hedgehogs for adoption, hedgehog breeders, hedgehogs for sale, hedgehogs Michigan

How to choose a hedgehog that is right for you

 Hopefully you have all ready read the FAQ's page, if not take a minute to and review it now,
 or at least print it out and read it later. This is important information if you plan to buy
 a hedgehog.

 First I recommend trying to find a breeder in your state. Please do not purchase a
 hedgehog from a pet store. I can not express this enough!! The problem is this: pet stores 
 know nothing or very little about hedgehogs, so they will not be able to answer your
 questions, or advise you to proper foods, cages, etc. Pet stores don't know the date of birth
 of their hedgehogs. Just about all pet stores will claim they can tell you all you need to
 know to care for your hedgehog, but most of the information is not correct.  A young
 couple that came to me for a hedgehog had purchased a hedgehog from a pet store first.
 Unfortunately, they were sold an older hedgehog under the impression they were getting
 a baby. Some poor breeders that are only into it for the money will sometimes sell their
 retired breeders to pet stores for them to sell as babies or younger hedgehogs. Pet stores
 do not offer a health guarantee and offer no assistance. When you purchase from a
 breeder, you will typically get a birth certificate, so you will know who the parents were
 and when it was born. You will know whether or not it is tame or hand raised, they
 usually always are if being bought from a breeder. And the breeder usually offers a
 health guarantee and after sale support. The sad thing is that most breeders only make
 as much money off one hedgehog baby as the pet store does, but the breeder offer so
 much more with their sales. When you find a breeder, make sure you can go visit each
 of the hedgehogs they have available. This is important because you want the hedgehog
 that will adore you as much as your adore them.

 I want to stress how important it is to base your decision on purchasing a hedgehog with
 the bond you make when you meet him or her. If your looking to buy a hedgehog as a
 pet, then you should not buy one because if its color or because of its sex! Deciding
 between male and female is no problem at all. As long as you buy them young, you can
 hand tame them. There is no personality differences between males or females, they will
 bond equally with you. Both make great pets. You should be more worried about their
 temperament rather than the color of their quills.

 Also, don't hesitate to ask the breeder as many questions as you may have. It is important
 to know what brands of food the babies have been on, I typically explain it to people like
 this, if you can't afford the diet that they are currently on, then you may want to reconsider
 buying a hedgehog as a pet. The cost of good hedgehog food is no more than buying a top
 on the line premium cat food for cats, expense wise that is. I would also be skeptical if a
 breeder does not feed their hedgehogs a premium natural diet. Hedgehogs are prone to
 cancers and other diseases, so having a proper diet can help maintain a healthy hedgehog.

 Another thing to look for when selecting a breeder-  Is the breeder easy to contact? When
 you email them, do you get a response typically within 24 hours? Do they allow you to
 come to their home? How willing are they at answering questions you have? One of my
 clients drove 4 1/2 hours a way to another breeder in another state and had to meet the
 breeder at a show. They were handed a small box, the breeder took out the hedgehog
 showed it to them and stuck it right back in the box and sent them on their way. They
 kept the hedgehog for 5 months, then came to me and had me rescue him from them
 because he would bite and draw blood. He wasn't social at all and didn't like handling.
 If you find that the breeder isn't easy to communicate with or reach, this may be a sign
 that they are not a breeder you would want to work with.

 When you first bring your hedgehog home, give it a few days to adjust to their new
 surroundings. You may even place a small t-shirt with your scent in their cage so they
 can become familiar with it. Make sure what ever the material is that it isn't frayed or
 has loose threads as it can cut off tiny limbs. Once the hedgehog smells your scent for
 a few days, they will know it is a familiar scent so they will be more open to you. Then
 spend time with them and you will have a new best friend. If you buy from a pet store,
 it is Buyer Beware!