Do they like to be pet????

[Neill]

Have had my beardie now from the 24th of december (from a breeder). Haven't handled him to much. He knows when its feeding time thats for sure. Its also very easy to tell when he gets mad. That has been happening a lot lately im wondering if hes hitting dragon puberty. Hes bearding a lot when i try to bathe him and flatting out and running from my hand. Of course he runs right up if i hold food but other then that he retreats. Will he notice if i pet him that petting is good? Or do they see that as something else (an attack or holding him down)? I Would like to get him more tame so i can carry him around the house on my shoulder. Right now hes been taking flying leaps off of me. Really hoping to put a stop to that as it may injure him, startles me, and cats think its some sort of remote controlled toy when on ground. So long story short.... Do they like to be pet, held, or could they care any less????

 

[Neill]

Wow no one can answer this? Need my little beardie to calm down with out taking my fingers off. Don't want to handle him if its going to upset him more. What to do?

 

[acpart]

I've never had a really young beardie, so I don't know about the puberty stuff. My beardie is more interested in running around the living room than really sitting with me, but I do let her sit along my arm, rather than on my shoulder. I recommend you attract your beardie over with food every time, then take him out of the cage and give him more food while letting him sit in your lap or on your arm. Don't do the shoulder thing, because it's easy for him to jump off and not easy for you to grab him there. He should start associating all these activities with food --you can even give him a treat before and after the bath. Once he associates it with food, he may be more eager to participate and hopefully the holding and petting will become fun for him too.

Aliza

 

[DoubleZ]

I've only handled adult beardies. The male is right lovebug, adores humans. The female tends to not like girls but tolerates ones she knows.

 

[whkrazyk]

you've just got to keep handling them to they cool down, no beardie young or adult will just lay on you the first time its ever been handled, the letting it walk from hand to hand, but i wouldnt handle them more than sya 20-30 min. a day, as to not stress them out too much, and only like 10 min. at a time

 

[Rockinar Dragonz]

One of the best ways to get your beardie to bond with you (especially a younger one) is to do the 'beardie burrito'. After lights out, before they fall asleep, wrap them gently in a small blanket or wash cloth and hold them close to you. They will eventually fall asleep. You can place them back in their viv still wrapped until morning. After a week or two of this or even sooner, they will learn to trust you. It works!

As they get a bit older, they will be quite content to just hang out with you rather than jumping off and running around. It just takes some time and attention.

 

[asherah]

my dragon bit & attacked me for months! It hurt but she finally got over it He will eventually settle down
I didn't put her back i her cage until she stopped biting me