How do I train my beardie so I can hold him?

[colette]

I have a young bearded dragon (about four months) and every time I put my hand in his home, even if I go very slowly and just keep my hand there, he runs away. When I try to hold him, he flattens out his belly and will open his mouth at me. How can I get him to trust me and let me hold him? He is so great to watch and is very quick.

Any advise would be wonderful.

 

[MrT]

its just a matter of patience

try to approach your hand at his level
not from above as they seem to think that you could be looking to have him for dinner as anything that approaches from above is hunting for food

 

[Edricks]

In addition to the above, when he flattens and opens his mouth, pop a little piece of fruit in his mouth. This works so well, and is amazingly cute. They get this confused look on their face, and they get their greens too!.

It's all about patience and perservirance. Don't be afraid of him, when they are that young, it doesn't really hurt all that much to be bitten. What you will most definately want to do is find a room in the house that is small and completely closed off where he cant gent into any trouble wandering or licking things. You might have to actually create this area yourself, but you'll have to make sure there is NO way he can escape.

Then, sit or lie on the ground. Make yourself comfortable, and let him run around you. Just observe him, make sure he doesn't get into any trouble, and maybe have some tastey waxworms or a piece of fruit handy if he comes by to check you out. When you're down at his level, not coming at him from above, and, essencially being a piece of furnature, he'll learn to recognize you're not a threat to him and in fact, supply the tastey treats.

Another thing you can do, is about an hour after lights out when he's calm and cooling off gently take him out of his enclosue and put him on your lap or your chest while you watch tv or whatever. Then you're not only furnature and provider of tastey treats, but you're warm and comfortable too!

 

[axxessdenied]

I notice my guy doesn't like being picked up and not feeling secure. You gotta make sure to support his tale or he'll flail around. If my guy tries scrambling out of my hands while I pick him up I just make sure to support his tail and his limbs properly and try to talk to him to calm him down. Usually works. When I start talking to him he just looks up at me and for the most part he calms down.
My guy is 6 months now. He's actually chillen in my lap and falling in and out of sleep as I type this

 

[colette]

Some very great advice! Thank you all so much. I am going to give it all a try and I sure hope my next post will be about how wonderful it is to hold my little guy.

Thank you again!

 

[dolcedragon]

Like Edricks, I bonded the most with mine at bedtime when they were calming down. It took a lot of patience but now my guys are all shoulder trained and free roam trained. Another thing to keep in mind- as they get older they are less highstrung and really seem to start enjoying cuddles more.

 

[colette]

I thought they would mellow with age, as do most animals. Glad to know this is true with the beardeds too.

Thank you