How to handle a very active beardie

[broadjay]

I have a 3 y/o male bearded dragon and lately he's been waaaay more active than he ever has been since i got him 9 months ago. It seems like he's always scratching at the glass to his enclosure, and when i take him out to handle him (daily) he runs around so much and so quickly that he could very easily get trapped or unreachable under something or fall off of something (such as the couch or my bed, aka the only two safe places in my 5 dog house for him to be without being held, other than his enclosure.). I even got him a little playpen so i can let him run around freely without me having to constantly dive to catch him pre/mid-fall, but he just runs to the sides and starts butting his nose against it or (more often) trying to climb out of it. I put paper on the gates so he isn't able to climb out, but he ended up totally vertical against one of the sheets, scratching/running in place frantically like his life depended on it. I don't know what to do! I want him to get the physical activity he needs/wants but I'm not sure how to let him safely do that. Also the leash we have for him is useless, i used it once and he was able to very easily wiggle out of it (it was fitted as much as i could to him without it being too tight) as he ran into the bushes and i almost lost him. Please give me some suggestions/advice!! He's been like this for nearing 2 or 3 weeks now.

 

[SHBailey]

It's sounds like he may be hormonal. If so, it won't last forever, so you may be able to just keep doing what you're doing by allowing him as much time and space to run around as safely as you can manage, and trying to stay sane and just just get through it as best as you can. If that's what it is, he should go back to "normal" (whatever that is for him) eventually. Maybe any day now, if it's already been 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[nathb1]

Did you try a hip leash? Its been god send for me since i had dixie I was afraid of when she was little to jump and fall or get lost.Now with the leash
i have her even if she is trying to be evil kneviel on me i got her!
Can let her around the house as well the leash tells me where she is lol.
Here she is at 4 months,this is ribbon leash now at 7 months she has a leather one.I got it from worm lady she is in canada but i have seen some on etsy if u are american.

 

[Shannonc]

Why have I read somewhere dragons are toothless?

 

[joef]

You can try to pick a room, close the door so that it's just you and him, and then let him run around in the room for a while. That might tire him out so that you can hold him for a bit.