Feel like I'm doing something wrong...

[Woodrow724]

I may just be a little pessimistic, but I feel like I'm not bonding right with my little guy. =/ Sometimes I think he just has a bit of an attitude, like all living creatures, lol, but it seems to be getting more and more often. We let him out to play every night and he jumps all around on me and uses me for his jungle gym, but when he is in his cage he wants nothing to do with me until I open that door. He actually turns his back to me when I walk up to talk to him lol. I can get the occasional belly scratch in, but other than that if I try and touch him he just tries to eat my fingernails or pushes my hand away. It's only been a month since we got him, he's a year a half, should I just keep up what I'm doing and give him more time or try something else? Have I made decent progress for a month?

 

[Shooper]

I think that after only having him a month, your progress is good! Each chin has a different personality, he may just not be a lovey dovey chin! It says a lot that he jumps on you during playtime! Dont get discuraged!

 

[DevnChip]

Sounds like decent progress. Every chin is different. I'm going through the same process you are right now with a few adjustments from my previous experience (no raisins or other human food treats). I'm using lots of hay pieces, sticks and scritches. The sticks and hay lead to the scritches, so the scritches happen almost every time.

You could try sitting by his cage. Find something to do that you can work on while you sit with him, both so you can closely observe him and so he can get used to you being there to pay attention to him. Then while you're there, talk to him and occasionally give him a scritch if he's at the front of the cage. Or randomly offer a stick or piece of his favorite hay. And look at it this way, he may be turning his back to you but he's not running into his hidey-house like he's afraid and waiting for you to leave.

One of mine (Loves sticks and scritches) is set up next to my computer so I just sit and answer emails or work on pics and give attention when he comes to the side nearest me. The other (loves scritches and hay) is in quarentine in my livingroom, by my husband's favorite chair. I go in there and work on a craft project and, again, give attention when his activities bring him near me. Or I just randomly talk to him. Next thing you know, your little fellow will be sniffing at the bars wondering what you're up to.

 

[ChinnyMom]

a month is nothing in terms of bonding time, so give it more time and i'm sure your chin will warm up to you more.

that being said, some chins just don't care as much for human contact. my two boys are a great example.

Guss is my lovey boy, LOVES getting scritches, will always visit with me through the cage bars, lets me hold and snuggle him for quite some time, and is always wanting attention. when i'm visiting with Rhino at his cage, Guss will make a very soft contact sound until i come over to his cage to see him.

Rhino is more of a 'look but don't touch' kind of chin. he doesn't mind being picked up, and will sit in my arms for a minute, but not any longer than that, and he does sit there grudgingly and with a bit of a 'lemme go' struggle. he pushes my hand away more often than not when i visit him in his cage, and it is very rare that i get a scritchy face from him.

 

[Mystic]

I still have one chinchilla who decides when he wants lovin' from me and I've had him little over 2 years now. He's a nice chinchilla, just very kept to himself (unless treats are involved of course, lol)
I think the progess you've made is very good considering its only been a month. All chinchillas have their own personalitites. Just give it some more time and you will be able to figure out his, and I'm sure he will warm up to you more.

 

[Silverrose]

I agree, I think you have made great progress. Just the fact that he uses you as a launching pad during playtime means that he knows you aren't going to hurt him and trusts you somewhat. Some chins just aren't as friendly as others. But from your interactions with him in the cage, it sounds pretty normal. With my own chins, I have turned their fingernail chewing fascination and pushy paws into games. I twirl my finger in circles around their nose so they try to chase my fingernail, and if they can catch it, they get a surprise scritch whether they want it or not. I've also made pushing paws into a game, which is quite hilarious... trying to get them to keep pushing my hand and fingers away til they are no longer amused with me. So I don't really recognize these behaviors as negative or no progress... as long as you are interacting with your chin, it's a great and lucky thing!

 

[momenteller]

Sounds like you are doing great. I think many chins like to interact on their terms. I have one girl who went through several homes before landing here, and I am still working with her after a year. She pushes my hand away if I move towards her. But if I open the cage doors and rest my hands inside the cage, she will spend a lot of time working up the nerve to sit on my hands. She sniffs, runs away. Hops around them. Touches them with one hand, then two, etc. I'm hoping I can get her to the point my other two girls are, that allow me to scritch with the doors open, but this may just be her personality. Also, chins behavior inside the cage is often different than outside the cage. Many become territorial or shy.

Don't get discouraged! Bonding with chins is a marathon, not a sprint. And that's what makes them so interesting and fun.

 

[AznTiger]

sounds like your doing great just like the others said! every chin does have their own personality and some just naturally dont like being held. TOuched maybe. hehe It took some time for Tum Tum to get used to me. But i had patience. Now he knows when im coming and jumps onto my lap when the cage opens. But he always likes to be let out to have play time. hehe take time. you have your chin for so long. Don't get discouraged. =)

 

[Woodrow724]

Thanks guys , I definitely feel better about it now.I just remember how he jumped out into the breeders hand and being perfectly fine and I was like gah! maybe I'm doing something wrong! She'd had him from a baby though.

 

[momenteller]

Well, if he was pretty bonded with the breeder, he may be pouting a bit. He'll get over it in time.