In Reply to: go slow posted by Xay on April 16, 1999 at 04:18:43:

: Go slow when introducing your glider to other people and new environment. If it is the case where you have been keeping the glider to yourself and in a consistently quiet room, the dramatic change in the environment can cause it to react the way it did. Gliders have very acute sense of smell and hearing. To be suddenly exposed to so many people can probably make them insecure. Just imagine that all these different scents that they can pick up when we can't. It can be overwhelming to the glider. Same thing with the vet. Think of all the different animal scent that's in that place. To the glider, another animals smell can trigger a response that it there is a predator near and it needs to flee.

: One suggestion is to gradually aclimate your glider to different people and environment. By that, I mean go at a pace that your glider is willing to. For instance, when intoducing her to new people, let the glider do the exploring and checking out of the new person. That could mean not even handing your glider to that new person. In a way, this is like forcing the glider to go to that person, and it doesn't have a choice. Then gradually you can bring in more people into the same room. At the same time the noise level too will go up, and the glider should be able to get use to it. Now about the vet situation. Again you have to go slow. Instead of taking it to the vet for the first time and immediately exposing it to the environment, you should approach it in a different way. For instance, try taking your glider to the vet and let it stay in the secureness of your pocket, for the first maybe few visit. Then you can gradually stay around the vet and allow your glilder to come out of your pocket free willingly. If it doesn't want to come out, coax it with food. Like with meeting new people, the glider is given a choice of coming out. In the end, the glider should gradually be aclimated to the vet smell and noise.

: The main things to remember is that: 1. gliders don't like sudden changes in their surroundings....so go slow, 2. gliders don't like to be force to doing something, even if you don't think that you are....instead give them choices and put yourself in the perspective of that glider.
: I know that is a lot of stuff I wrote, but I hope it helps.

:
: Austin, TX Glider,
: Xay
: : I hope someone may be able to help us. We purchased Crouton about 3 weeks ago. She was six weeks old. She was eating good and seemed to be settling down. She was purchased on a tuesday, on Saturday we had company that wished to see her. We showed her off...she was scared! Then, a few days later we took her to the vet for a check-up. This seemed to really tramatize her. Well, then Easter hit and so came a house full of people and noise. She was freaked out by all the activities and since has crabbed excessively and often bites when getting her out of her pouch. Once out, she takes off. We tried just leaving her alone to see what she would do and she continues to avoid us at all measures. This now makes us have to chase her to catch her to put her in her cage. This is becoming a huge ordeal for all involved.

: : I hope that someone can help us out. Please feel free to tell us exactly what we did or are doing wrong. Will she bond with us after all that has happened? Will a buddy for her help? Thank you. Craig & Jordan

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