i should make a specific topic for this. here's how i got Mr Dargon used to going outside.
- 1. Have a harness. any kind. buy one, make one. do not attempt to take you beardie outside without one. (search topics for lost beardies).
you may have the most calm and docile beardie inside, but once they get outside that changes. they move fast and frighten easily. If your beardie is too small to fit in a harness they are too small to go outside.
2. Hold your beardie. never put them on the ground and stand over them. you will look like a predator and they will puff at you or try to run away. i suggest having them on your chest the first couple of times, they can see your face and run up to your neck if they get scared.
3. Cover them. if at any point they tense up or look overwhelmed cover them with your hands or a blanket. i used my hands. it shows them that you are protecting them, and it greatly helps with bonding.
4. Talk to them. There are a lot of new noises that they have never heard before. They know your voice. talking to them gives them something familiar and can keep them a bit calmer.
5. Allow them to move around when they are ready. you can sit on the ground, once they start to get used to what is new around them they may try to climb down to do some exploring. if you are sitting on the ground they can climb down to your lap and look around. they may run under your legs to hide at one point.
6. If at any point your beardie looks too overwhelmed bring them back inside. give them a treat and let them calm down a bit before attempting to go back out. you may find that you can only be outside for 5-10 minutes.
After a while of them getting used to going outside they may "demand" to go out more. They will get more comfortable and want to explore. they may also try to act tough and charge at you. I laughed at Mr Dargon and poked his beard for doing this, but I also know he would never bite me. I would never attempt that with Tasty Treat, she will bite. you know your beardie best.
Mr Dargon had his harness and a 'leash' (a shoelace) and was able to run around the yard freely while i was outside. if he saw something that frightened him he would run underneath me.
your beardie will get really dark when they first go outside. they are absorbing the UV rays, aka charging. once they are fully charged they will get really bright and really hyper. you will see them move faster than you ever thought they could. watch out for their claws.
TIPS:
check the humidity index for the day. do not take them outside if the humidity is above 65%. they can get sick.
be mindful of birds. they are a bearded dragon's natural enemy, and even though your beardie has never seen one they know enough to be afraid of them.
have a shaded area for them to run to. it could be a tree, a bush, or you can put out a small umbrella. they still need a hide outside.
never EVER walk away and leave your beardie outside alone. so many things can happen in a few minutes with you not around. they can escape or something can grab them (hawks, coyotes, stray cats). predators are fast, and you literally can not hear them coming.
do not use a glass tank to keep them outside. like the inside of your car, the temperatures rise rapidly because of the glass (greenhouse effect).
