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

Taming and Socializing your hedgehog

  I can not express enough how important it is to socialize your hedgehog. Almost all breeders
  start hand taming their hedgehog babies as early as two weeks of age. It is crucial that once
  you bring your hedgehog home, you need to continue working with him/her until they are
  acclimated with their new environment and you.

  Do not ever wear gloves or anything of the sort when handling your hedgehog. At first you
  may need to use a big plastic spoon when lifting your hedgehog up. But once you pick it up,
  put the hedgehog in your bare hands and let him/her get use to your scent. If you wear
  gloves, or don't handle them with bare hands, they will never get use to your smell. Make
  sure you always wash your hands before handling your hedgehog. If you have not washed
  your hands, they may smell a new scent on you and try to nibble. If you smell like food, they
  will think you are food. In most cases, a baby should have no problems being handled by
  their new owner within a day.

  If the hedgehog gets nervous, and starts to get huffy puffy when you try to lift him/her, do
  not get intimidated! If you get intimidated and then leave him/her alone, he will continue
  to get huffy puffy every time you try to handle him/her. Even if it is showing an attitude of
  any kind, do not be afraid, continue picking it up and just say oh no no and let him/her get
  use to you. It usually only takes a few minutes for him/her to settle down. Make sure to
  always use a soft tone of voice, raising your voice will only frighten your hedgehog.

  Hedgehogs do not have bad temperaments unless you ignore them and never handle them.
  When you first bring a hedgehog home, you should handle him/her daily, or every other day.
  The older it gets, you will not have to spend as much time with it, but if you want him/her to
  remain a pet, then handle him/her as much as you can. If you can not devote at least 1 hour
  a day, 4 days a week with your hedgehog, then it probably isn't the best pet for you.

  Again, anytime you buy a hedgehog from a private breeder, you are taking home a hand
  tamed baby, it will need a few days to adjust to the new owners smell. It is your responsibility
  as the new owner to work with your hedgehog and keep it tame. If you are afraid of him/her,
  he/she will sense that. If you never handle him/her, he/she will not remain tame. It is up to
  you to keep working with him/her! Most breeders do offer after sales support, so don't be
  afraid to ask questions.
 

  One last thing, please do not buy a hedgehog on impulse! Make sure you know what your
  getting into, you need to know what your responsibilities are when it comes to the care of
  hedgehogs.

  If you are purchasing an adult hedgehog from a breeder or a rescue- please have some
  patience with him or her. All adults are being adopted out for one reason or another, whether
  their first family was no longer able to care for him/her, or it was a retired breeder, or what
  ever the situation may be, all adults have the ability to become better pets provided that you
  give him/her the time they need to adjust. The more you handle them, the better pet they
  will be as well. With adults, they may huff and puff, the may click and pop, the best way to
  calm an upset hedgehog is to gently rock them for a very short period of time. Try holding the
  hedgehog in a Snuggle Sack on your lap for them to get more use to your voice and your
  scent. Within a week, most adult hedgehogs should warm up. Some may take longer than
  others, but the key is patience and time! You need to be patient, and spend lots of time with
  them. Try offering treats from the palm of your hand, rub the quills on the very far backside
  of your hedgehog, allow him or her to cuddle in your arms or on your lap. The more safe they
  feel, the more comfortable they will be with you.

  Hedgehogs have an amazing ability to adapt to new environments, the first week is going to
  be an acclimation period, and regardless, continue to handle him or her on a daily basis!
  They depend on you for comfort and care.

The information & photos found on Prickly Creek Exotics web site may not be used on any other web site, web page, or anything else without written permission from us. Copyright © 2001 Prickly Creek Exotics Web Site. All rights reserved. Revised: 3/17/2008