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Training Your Degu
Many people don't realize just how smart Degus are. Did you know that Degus are extremely intelligent, and highly capable of being trained? It is true. You can train them to respond to both voice commands and hand signals, and you can pretty much train them to do anything that you want them to do, as long as you understand how the training process works.
First and foremost, you must already have established a good relationship with your Degu. Does he trust you? If you put your hand down in front of him, will he immediately crawl into your palm? Does he warble when you pet him? If you can answer yes to these questions, you have established trust with your Degu, and you can start training him.
Next, realize that you will never be able to force your Degu to do anything. He will do what he wants to do, no matter how well trained he is. You can, however, ask him to do certain things, and if you've trained him in the right way, he will do it.
Like most animals, Degus learn by experience. If they do something and have a positive result, they will do it again and again. However, if they do something and have a negative result, they will be wary of trying that thing again. For a Degu, a positive experience may be a treat. How much your Degu wants that particular treat will determine how willing he is to perform the trick or obey the command.
You must be careful when selecting rewards for your Degu. Giving him nuts all of the time isn't good for him. Instead, use corn flakes, crackers, oats, or bread. Always reward him with small treats, instead of treats that will fill him up. Otherwise, you will get him to follow your command exactly once, and the training session will be over, because he won't be motivated to continue.
You must verbally encourage your Degu during training, using a soft, smooth voice. Never allow your Degu to perform a command successfully, without rewarding him at the end. Otherwise, he won't be motivated to do it again in the future.
Consistency is the key. Training should take place at the same time each day, and should last for fifteen or twenty minutes. You must be patient, and you must also realize that some Degus will learn faster than others. While it is easier to train younger Degus, older Degus can also be trained.
You can train your Degu to do tricks, but you can also litter train your Degus…without the litter. Note that cat litter is bad for Degus. Instead, you can provide them with a sand box, but for the most part, they will use the sand box as a dust bath and a toilet. The ideal way to litter train a Degu is to have one dust bath, which is not to be used as a toilet, and one sand box that is a toilet. When they eliminate, move their feces to the sand box. Eventually, they will get the idea.
Degu information,Degu tips, Degu advice,pets,Degu pet
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