dragon loves to run.... advice on "training"?

[monsterbeard]

We try to let Monster out as often as possible, but he has always been a runner, which makes it kind of irritating, and now that he is getting older.. he is still a runner and has LONG nails. he is too quick for me to even think about clipping them..

So I guess I'm looking for two pieces of advice;

Is there any good way I can attempt to "train" him to be a little more timid.. ?

& Is there any simple way to file down his nails? haha

 

[sweetpea1981]

you could use tile as his substrate that helps keep the nails short.

 

[Lenimph]

Eve used to run from me.

Just handle them everyday. When Eve was really fidgety I would wrap her in a blanket. The "beardie burrito" has worked a lot and now she likes to chill an no longer runs a much as she used to.

 

[Melody12]

Oh I tried the beardie burrito! No such luck with Melody. She just loves to run around and explore around on my bed and run to the window to look outside. The silly girl loves my old dinosaur of a computer. (I felt where she was and it's rather warm. Then she tries to make her way to the lamp sitting next to my computer. (I suppose she'll never get out of the terrible twos and she's a year and half.) :lol:

 

[Soulwind]

For his nails, the easiest thing is to use natural stone/slate tiles in his tank.
They will blunt down his nails as he walks on them and prevent the little beardie daggers.

As for running around, unless you've got a good reason not to, why not just let him run?

Put him in a harness with a long lead and just let him go hog wild.

 

[monsterbeard]

Well I guess I don't want him "not to run".. excepting there are too many places for him to hide, or fall from.. and he's not exactly big enough for a harness yet.. and thanks, i'll be adding a few flat rocks to his tank

 

[daner923]

Just an idea... you can try making him a "play pen" outside his tank if you want. You could just use some old boxes or something of that nature to make some walls he cannot climb. I am sure he would love an area a couple feet on each side to just explore! You could even put some stuff in there for him to explore - a new rock, an upside down bowl, a shirt or a towel, a box to hide in, etc. Just make it so he cannot get out, and he'll have a great time! Just make sure to supervise

 

[Brandonforty2]

To keep him from running away from you, get a bearded dragon harness. He won't really be able to get away. Here is one that you can use. http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=harness+and+leash&product_id=1

I think there are other sizes as well. For the nails, you can change the substrate to slate or you can cut his nails. There are alot of beardie nail cutting videos on youtube.

 

[bunnyrut]

I would let her run to burn off the energy.

Mr Dargon was like that. after a while he would get tired and i could pick him up and hold him.
once she gets to lick everything she should be calmer about wanting to explore, since she knows what everything is.

also, if there is an area you don't want her to go make sure you block it off. if you run after her to stop her from going there she will spend all of her time trying to get to that one spot.
I didn't like it when Mr Dargon went behind the table stands, but one day i decided to let him go there and not drag him out.
he was a happy little Dargon running around back there. but eventually he came out and looked at me like "why aren't you chasing me?"
then he got bored with it and stopped trying to get behind them.