subject: Socializing Your Hedgehog [print this page] Socializing Your Hedgehog Socializing Your Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are very cute and endearing creatures that can be easily tamed, but this requires some patience on your part. If you've just bought a hedgehog you must allow it 24 hours of quiet time to get used to its new surroundings.
The best time to get to know your hedgehog is in the evenings. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, they are most active during the night, and trying to handle your hedgehog during the day may result in a grumpy and unfriendly hedgehog.
Offer your hand gently to allow the hedgehog to sniff you and get familiarized with your scent. Placing a worn t-shirt in your hedgehog's cage is a good way of acquainting your pet with your scent. Hedgehogs learn to recognize their owner's scent and it will even eventually follow you around like a dog.
Give the hedgehog time to realize that you mean it no harm. If it rolls into a ball be patient. Try tempting it with a tasty treat such as mealworm. Offering the hedgehog a mealworm when it's defensively rolled in a ball will teach it that being handled isn't such a bad thing after all. Bribery is fine in this case!
Most hedgehogs are curious and you may find the little guy sniffing you and getting to know you. Now would be a good time to try to scoop your hedgehog up. Use a spoon if you're nervous or some gloves. Gently slide your hand under the hedgehog's stomach and pick it up.
Cup your hands and cradle the hedgehog in your hands keeping your fingers together to avoid being pricked if it should decide to roll into a ball. Whatever you do, don't panic or drop the animal. Dropping a hedgehog can seriously harm it, plus it will be psychologically scarred by the experience and it will be difficult to regain its trust. Don't be too nervous about being poked by the quills, it's isn't all that painful (unlike porcupine quills). A hedgehog's quills aren't barbed and won't stick into you.
Gently place the hedgehog in your lap and allow it to explore you. Give it a mealworm every now and then so it learns to associate being handled as a pleasant and rewarding experience. You will know that the hedgehog is relaxed once it sniffles around on your lap and its quills are relaxed. You can gently start petting your hedgehog at this point. There you are, you're well on your way to being your hedgehog's friend!
