why wont he love me!

[ameliagolwitzer]

I have had my chin for four months now. I take him out of his cage to run around his room for about an hour each night. He usually climbs on my shoulder and i lower him to the ground, and coax him into his dust bath to transport him back up to his cage. I do this because he does not let me hold him. Usually he runs away when i stick my hand in the cage. He lets me pet him sometimes but i cant tell if he enjoys it. Am i doing something wrong? I dont know if i should try to start picking him up more so he will get used to it or if i should just leave it. I give him a treat every day. I just wish he would love me more

 

[Riven]

He's a chin, not a dog. If you want something to snuggle with you you need a dog or a cat, chins are chins. They like to explore and play, not snuggle with people.

 

[hownowbrowncow]

Some chins like to be held, some don't. If you got a chin so you could have a cuddle buddy you got the wrong pet Appreciate your chin for what he gives you, not what you wish he gave you and your bonding (you appreciating him for what he is and him appreciating you for what you are) will come with time.

 

[Newt]

Four months is not a long time. Be patient and let him do his own thing. Most chins arent cuddlers, but they do show their affection in other ways, like grooming your hand for you.
I've had Rosey for 8 and half years, and she still hates being held. But she will sit happily on my shoulder, and loves scritches, and grooms me in return. Rosey doesnt like to be cuddled, but she shows her love in the ways I described above.
Bonding takes time! Cuddles arent everything!

 

[Gumby and Elmo]

Every chin is different, in general, they dont like to held, I've had my boys for 8 years, they only tolerate being held for a minute or two, one of my girls came home, and in the first week, she was already climbing all over me and let me carry her all around the house.

 

[Pikaia]

Yep, you have to be really patient. Have you tried "scritching" him underneath his chin? Some chins absolutely love that. Each chin has their own personality. My Chichi, I've had her for almost 3 years now and she is still skittish as heck. She takes the occasional sritch, but hates to be picked up (unless she is going to playpen) and she will take treats on my lap, but that's about it. Tribble, her son, is probably the most affectionate. Even he isn't what you would call cuddly. Most chins aren't. Just have patience. Sometimes I wish my chins were cuddly, but you have to accept them the way they are.

 

[Jenn]

I have had my chin for years and she loves to sit on my lap and climb all over me, but that has never changed her dislike for being held. If I try to pick her up or hold her, she will kack at me. We all have ways we like to show love and to be loved, and your chin may love you a lot, he just doesn't feel comfortable being held, and may never like to be held. If he comes to you readily and enjoys your company when you are together, that is a whole lot of love going on!

 

[Idgie]

Most chins don't like to be held. Idgie pretty much lets me hold her for a couple seconds at a time, but would much prefer to jump on me or sit behind my back. She does let me scratch her under her chin or behind the ears. But some days she would prefer to play on her own and not have me touch her at all.

 

[Cuddlebug]

While it is true that most chins don't like to be held, you still need to get them used to being picked up and held for short periods of time. What would you do if there was an emergency and the chin won't let you pick it up? It will NOT traumatize them to just reach in and pick up a chinchilla. I do it all the time with all of the chins here from the day that they arrive. Some don't like it but they put up with it and they all come running to the front of the cage to see mommy and get kisses. Not a one of the hides from me or bites me. Even the rescues who were biters and afraid of people to begin with.

 

[ticklechin]

If you don't tame them, they will never BE tame. I start taming the day the chin comes through the door and in as little as a few months to as long as 6 years ALL will be able to be cuddled upside down like a baby in the crook of my arm without squirming. All mine have been and are cuddle bugs.

 

[Nat_n_Tofu]

I'm a new chin owner as well, I have only had Tofu since early Jan of this year. He's about 12-13 weeks old now.

So regarding hold/taming. I've been taking cuddlebugs advice and have been trying to get Tofu used to being picked up not just waiting for him to hop on me. So when he is in the cage and I try to pick him up he runs away and sometimes grunts, however once being held he is fine and even after I put him back down he doesn't hide but sometimes jumps right back on. Did you chins orginally run away or grunt with you first tried taming them/pick the up. I want him to be used to it in case of emergencies. As for just being comfortable with me I think we're progressing because he does sit onmy hands and arms.

Thanks for all the info =)

 

[Cuddlebug]

Most of mine used to hide at first. I just calmly picked them up anyway. They are all sweeties now, except for a rescue I have here that was never handled. She is going to take some time but she is already making big steps in the right direction - she doesn't bite me any more and is calm when held. She does pee at me on a regular basis, but I am sure that will get better.