How to get fiance over her fear.

[Albinoboidsetc]

I couldn't figure out where else to post this question so, if this is the wrong place, I do apologize.

A little back story, I bought my first Hedgehog back in 2000, she lived for 4 years despite what I now know to have been pretty much the opposite of what is recommended for them. Over the past year I have been doing more and more research into all of the new information available (with a lot of time spent lurking around here before I recently decided to actually make an account) and decided, after getting permission from the Boss Lady, that I wanted to get one again and do things right this time.

I have a little girl that I am getting on the first from a friend who has a litter. Well last week I was offered a male from a lady who was coming to buy one of our baby birds. After making sure that we have the space we said sure. Well he got here and he is awesome and his original Mother is a wonderful woman. She brought over a nice large CBC cage, a bunch of food, treats, toys, and 2 wheels for him. Neither Mr. Moogy, nor his previous owner is an issue, the problem is my Boss Lady.

My fiance was never an animal person before we met, after 7 years together though she has come around. She still won't hold the snakes, unless they are just coming out of the egg, but she has come a long way with the others around this house. The problem I'm having is that she is intimidated by the quills. He really isn't all that bad, in my opinion, but do any of you have any tips on how to ease a person into handling a hedgie? I know Mr. Moogy probably couldn't care less if she interacted with him, provided of course that I kept his cage clean and his food and water coming, but I want her to understand why I like hedgehogs. It also wouldn't hurt if, when our son is old enough to interact with the hedgehogs, she isn't freaking out thinking that EJ is going to be impaled by poor MR. Moogy.

Here is Mr. Moogy with a meat stick. Seriously I have thawed out tons of different things to be fed to different reptiles over the years and those meat sticks have got to be one of the nastiest things I've ever had to touch.

[elizakait]

Maybe try letting her hold him in a snuggle sack? That's how we have most of our interaction with our little guy just to keep him from pooping on us. You can still feel the quills when he huffs up, but through the fleece it isn't as bad. And maybe if she feels them through the fleece she'll realize the quills really aren't that bad. Good luck!

[artistshrugged]

I agree with elizakait. I usually handle my hedgie through his fleece, and that is also how I have gotten my boyfriend accustomed to handling him.

[Quinn]

Agree with above. You can start with holding the bag with some additional fleece so she won't feel it at all. Also maybe while he is sleeping.

[Albinoboidsetc]

Thank you all, I will have to try that for her.

[Quinn]

By the way what's a meat stick? It looks like a hotdog lol.

[Albinoboidsetc]

It's a Gerber Meat Stick. I read in a book, that I found the link to on here, that they are an OK treat for them. His previous owner said he liked them so I made sure to get him some. They are sort of like Vienna Sausages.

[LizardGirl]

Mr. Moogy is so stinking cute, I can't see how anyone would be afraid of him! Ditto what the others have said, let her hold him with a blanket to "protect" her from the quills at first, and hopefully she'll realize that they aren't that painful or startling.

[Albinoboidsetc]

You're the one that wrote the book I've been reading like crazy? Thank you for it, I learn something new each time I read it.

[LizardGirl]

You are quite welcome! Glad it's been useful for you.