Many sugar glider owners enjoy carrying their gliders around in a bonding pouch. This pouch is usually made from soft fabrics similar to those used for sleeping pouches, but it has a carry strap that the owner can use to carry the pouch around her neck or on her shoulder. The nicest and most comfortable (for the glider) pouches have a section of mesh that allows air to circulate and also allows the glider to peer out at his world, if he so chooses. They may also have a Velcro® closure that prevents the glider from popping out unexpectedly. Bonding pouches may be obtained from many sugar glider specialty shops, and they can also be found on eBay.

Treats are useful for bonding. For example, as you carry your glider around in its bonding pouch, you can open the pouch and offer a treat. Pretty soon, the sugar glider will figure out that when the pouch opens and he interacts with you, he will get a treat. After a while, he will be brave enough to leave the pouch and hop on your hand to get a treat. Avoid junk food treats and avoid nuts, peanuts and other foods that are not good for sugar gliders! Treats should always be nutritious and in tiny amounts.

Eventually, your sugar glider will be content to let you carry him around for hours, especially if it is daytime and he is sleepy. Many sugar glider experts recommend that you reach a level of 2 to 4 hours per day of bonding activity (or, in the case of the sugar glider itself, bonding inactivity). Remember, bonding activity and playing activity are not the same thing. Bonding involves being very physically close to your sugar glider, so that he feels comforted and safe on or very near you.

Where should bonding take place? Once you and your sugar glider are used to each other, you can strengthen the bonding process almost anywhere that is safe. In the beginning of the bonding process, however, it’s a good idea to keep your sugar glider with you in a relatively small enclosed space. If you can glider-proof your bathroom, then that is a suitable place to start the bonding process, but only if you can glider-proof it! (I will write extensively about Sugar Glider safety in future posts.) Some people buy a small zip-up type camping tent that will fit in one of their rooms. They place some treats and toys in the tent, and then carry the sugar glider into the tent (preferably he will still be in his sleeping pouch). They zip the tent up and then encourage the sugar glider to explore this little world filled with nothing but treats, toys and their owner.

How long should you expect the bonding process to take? The answer, of course, is that it varies. But generally speaking, it will take at least a month, assuming you spend about 2 to 4 hours per day doing bonding activities (which can be as simple as carrying your sugar glider around in a bonding pouch or its sleeping pouch). Sometimes bonding will occur much more quickly, especially if you’ve bought a hand-tamed joey. Joeys are generally easier to bond with than older gliders are and as a very broad generalization, males tend to bond a little bit faster than females.

Assuming your adult sugar glider has not come from an abusive environment, bonding might take 3 to 5 months. If you’ve adopted a sugar glider who has been abused, bonding might take far longer, as your glider will need a lot of time to build up trust in you. The most important qualities you can have during the bonding process are consistency, patience and persistence.

© 2006 SugarGliderAuthority.com. Excerpted from Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

If your sugar glider’s cage has a door large enough for both of your hands, then approach the glider with both hands cupped and surround him slowly with both hands. You can hold him near your body in your cupped hands, or against your chest. If your glider is sleeping in his sleeping pouch, take the pouch out of the cage with the glider still in it. Then slide your hand in the pouch and wait a moment so that you don’t wake the glider up suddenly. Never just reach in a pouch or a nest box and grab your sugar glider! You risk frightening them and getting bitten. If your glider seems to get cranky the minute you get near the pouch, just remove the pouch and carry it around with him in it while speaking gently to him.

Removing your sugar glider’s sleeping pouch from his cage and carrying him around is a good way to begin the process. Let him continue sleeping, and he will begin to get used to your scent and presence. Since sugar gliders are nocturnal, this discussion assumes it is daytime, of course. If you get home from work after dark, it is most likely that your sugar glider will be up and active, so his sleeping pouch will be unoccupied and you’ll need to coax him into your hands. Once you and your sugar glider are bonded, keep in mind that excessive daytime playing can be stressful for a glider. Carrying him around while he is sleeping during the day will almost always be a pleasant experience for both of you. Eventually, he may get up the courage to come out and explore – maybe even climb through your hair!

Yes, many sugar gliders do like to sleep in your pockets! And some sugar glider owners have found that if they wear two tee shirts, their new glider will sleep between the two layers as they are carried around. That way, the glider feels safe and warm and he grows accustomed to your scent. Quite a few female sugar glider owners report that they have “bra-trained” their gliders! The sugar glider settles in to sleep between the two bra cups. Be sure you’re not allergic to your sugar glider before you try this! And make sure your sugar glider is not prone to nipping/biting. Ask members on some of the internet sugar glider discussion forums about this practice if you are interested in bonding with your sugar glider this way.

