Bonding with Your Pet Hedgehog

A Hedgehog is by chance one of the oddest, and coolest creatures I have had the pleasure of owning. However, getting one to like you is a challenge. Hedgehogs are often confused with porcupines, of which they are not related. Hedgehogs are curious little creatures, who are covered with sharp spines as a defense mechanism.

Hedgehogs are often seen in pet stores, but in order to adapt one to humans, it is important to get one as a baby, and from a reputable breeder. Pet store hedgehogs are often neglected, and not used to human touch, with could be painful for both the human and the hedgehog. They are nocturnal by nature, so their owners, in order to bond with them, must be as well. Bonding with a hedgehog, can be a difficult process, and requires a lot of time and patience. By nature the hedgehog is afraid of pretty much everything, and it takes a long time to learn their trust. Starting early with a hoglet and getting it from a reputable breeder, who has experience in breeding hedgehogs for pets is crucial. It is possible to bond with the older pet store hogs, but its not very likely, nor is it easy.

A baby hedgehog is weened around 6-8 weeks old, and at that point can be taken into a human home. Daily time must be spent with it to remove its natural fear of people. Be forewarned, they are covered with sharp spines and they can hurt a little, but over time you will adjust to the sensation. It is like holding a thick bristled brush, only a little sharper. As with any animal, its important not to show fear. The spines don't hurt that bad, but if you pull away and flinch, the hedgehog will pick up on that and know your afraid of it. This can hinder your bonding. Hedgehogs have poor eye sight, but they have great hearing and sense of smell. When they realize you are around, it will raise its spines (they are not quills, quills are hollow and barbed, spines are like sharpened finger nails) and will make a huffing noise to try to scare you away. Of you get close, it will "pop", in an attempt to skewer you with its spines. If you persist, it will roll into ball (which I call the ball of death). It can tuck its head and legs into the ball, so it is a complete, 360 degree ball of spines. To pick up a balled up hedgehog, slide your hands under it from either side, like you are cupping water out of a pond. Cup the hedgehog in your hand and lift it, being aware that it will pop and hiss. Don't drop it. To start, your hedgehog will always be balled up when you pick it up. Just hold it calmly, and it will eventually uncurl and start to explore you. Be very quiet and still, the slightest startle will put it back in its ball. As you bond and the hedgehog realizes you are not trying to eat it, it will take less and less time to uncurl. Eventually, after weeks and months, it wont curl at all when you pick it up. At this stage, be careful. When the hedgehog starts to stay uncurled upon being touched, its very easy to get pinched. If you try to pick it up, and have your finger under its belly, and it gets startled and rolls, that is the most painful thing it can do to you. Having a hedgehog curl around your finger, gets you jabbed from all angles, and very hard. Its the only time mine has "hurt" me, but boy did it hurt. Continue to pick it up using the cupping method, until your sure it wont roll on you.

Smell is their best sense, so when you first bring it home, sleep in a clean t-shirt for a night, so it gets coated with your scent, and then put it in the hedgehogs cage for it to sleep in/play on. This will get it adapted to your scent. Remember they are nocturnal, so don't try to bond during the day. How would you feel it someone came and woke you up and started playing with you? Dusk is usually when they are starting to wake up, so wait for it to rise on its own. Usually, just like us, when they wake up they are hungry and have to go to the bathroom. An offer of a nice meal worm upon waking is a good way to get your hog in a good mood. Give him a few minutes after eating though, because that morning poo is coming, and your rather it not be on you (although it is unavoidable). Its important to take your time, and realize that this creature wont like you for several weeks to months. There are thousands of years of instincts that you are trying to rewrite. As hedgehogs grow in popularity, and through proper breeding, some of the fear is starting to be removed, but its a long process. They are very inquisitive, so once it starts to feel OK about you, it will want to run around and explore its surroundings. Be careful not to let it get anywhere it shouldn't, they can fit through very small spaces. Keep your hedgehog in view at all times when not in his cage.

Bonding with a hedgehog is a great experience. Taking a creature who is angry and convinced you are trying to eat it, to trusting you and bonding with you is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Once bonded, you are your spiny friend will get along great, all the while getting strange looks from your friends. Its a nice feeling to get home from work, or wherever, and having your hedgehog friend waiting at the edge of his cage for you to come play.