Play Time?

[anthonypangs]

Hey I have had my chins for abut 5 months now and i was wondering how i take them out for play time? they have been dying to get out and ive let them out a few times. I made my own little play pen out of card board boxes(about 3 1/2 feet tall and my male chin managed to always escape or jump over it O.O. Then id have to try to get him back in by using my dust bath method -.-, but i think im scaring him when i do so so recently ive just left him in the cage. I try to let him out to play in my chin proofed bathroom, but theres no way i can get them to the room. THey refuse to get into the carrier, any advice? I was thinking of buying an actual play pen, but im not sure if its tall enough because before i saw my chin jump up onto my bathroom/sink counter! which is pretty high! Any suggestions?

 

[tcraighenry]

Vincenza loves her carrier but hates being picked up, so we did it that way for a while. Have you tried putting hay or sticks in the carrier? And yeah, if you're going to use the midwest playpen, you need to put a box or something over the top.

 

[Shooper]

Can you not pick your chins up? I used to put Charlie and Inca in my shirt (like an apron) to carry them to the bathroom. Even if they are not thrilled about being picked up, maybe they will learn to associate it with play time!

 

[jess32247]

Maybe you can make the carrier feel more "homely" for him, like put some of his hay, toys, ect in it, things he recognizes to make him feel more comfortable.

Or you could let him jump in his dust bath and just carry him like that, but you might have to cover the opening with your hand, which might scare him

I think you should keep working on getting him into the carrier, hopefully he'll realize that the carrier means some fun run around time with you

 

[ChinnyMom]

i would just pick them up out of their cage(s). if you had a health issue or emergency, you'd have to be able to get your chin out of its cage in a hurry, and having them used to being picked up can be a lifesaver in situations like that.

my boys don't much like being picked up, but once they are being held they are just fine.

 

[tcraighenry]

Yeah, like ChinnyMom says, Vincenza hates it but once we get her up she's fine and tries to eat my clothes. It takes a while for both of you to get comfortable though. That's how we get her to and from her playtime area now.

We found holding her on the left above our hearts and squishing her a little bit calms her down pretty quickly too. (Not too hard, just enough so she feels secure.)

 

[anthonypangs]

Can you not pick your chins up? I used to put Charlie and Inca in my shirt (like an apron) to carry them to the bathroom. Even if they are not thrilled about being picked up, maybe they will learn to associate it with play time!

Thanks for the great advice guys!, i used to pick them up but i read somehwere that it wasnt the best to do if i was trying to get them to like me more lol. Also sometimes it involves chasing them around the cage cuz they run and once they did the hair loss escape instinct thing( which freaked me out cuz he lost like a full tuff of hair lol not just a tiny ball). Also I HAVE tried putting treats or hay or toys inside but i think they hav associated the carrier with death or something O.O lol Because before they used to be curious and go in, but as soon as i touch the door, they run out. So I eventually resorted into quickly closing the door and just running to their play area lol But is picking them up fine then? I have no problem getting them i just feel like is care them a lot more hwen i pick them up. But once they are in my arms the are calmer , the girl chin is atleast. The guy chin is just sometimes calm and soemtiems trying to get out lol hes a feisty one.

 

[Shooper]

I have 2 boys that I've had since Feb. At first I did the wait and let them come to me thing. Then I started just picking them up (wether they liked it or not) to weigh them and love on them. I personally think that unless you do pick them up, they aren't gonna get used to it. My guys are much better now and only give a little chase in the cage when I get them. The little tuff of hair isnt gonna hurt anything. Just be careful to not grab them around their little body, scoop them up or pick them up by the base of the tail. Good luck!