm up.
• Talking with your pet should be gentle and quiet.
• You do not need to allow a furry animal to run around the apartment until you get used to the hands of the owner.

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

See how to tame a chinchilla in the next video.