How to get a juvenile used to handling?

[TexasReptiles]

So ive seen a LOT of conflicting info about this. Some people say you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO let the beardie be handled on its own terms or else it associates handling with negative emotions, while others say you ABSOLUTELY CANT let the beardie do this since they will never be properly socialised and used to handling, kind of like breaking in a horse.

my beardie is about 3-4 months old, i got him about 3 weeks ago and he is very active and healthy. He was the biggest and tamest of the lot, and handled quite well initially. Now, he has shunned any handling outside of back scratches and hand feeding. Admittedly he had a bad experience handling a week ago where a bird outside spooked him and made him jump off my lap and run, so that could be a factor. But how do i get him used to handling after the fact?

Thanks for reading. (Pic is my boy hanging out)

 

[nikita_hman]

Hey your boy is gorgeous! So I'm no expert by any means and someone may have better advice but from my personal experience, my boy Mushu I got him when he was about 6 months old and was only ever held by the breeder, he was very skittish and didn't enjoy being touched , the guy advised me to just "not mess around and just grab him" but when I got Mushu home I didn't like the sound of this , I wanted him to warm to me. I read many things online but the things that really helped me were 1) putting an item of my clothing in his viv so he can get used to my smell. 2) I would sit by his viv with the glass open and just relax there with him not trying to touch him , I would read a book out loud for example so he could hear me and get used to me . Then eventually I would start adding my hand into the viv so he could just see /smell it and know I'm not a threat . And he would even start walking over to me and giving me little licks on the hand (I took this to mean he was becoming more confident with me)
3) Handfeeding is a really good way of bonding and getting them used to us . My Mushu loves having his worms from my hand now .
Eventually he will start enjoying your company and when he does you can start then trying to pick him up gently , sliding your hand under his front legs and lifting his bottom up . I started doing this to Mushu and just slid my hand under so that he got used to my hand going there and I built it up gradually to then being able to pick him up no problems.
You will get there with your boy , it takes time with these animals but it's so worth it and eventually they will come out of their shell and know you are there for good reasons.

 

[TexasReptiles]

Hey your boy is gorgeous! So I'm no expert by any means and someone may have better advice but from my personal experience, my boy Mushu I got him when he was about 6 months old and was only ever held by the breeder, he was very skittish and didn't enjoy being touched , the guy advised me to just "not mess around and just grab him" but when I got Mushu home I didn't like the sound of this , I wanted him to warm to me. I read many things online but the things that really helped me were 1) putting an item of my clothing in his viv so he can get used to my smell. 2) I would sit by his viv with the glass open and just relax there with him not trying to touch him , I would read a book out loud for example so he could hear me and get used to me . Then eventually I would start adding my hand into the viv so he could just see /smell it and know I'm not a threat . And he would even start walking over to me and giving me little licks on the hand (I took this to mean he was becoming more confident with me)
3) Handfeeding is a really good way of bonding and getting them used to us . My Mushu loves having his worms from my hand now .
Eventually he will start enjoying your company and when he does you can start then trying to pick him up gently , sliding your hand under his front legs and lifting his bottom up . I started doing this to Mushu and just slid my hand under so that he got used to my hand going there and I built it up gradually to then being able to pick him up no problems.
You will get there with your boy , it takes time with these animals but it's so worth it and eventually they will come out of their shell and know you are there for good reasons.

Thanks a lot for the reply. The weird thing about my boy Burt is he kinda already has warmed to me. He regularly glass surfs after dinner and around bedtime and appreciates a pet or two, he just doesnt like being picked up or held. Hes eaten from my hand since i first got him too, so hes kinda weird i guess lol. Might try the clothing thing maybe idk.

 

[nikita_hman]

Thanks a lot for the reply. The weird thing about my boy Burt is he kinda already has warmed to me. He regularly glass surfs after dinner and around bedtime and appreciates a pet or two, he just doesnt like being picked up or held. Hes eaten from my hand since i first got him too, so hes kinda weird i guess lol. Might try the clothing thing maybe idk.

Yeah my Mushu was a bit strange and inconsistent at first ,sometimes he was fine being picked up and then other times he would squirm and jump away . All just a matter of getting them used to it and taking your time, he may just feel uncomfortable being lifted off the ground because he may feel unstable. start just putting your hand under him and leaving it there so he gets used to the feeling and build it up to slowly lifting him up making sure he is fully supported .Hope it works for you .

 

[TexasReptiles]

Yeah my Mushu was a bit strange and inconsistent at first ,sometimes he was fine being picked up and then other times he would squirm and jump away . All just a matter of getting them used to it and taking your time, he may just feel uncomfortable being lifted off the ground because he may feel unstable. start just putting your hand under him and leaving it there so he gets used to the feeling and build it up to slowly lifting him up making sure he is fully supported .Hope it works for you .

Will definitely try that. Thanks for the advice!