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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 24, 2004 19:26:59 GMT -8
I just took in two fosters yesterday to introduce to each other. Then they will go back up for adoption at the animal shelter. Both of them are incredibly scared and have been alone for their entire lives. One of the fosters, Caramel, is particularly jumpy and has given me a few warning nips. The weird thing is that she will let me corner her and then when I touch her she closes her eyes and kind of stretches out. When I stroke her cheek she turns her face up a bit so that I can reach under her chin. Then she lies there is sort of a trance and lets me "groom" her lightly with my fingertips. Do you think that this is really grooming behaviour, or that she is so scared that she is submitting to my gentle touches? The look on her face makes me think that she is enjoying the soft touches. She kind of folds her ears to her head and closes her eyes. It really does look the same as a gerbil getting groomed. The other reason I think it is grooming behaviour, was because I gave them a quick introduction to each other just to test the waters. It kind of gives me an idea of how long the intro will take. I may have to try the water method to speed things up because the people at the shelter don't realize that introductions take time . As soon as the other gerbil was put in the tank, Caramel went up and sniffed her, and tried to groom her. The other gerbil, Brandee, didn't want anything to do with Caramel at this point and started a little spat. That's okay, because I wasn't expecting them to go together right away. So what does everybody think? Grooming behaviour or submission?
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Post by RyanF on Aug 25, 2004 3:12:02 GMT -8
Hmm.. Well if Caramel was ever with another gerbil and the owners didn't know anything about them, it could be submission. Or, Caramel could just be a really nice gerbil. Don't forget pictures! BTW, I will be gone until Monday.
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 25, 2004 4:22:04 GMT -8
I know that Caramel wasn't with another gerbil, and she isn't very nice . She's tried to bite me more than once. I'm thinking that she is just so lonely that she will accept loving even from me. Has anyone else seen this?
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Post by sweetie on Aug 25, 2004 8:36:05 GMT -8
I have seen this before in other animals but never in gerbils since I have not had the experience with them. I do however believe that it may be a combination of both but mostly because the gerbil likes the grooming. If she has bitten out of fear, she is not being submissive. If she relents to your touch, I think it is mostly out of the pleasure of the "grooming" after her fear has gone away. You see this in many cats and also some dogs that have been abused. They fear what you may do but then when you do touch them, and they realize you are not beating them the surrender to the touch because it feels good and they need it. The apprehension of you approaching them will take a long time to go away but with continued TLC, it will subside with time. It is called desensitization. They use that method to treat a lot of types of phobia. It will take a lot of time to build up trust with this gerbil. I would give warning to the new adoptees not to immediately try to touch the gerbils since it will reinforce the fear!!!! Congrats on getting the shelter to let you bring them home and pair them up !!!! The red tape went away!! Hope this has helped.
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Aug 25, 2004 13:47:25 GMT -8
Recently my Ratzilla was very ill and she was too weak to groom herself, so her fur got very scruffy. I have a soft baby toothbrush and I started grooming her a couple of times a day. She exhibited the very same behavior you noticed, flattening herself out, with ears down and eyes closed. She obviously enjoyed being groomed, which was something of a surprise, since she's always been an evil biter. I went from using the toothbrush to using my fingers, which she seemed to enjoy even more.
From what you describe, I would guess that your little foster girl's actions are a combination of submission and grooming behavior--when you first touch her, she becomes submissive, and when she sees that she's not going to be hurt, she relaxes and enjoys your grooming.
RW
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 25, 2004 20:01:31 GMT -8
Everytime she lets me groom her I'm filled will a mixture of sadness and amazement. I've never had a gerbil that would let me do that. I find it really endearing!
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Post by sweetie on Aug 26, 2004 7:24:47 GMT -8
Queenie, That's why you go to work because the PAY is worth it not the money!!!! It is extremely rewarding to have that kind of intense bond. No amount of money could buy that. Great job!!!! ;D
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Aug 26, 2004 16:02:47 GMT -8
They always find their own little ways to creep into our hearts, don't they?
Do you think you will be able to give her up, when the time comes?
RW
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 26, 2004 17:36:08 GMT -8
Yes, I know I'll have to give them up again soon. I probably will need to bring them back in a week, so at least it won't be as hard as if they'd been at my house for months. I guess that's the price of fostering, it's hard to see them go...
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Post by sweetie on Aug 27, 2004 4:26:23 GMT -8
It's hard to see them go but it's great to know what your work and efforts helped them to thrive. You both are better having had time to spend with the other!
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Post by RyanF on Aug 31, 2004 4:52:33 GMT -8
When the gerbils have been held too long.. They try the "Chewing Escape Maneveur". ;D They take little nips out of me, so that's when I take them back to the gerbil house.
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Post by j on Sept 4, 2004 23:35:38 GMT -8
I'd guess it's probably a little of both..
I'd say scared and submission because I know when like one gerbil is chewing something, and another wants to groom them. The groomer will keep trying, the other will sit there and squeak. Then eventually submit to being groomed. If they wanted it, they wouldn't have fought it in the first place.
But yours isn't really fighting it.. and doing the head thing like she likes it.. probably likes it but scared at the same time.
That is weird though.
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Post by queenofthenile on Sept 5, 2004 5:43:55 GMT -8
I thought the behaviour would go away once I paired her up. I guess it wasn't just loneliness . Anyway, I think it is very sweet and I think it will help her find a home .
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Sept 5, 2004 12:40:10 GMT -8
So, Caramel still likes you to groom her, even though she has a gerbil friend now? That's precious. RW
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Post by queenofthenile on Sept 5, 2004 16:37:59 GMT -8
Yes, she still enjoys it quite a bit. Brandee and Caramel found a home today ;D. They went together so I'm very pleased. The only problem I had with the adopters was they want some sort of Habitrail cage. I tried to sway them towards an aquarium instead, but no go. I did, however, convince them to find another cage that attaches to the one they bought, to give the gerbs more room. I'm actually suprised that they listened as much as they did. When you adopt animals out from the shelter, especially the rodents, you really can't guarentee they will find what you would call a "suitable" home.
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