Blog #6: Clicker training my chinchillas

YES!!!

Today was a major sucess!

I asked my friend to see if she would like to do a few touches with Bing she agreed. As I want them getting used to and comforatble with strange people for vet visits. I showed her what to do. I went first, just to get Bing used to having her in the room, and so she could see exactly what I was doing. He did everything perfectly.

She then sat down, I gave her the clicker and treats. He did WONDERFULLY. Everything she asked him to do, he did with no problems. He has only met her a couple times before, so this was excellent.

I also worked on the crate with him, and that has been getting so much better. More reliable, everything. Really focusing on just the crate has done wonders.

Now Mr. Darcy did amazing today too! He got onto my shoulder no problem and I was able to transport him all the way to the bathroom without any difficulty. Seems like the mishap last night was not a set back like I had worried.

I asked the vet if I could take my chinchillas into one of their rooms a few times a week to get them comforatble with the vets office. They agreed that if I called ahead to make sure there was an opening that I could work with them. Tomorrow I am going to take Bing to the vet, if they have an opening, and I will see how he does in a brand new area.

Oh, I have also started, with the left over pellets putting hay on the ground and mixing pellets in with it. The chins love using their noses to try and find the pellets, especially Bing.