Bonding question?

[lilyofthedamned]

I just started opening elvis's bonding pouch when he is on me to start getting him used to me petting and handling him. He never seems to fall back asleep so I can never get my hand in there to pet him. He sleeps when I have the pouch closed but not when it is left open on me. He came out a little and looked around to see where he was. His previous owner said let him come to me. so, should i just not start with the petting and wait for him to come out to me? I'm trying to follow maries bonding steps but of course he doesn't want to go along with them. I know that their are different ways of bonding and each glider has his own personality. So would letting him come out to me work?

Also, Like I said i've just gotten to the petting part so is it ok for me to take him in a tent with me or do i need to at least be able to hold him before I start doing that?

[Marie]

What does he do if you put your hand just inside the entrance of the pouch?

You really should teach your glider to read, it's so much easier when they know what they're MEANT to do 

[kaycee]

i think id wait till he will take food off you and you can touch him (inside the pouch) without getting bitten or crabbed at it may stress him even more if you are grabbing at him to get him back in the pouch to go in the cage! can you stroke him yet in the pouch?? i maybe wrong ill let someone else answer thats more experiance its a slow progress but well worth it!!

[lilyofthedamned]

I can pet him through the pouch. He takes food from me but I've only tried it through the bars. When I put my hand by the bars he tries to grab at it. When I put my hand at the entrance of the pouch he goes toward it. He doesn't crab when I unzip the pouch. I put my hand in the pouch earlier to try and pet him, I barely touched him and he turned around, he didn't crab though. I layed down with him on my sotmach and he stared at me and then he layed his head down and continued to stare at me. He started to fall asleep like that after awhile.

I just had him out with me in the bonding pouch but had to put him away after about and hour and a half because I don't feel good. I'll probably get him out again later.

It would great if gliders could read. So far elvis has not gone by the book. :

[tillie]

It sounds to me as if you 2 are doing great and that he is behaving really well but you are just really nervous of getting bitten.  I can understand that as I am such a wimp myself.  For him to fall asleep when the pouch is on your stomach and he can see you means that he feels pretty comfortable with you and trusts you.

[Marie]

Right ... your next task, see what happens when he comes toward you!!!  Clench your fist and put your knuckles in the entrance and leave it there.  Because your fist is clenched he won't be able to get a good bite if thats what he wants to do.  Don't put your whole fist in the pouch, and don't put your fist too far in to the pouch.  Just see what happens, talk to him softly and if he's comfortable with you petting him through the pouch so that too. 

[lilyofthedamned]

okay! I'll try that next.

[Marie]

If he crabs don't move your hand, if you do jump (which I do quite often .. crabbing STILL makes me jump!!!!!) and move your hand away just put it straight back, do everything really slowly, fast movements make them jumpy. 

[lilyofthedamned]

ya I've noticed how jumpy he is sometimes. I moved really quick because something was getting ready to fall and he jumped. So it's ok to pull back just as long as you go back to what you were doing?

[Marie]

Try and avoid pulling back if you can, but if you do accidentally pull back don't worry too much!