harnesses/leashes?

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geraldinemoo

Active member
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
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31
Location
San Francisco
i think i'm dumb, but i really cant help wanting to ask...
can i get a harness and leash for my chin?

shes a full grown 3 years old female standard grey chin that i just adopted from CA Chins last week.
i really want to let her out and roam in my room but i was afraid that i'm not gonna find her back and put her in the cage.
so i was thinking, if i have a harness and a leash on her...i can let her roam around and still find her with no problems at all...
my room has many many hidden areas that i cant reach...

my friend leash her rabbit and brings it to the park...is it possible for chinchillas?
 
My girlfriend wanted to leash Neve, I always just change the topic haha!

I'd love to know this answer also.
 
No, leashes are bad for chins. They like to run and play. The leash can cause rib fractures or worse. Most people just take their chin to a chin proof room such as a bathroom, to play. After they move anything the chin can get to it should not have.

You can always put her in a carrier to get her back and fourth between play areas. Or get one or 2 playpens from Marshall, and set them up infront of the cage, so she can go in and out on her own
 
They can slip right out of the harness and get hurt, as well. When chins are outside they are usually VERY nervous. If they get loose from the harness, they will bolt for cover or just run anywhere...at the park this could mean losing your chin forever. Domesticated chins just aren't outdoor animals.
 
If you used the bathroom just remember to put the toilet seat down because they do jump up there.

Some people also have something like this, but be careful if you have a jumper, they can make it out of here.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17495
[i tried to find the one i have because you can also buy expansion peices for it, but this is all i could find]

This is another item people also use, I have this one too, and just to let you know, again depending on the chin, the bottom is velcro and some smart chins can make it out of here.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17495
 
When I picked up one of my chins from the original owner (arranged through Craigslist), I noticed that she came with a harness. I didn't think much of it, tossed it aside, and just let her run freely like my other chins. At one point, I decided to try the harness out just to see if it had any merit. The chin clearly hated being in the harness, and the way she attempted to run in it only to be snapped back was downright horrifying. I immediately took her out of it and never used it again. I wouldn't recommend that any chin be put in one of those things.
 
Harnesses are a REALLY bad idea. Every bit as dangerous as those stupid balls people put critters in.

There's just no substitute for a good playpen or a chin-proofed room. As for getting them back into the cage, I used to only offer the dust bath right at the end of play time, then when they got in I'd cover the entrance and pick it up.

Eventually they'll get used to you handling them...until then, you could always try bribery with a tasty treat as well!!
 
Harnesses are a horrible idea. The reason why they are is because chinchilla's ribs can easily be broken if they're squeezed or the harness whips them around when they try to jump.

Their ribs are actually really skinny which is why they can be broken so easily. This is a link to a chinchilla skeleton, don't click if you don't want to see chinchilla bones. But the pile in the second row from the top on the left would be the ribs. As you can see they're pretty skinny.
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/wsk-636-lg.jpg
 
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