(To be continued…)

© 2006 SugarGliderAuthority.com. Excerpted from Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

It is important to approach your sugar glider with confidence and gentleness. Even very young joeys can rear up on their back legs, lunge and hiss or crab if they feel frightened or threatened. They can look very scary! And they can even bite you. Yes, sugar gliders do bite. The bite of a joey is not particularly painful, but the bite of an adult can draw blood. Do not attempt to get around this problem by wearing gloves, however. Gloves will mask the scent of your hands and you will continually be presenting yourself as a stranger to your glider.

There are some general rules for handling that will increase your chances for an early bonding with your sugar glider. If you approach your glider with your hand and he rears and lunges, resist the urge to quickly withdraw your hand. It’s easier said than done, but sugar gliders can detect and react to fear just like other pets. If he bites you, NEVER hit him! Never! Say NO! and continue your approach. You don’t want to teach your sugar glider that he can get his way by biting. On the other hand, respect the fact that he is a frightened wild animal. If the sugar glider persists in being aggressive, end the attempt to bond and start again the next time.

Some people begin approaching their sugar gliders with a “licky treat” on the end of their finger. This might be a little yogurt or applesauce or something else enjoyable. That way, your sugar glider will associate your approach with good things and not stress. Remember, though, that your sugar glider might still bite you if it is very frightened. Don’t shove your finger in his face. It’s always best to hold your hand back a bit from the sugar glider and let him come to you. If he does act aggressively, try to avoid screaming, jumping back suddenly, etc. (Again, I know this is easier said than done.) This will just cause more fear and stress in the glider.

Never reach in the cage and just grab the glider! This feeling of restriction makes sugar gliders feel threatened. Certainly never grab them by the back of the neck, the way a mama cat would carry a kitten. And never grab a sugar glider by the tail. Instead, use a scooping motion to pick them up with a cupped hand. If they are reluctant to leave the branch or whatever they are clinging to, use one finger to tickle their feet. This will encourage the sugar glider to hang onto you instead of the branch. Some gliders will hop on the back of your hand if you offer it, so try this approach if nothing else works.

(To be continued…)

© 2006 SugarGliderAuthority.com. Excerpted from Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

The topic of bonding is near and dear to the hearts of sugar glider lovers! When properly done, bonding results in a loving pet that is strongly emotionally attached to you. Your bonded sugar glider will probably also want to be physically near you as much as possible, too. Sugar glider owners love to carry their little pals with them, and the gliders seem to love being carried. Bear in mind that some gliders bond quickly, while others require more time. They all have little personalities, just like any other pet. So take your time and let your glider bond at its own pace. There is no reason or need to hurry. Bonding will happen, if you are willing to invest your time!

The most important qualities you can have during the bonding process are consistency, patience, and persistence. Consistently spend a lot of time with your glider, be patient if he seems less-than ready to bond, and persist in bonding with him. Don’t let him scare you off if he seems a little defensive or even aggressive.

The most important thing to remember is that gliders bond by scent. The other thing to remember is that changes in their environment can create stress that is likely to make them react out of fear. So when you bring a sugar glider into your home for the first time, don’t expect him to hop right into your hand! Instead, leave him alone to explore his new territory/environment for a few days or so, while you just keep a watchful eye on him. You can hang out in the same room as him, so he gets used to your presence. You’ll need to feed and water him during this time period, of course. Some sugar gliders can take up to a week to get used to their new environment. Don’t push your sugar glider to acclimate faster than he is ready to!

Some breeders recommend that you leave an article of clothing, such as a tee shirt, draped over the cage for the first day or so. Don’t wash the tee shirt before doing this. By leaving the tee shirt around, the sugar glider will get used to your scent and you will seem more familiar when you come close to him. You can wear this tee shirt the first time you attempt to get close to him so that he’s got a familiar, scented item to comfort him. Remember that if you are wearing a new perfume or deodorant or anything else scented, this will make you seem unfamiliar to your sugar glider.

Don’t overwhelm your new sugar glider by having too many people trying to get close to him all at the same time. He may perceive that as a threat and will react fearfully. However, if more than one person plans on bonding with the sugar glider, all of them should begin bonding activities quickly. In other words, all people who want to bond with the sugar glider should begin spending quality time with the glider from early on. Your glider may or may not pick out a “favorite” human, but gliders are certainly capable of bonding with more than one human.

(To be continued…)

© 2006 SugarGliderAuthority.com. Excerpted from Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the copyright owner.