HELP!!

[Steffimar8]

I recently adopted an adult female chin from some people and have learned that she is not very friendly. We want to get her friendly and we are trying to work with her but when we go to pick her up she keeps "spraying" on us. I'm not really sure what to do. I make sure that I visit with her every day and talk to her and I slowly bring my hand up to her, and sometimes this works, but other times she will sit up on her hind legs and spray right at us. Is there a way to cure this other than dealing with it until she isn't afraid anymore? Once we pick her up she is fine and doesn't try to do it or anything but it's just so frustrating (and nasty) and I am close to finding her another home. Of course, I would rather not do this but I also have two children (10 & 5) which makes it a bit more difficult to make the process more constant. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I do want to keep her as a forever chin but if this keeps up, we will have to get rid of her. Thanks in advance. - Stefanie

 

[Stackie]

Patience is a virtue with chinchillas. You need to take your time with her and give her all the patience and understanding in the world. She is in a completely new area with completely new people- it's understandable that she's scared.

My first advice, stop trying to pick her up. You can not rush things, especially with an apprehensive chin such as this. Even calm and tame chins sometimes do not like to be picked up. They are prey animals and the sensation can tend to make them uncomfortable. Most chins do not tolerate being held for anymore than several minutes. I have one that absolutely hates it and I have had him for 4 years.

Spend time by her cage talking to her, reading to her, or just sitting with her. After you have done this awhile, let your hand sit in the cage with a treat in your palm. Do not force her to come to your hand by moving your hand towards her- just leave it sit in once spot. Usually their curious nature will get ahold of them and she will come to investigate. Do not move your hand. Let her come to you on her own terms.

She may never like to be picked up and spray every time. Or, she may begin to tolerate it for a bit. You just never know. With a lot of patience, she may have a good chance of coming around. You just have to work with her. I know it's not ideal, but try explaining this to your children. If they can't sit with you quietly and patiently beside the cage, then you may want to keep them away from her for awhile until she can become more calm and settle.

It may take weeks, or months, or even years. She could just be scared of you and her new home and settle with time, or it could be an attitude problem.

I really hope she comes around you don't rehome her. I'm sure all the shuffling of homes is what may have contributed to her problem.

 

[ticklechin]

You may consider another type of pocket pet, if you get lucky you might find a snuggler or one may become one in time, but there is no guarantee and its not fair to the chin to get bounced from home to home.

 

[alli713]

I'm going to agree here. Assuming you recently got her, it's not surprising that she's acting that way. She has no idea who you are and is scared. While she's in her cage she feels secure and probably is spraying you so that you leave her alone.

Like Stacie said, trust with a chin can take months or years, or they may just always be the type of chin who prefers not to interact with people. That's the chance you take when you get a chinchilla.

Also, like Dawn said, perhaps a chinchilla wasn't the right pet for your family if you wanted a pet that you could hold and have your children hold. For the most part, most chins do not like to be held and cuddled.

However I'd hate to see this chin bounced to another home. If you have the time I would continue to work with her to gain trust. Stop picking her up, just sit by the cage and talk to her. Slowly gain her trust by once daily offering her treats from your hand. Safe treats would be a rosehip, a pinch of crushed rosehips, a small unfrosted shredded wheat, old fashioned oats, rolled oats.

Unfortunately this is one issue with chinchillas. Not a lot of people research about how well a chin would work in their family and what their characteristics are like before they get one. And so many times new owners end up frustrated when they don't end up with a cuddly little animal that they were hoping for.

 

[SamiJami]

I have a rescue chin. While he never sprayed, he would nip at us and bark if we tried to pet him. So I took a suggestion close to Stacie's. I sat in front of his cage and told him what a good boy he is and that I love him; saying his name a lot. I then just started putting my hand in the cage with no treat. I still talked to him and after 2 or 3 days, he started putting his paws on me, then the next day was hopping on and off my hand. So then I used a treat to see if he'd stay on my hand. He won't do that still. He takes the treat and runs off to eat it. However!! I put my arm in, palm down, and he'll hop on my arm and let me pet him for a few moments while running up my arm. I still can't pick him up, but it's a huge improvement from biting and barking! It took me about 2 weeks of spending 30 minutes in the morning and at night with him.
All chins are different! I thought maybe telling you how I did things might give you an idea. I now also let him lose in our bathroom and sit there. If I lay down, he'll sometimes fall asleep on my back or my head. The most important thing is patience! Followed closely by spending time with them. Good luck!!

 

[Dusty Foot Prints]

We've had Annabelle since September and my daughter was able to hold her for the very first time about 2 weeks ago.
I agree with all the advice here, let your chin come to you, on her own terms. Don't force the issue. We have playtime in the bathroom and she climbs all over us, and although she is not a sprayer, she's only allowed herself to be held once so far.
:celebrate:

 

[Steffimar8]

Thank you so much for all tips. I actually owned a chin when I was younger and knew that they weren't cuddly pets and aren't meant to be held for long periods of time before we got them so that isn't a surprise to me but the spraying thing cought me off guard. I appreciate all the advice and will def do pretty much everything you all suggested. She already comes up to you if you let your hand just sit in the cage but I need to make my kids more patient I think. We also have a second female who is younger and more friendly so it's not like the kids can't pet her. Maybe Sadie (she is the problem child ) will just be a look at kinda pet.