My Hedgehog Hates Me! - Signs Your Hedgehog Hates You - Snuffles and raises its quills when picked up Is grumpy Runs and hides when lights turn on Runs away when owner tries to hold it Hates to be touched Is startled at every little sound or movement Wrong! Your Hedgehog Does NOT Hate You - The three most common reasons for less than friendly behavior include Your hedgehog has bed-head Your hedgehog is afraid Your hedgehog is uncomfortable due to quilling By understanding your hedgehog behavior you can handle your hedgehog in ways that make your hedgehog more comfortable. Your hedgehog needs to be comfortable before it can relax. Hedgehog Bed-Head Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures that are typically sleeping during daylight hours and while the lights are on. Since we humans are not generally creatures of the night this means we need to wake up our hedgehogs in order to play with them. Some hedgehogs wake up in a great mood while others well… they need some time. Hedgehogs, like humans with bed-head need some time without a lot of stimulation such as touch. Touching a hedgehog with bed-head increases the irritation of the hedgehog and thus causes it to huff and puff more instead of relaxing. The best way to wake up a hedgehog with bed-head is to simply hold it in flat hands or sit it down on a pillow or other soft place and allows it to become active on its own. Hedgehogs Are Really Big Chickens Many times hedgehogs that are simply shy or scared are misdiagnosed as grumpy. Keep in mind hedgehogs are naturally fearful animals that are basically defenseless against danger. When hedgehogs go to new homes they are likely to be naturally scared both of you and its new surroundings. Older hedgehogs that have not been properly handled by previous owners or socialized may be especially fearful of new people. A hedgehogs only line of defense is to ball up and huff and puff and use its spines for protection. A hedgehog that senses something different i.e. a noise or movement automatically reacts defensively until it feels safe enough to come out of its ball to investigate. When you pick your hedgehog up hedgehogs natural instinct is to assume that danger might be lurking nearby so they ball up for protection. Hedgehogs that are afraid do not want to be touched. After all, who or what wants to be touched by something that might cause harm. For this reason, holding your hedgehog close and touching or petting it to soothe it as you would to calm a puppy or kitten will in fact make your hedgehog more afraid. Holding your hedgehog in flat hands out away from your body is the fastest and simplest way for your hedgehog to relax. Behavior During Quilling Some hedgehogs show no discomfort during quilling while others might become very grouchy or seem anti-social. Hedgehogs that are uncomfortable might huff and puff more and relax less. Change in behavior is perfectly normal and should be understandably expected considering the potential discomfort of the quilling process. Instead of attempting to pet your hedgehog simply hold it or allow it to crawl over you and explore. Petting may actually increase the discomfort and therefore increase your hedgehogs grouchiness. You dont want to avoid handling your pet during the quilling process but you certainly dont want to increase their agitation by petting them if their behavior indicates they are uncomfortable. Dont worry though, with consistent and considerate handling the grouchiness will get better Quilling. What to Do You will need to build trust with your hedgehog and teach it that you are safe. You will also need to get to know your hedgehog and how your hedgehog prefers to be handled and respond appropriately. Should your hedgehog seem sensitive to bright lights, handle your hedgehog in the evening in the light of a computer monitor or T.V. or a dimly lit room. What NOT to Do Dont pet your hedgehog if it puts its quills up or seems upset when touched. A hedgehog that is acting defensive is scared. Neither you nor I want to be touched by a scary person and neither does your hedgehog! Even though your hedgehog might act defensively it is important to keep handling your hedgehog. Dont wait until your hedgehog to seek you out for attention and to gain confidence on its own but instead provide opportunities to trust you. Finally, and most importantly, dont give up!
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 07:47:39 +0000
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