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Last winter Sylvie met a dog - a lab, & a cat.
The lab has a toy hedgehog she plays with so we were very hesitant, very slow & very observant in letting them meet. It was more of a first 'slow sniffing' then meeting. The dog was very curious, but once Sylvie was in my palms & the dog had the opportunity to sniff, the dog backed away, almost seemed scared. I was at this house for a couple days. Whenever I opened the door to go into the room Sylvie was staying in, the dog would follow me, remain inquisitive, but always keep a safe distance back.
Similar with the cat. Now with the cat we were even more concerned as the cat has been known to hunt & bring mice/birds home. Sylvie and the cat were not going to meet while we were visiting but everything happened in a thankfully controlled manner. Similarly, the cat came slowly forward with Sylvie secure & protected in my hands, sniffed Sylvie & then backed away. The cat wanted nothing to do with her for the remainder of the time we were there.
Tonight Sylvie met my parents dog, a ****er spaniel. Being a spaniel we were hesitant for them to meet. They've been in the same room & he's been a couple feet from her but always held as we didn't want him to try to attack or pick her up. Tonight when I was sitting on the sofa & the dog was on the floor, I took Sylvie out & put her on my lap. Slowly I let the dog sniff her. However as soon as Sylvie was on my lap, the dog lent away & ****ed his head in a submissive manner. When I moved Sylvie a safe distance near him (watching both animals carefully), the dog then backed away & moved to the other side of the coffee table. He then sat over there but never took his eyes off Sylvie until she was back in the carrier.
So my question, for those of you with other pets that have in a controlled manner met their hedgie - what was it like? I know it's not recommended. The first two animals met Sylvie as a precautionary measure so they didn't charge into the room. What I wonder though "Is Sylvie just a super tough & intimidating hog?" or do others find animals are scared of their hedige?
The lab has a toy hedgehog she plays with so we were very hesitant, very slow & very observant in letting them meet. It was more of a first 'slow sniffing' then meeting. The dog was very curious, but once Sylvie was in my palms & the dog had the opportunity to sniff, the dog backed away, almost seemed scared. I was at this house for a couple days. Whenever I opened the door to go into the room Sylvie was staying in, the dog would follow me, remain inquisitive, but always keep a safe distance back.
Similar with the cat. Now with the cat we were even more concerned as the cat has been known to hunt & bring mice/birds home. Sylvie and the cat were not going to meet while we were visiting but everything happened in a thankfully controlled manner. Similarly, the cat came slowly forward with Sylvie secure & protected in my hands, sniffed Sylvie & then backed away. The cat wanted nothing to do with her for the remainder of the time we were there.
Tonight Sylvie met my parents dog, a ****er spaniel. Being a spaniel we were hesitant for them to meet. They've been in the same room & he's been a couple feet from her but always held as we didn't want him to try to attack or pick her up. Tonight when I was sitting on the sofa & the dog was on the floor, I took Sylvie out & put her on my lap. Slowly I let the dog sniff her. However as soon as Sylvie was on my lap, the dog lent away & ****ed his head in a submissive manner. When I moved Sylvie a safe distance near him (watching both animals carefully), the dog then backed away & moved to the other side of the coffee table. He then sat over there but never took his eyes off Sylvie until she was back in the carrier.
So my question, for those of you with other pets that have in a controlled manner met their hedgie - what was it like? I know it's not recommended. The first two animals met Sylvie as a precautionary measure so they didn't charge into the room. What I wonder though "Is Sylvie just a super tough & intimidating hog?" or do others find animals are scared of their hedige?