Husbandry Training

[WizLizard]

Has anyone done/tried husbandry training with their bearded dragon? Is there any training/socialization you've done past desensitization to health checks and nail trims? What about socialization to other pets (dogs/cats/other beardies)? What about actual learned behaviors? :study:

 

[CooperDragon]

It's difficult to train them while they're young but older dragons respond well to routine. I provide food and a bath at the same time every morning. This has helped train him to poop in the morning when he's out of his enclosure. With my first dragon, I was able to get him to learn to poop in one spot of vinyl floor which was easy to clean. He wouldn't go anywhere else and went right to that spot like a cat would. It took a while of setting up that routine but he got the hang of it.

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

Mine have all trained ME. Tsam knows that if he knocks around 6pm, he can come out. Frank will sit and stare at me pointedly until I notice, and then he can have his run around (so long as Tsam's not out). Mocha does the same thing. Jacques will sit in front of the morio box and stare at me until I come and get worms out.

I've trained them all how to use the dragon slope - a carpeted wooden plank with a wire mesh tunnel and a metal grip to stop it falling off the door - to get in and out.

They've all learned that, if they can be trusted to go back home by themselves, they get more time out of their tanks - to such a degree that Tsam, Frank and Jacques are allowed their independence during the day whilst I'm at work (but NOT all at the same time! Only one dragon out at a time!).

With regards to nail trimming, I've got them all used to sitting on my knee, and distracted with a window. They also get irregular sessions being held at awkward angles (vet handling) - I'm careful not to stress them out, and they get rewarded afterwards. My vet has commented on how well behaved they are when we need to make a visit

Oh! I forgot: bathtimes are the only time they're all together - some of the younger ones are still in training, but they're all learning that kicking off and being aggressive in the bath means they get splashed. Tsam, Jacques and Mocha are very well behaved and calm at bathtimes, and newcomer Frank is learning fast.

 

[Zuzu]

Eren is just really good with nail trimmings luckily. Before I had a trimmer, I tried to file his nails with a nail file. It didn't work, but he sat there so calmly to get his nails done, I swear he liked it.

When he was younger he used to not like the dog (very small pomeranian). He would poof his beard out and black beard if she walked in, constantly keeping an eye on her. He doesn't show off his beard anymore when she walks in but he still watches her until she walks out.

When I take him downstairs to run around or just sit with me, she will always come up and sniff him and he will let her. Sometimes he'll lick her when she's up in his face sniffing. I watch them when they're together and they don't seem to mind one another. At this point they're very used to each other. Eren walks where he wants and sometimes the dog will move away from him when he gets close, since she's used to my bird being a bully. It's important to keep an eye on them with any animal though, especially cats. Something can always happen.