Oly Update/questions

[Oly's mom]

Hi all-
Sorry to be pesky with so many questions - I'm trying hard to do this right!

I think I finally have Oly on a decent diet - although he still doesn't eat as many veggies as I like (he prefers squash, sweet potato, and rose hips to green leafy veggies!). He mostly eats squirrel block, 4 varieties of rodent block, and monkey chow as well as small amounts of favored fruit (apple, banana, cranberries, grape) and 2 acorns per day (or hazelnuts/macadamia nuts/walnuts) - so I think we have the calcium-phosphorous issue covered.

But I do have a behaviour concern. I realize he is a wild animal tamed, and not a domestic pet -- but I also would like him to be somewhat trained.
The concern I have is a game he has started, which I call "hit and run". He runs across the bed, BOUNCES off whatever he can, and then pounces on me - then dashes off in another direction. Great fun, for both of us. :wahoo However, as often as not, when he pounces (or bounces, for that matter), he appears to be aiming for my face. His nails are DARNED sharp and I now appear to have some bizarre form of acne.:crazy Is there a way to continue the game but discourage him from using my face as a platform? The more I put my hands up to protect my face and divert the landing the more fun the game appears to be, encouraging him to aim for my face.
The other game he has taken to is "wrestling" with my hands -- laying on his back on my lap and making a high pitch chortle/chirp while tussling with my hands. Occasionally he gets too rough and bites - but responds immediately to a loud "No". I'm presuming this form of rough play is normal and does not need to be discouraged?

Any advice on forms of play (or criticism of his diet) greatly appreciated. He really seems to get a charge of the games he has created - and I don't mind dealing with the scratches on my arms/legs/and chest.....but as I DO work with the public, I would prefer to make face landings a non-option! (Besides, I like my vision and he occasionally comes dangerously close to my eyes!).
Thanks-
-Sandra

[4skwerlz]

Hi all-
Sorry to be pesky with so many questions - I'm trying hard to do this right!

I think I finally have Oly on a decent diet - although he still doesn't eat as many veggies as I like (he prefers squash, sweet potato, and rose hips to green leafy veggies!). He mostly eats squirrel block, 4 varieties of rodent block, and monkey chow as well as small amounts of favored fruit (apple, banana, cranberries, grape) and 2 acorns per day (or hazelnuts/macadamia nuts/walnuts) - so I think we have the calcium-phosphorous issue covered.

But I do have a behaviour concern. I realize he is a wild animal tamed, and not a domestic pet -- but I also would like him to be somewhat trained.
The concern I have is a game he has started, which I call "hit and run". He runs across the bed, BOUNCES off whatever he can, and then pounces on me - then dashes off in another direction. Great fun, for both of us. :wahoo However, as often as not, when he pounces (or bounces, for that matter), he appears to be aiming for my face. His nails are DARNED sharp and I now appear to have some bizarre form of acne.:crazy Is there a way to continue the game but discourage him from using my face as a platform? The more I put my hands up to protect my face and divert the landing the more fun the game appears to be, encouraging him to aim for my face.
The other game he has taken to is "wrestling" with my hands -- laying on his back on my lap and making a high pitch chortle/chirp while tussling with my hands. Occasionally he gets too rough and bites - but responds immediately to a loud "No". I'm presuming this form of rough play is normal and does not need to be discouraged?

Any advice on forms of play (or criticism of his diet) greatly appreciated. He really seems to get a charge of the games he has created - and I don't mind dealing with the scratches on my arms/legs/and chest.....but as I DO work with the public, I would prefer to make face landings a non-option! (Besides, I like my vision and he occasionally comes dangerously close to my eyes!).
Thanks-
-Sandra

I can sympathize with you on this.....I'm always aware of which behaviors I encourage/discourage, and worry about what would happen if Henry ever started some bad behavior that I couldn't stop, since he's nonreleasable, we're stuck with each other for life.

I do the play wrestling with Henry just like you describe. He is usually careful to playbite gently, but once in a while he will get a little too enthusiastic and pinch too hard, or he'll "grrrr" in a way that seems a little too aggressive. I have a sound that means "no" also: the "aht, aht, aht"! The game stops, AND I back it up with a tiny swat with my finger (this is similar to how momma squirrel disciplines her unruly children), chasing him to do it if necessary, then I put my fingers up to his face. If he gently touches them, I know he got the message that mommy's fingers are not to be hurt.

As far as the bouncing game, I would definitely put a stop to that. He especially needs to know that your face is to be respected. He would never be allowed to do that to his squirrel mom; she would swat him. If you think he's ready to do the bounce thing, hold your arm out straight with the palm up and pointed in his direction (like a traffic cop motioning "stop") If he jumps at you, he'll just bounce off your palm. I would also use your "NO," and I would follow it up with the swat, and stopping the game. They can be stubborn, and sometimes it takes a few repetitions.

His diet sounds great.

[Mars]

The bouncing game can also be altered to keep it fun. Use a small bath towel as a target for him to aim for. Then gently tussle him in the towel and let him escape. It's a strange game of catch me if you can.

[Oly's mom]

Thanks so much.
The stop sign trick flopped (he is faster than I and it became a "hop scotch" game to leap OVER the hand and STILL ambush the face).
HOWEVER!
He thinks the towel is the best thing since cliced bread. He actually aimed for the towel instead of me, loves to wrestle with it -- and I left from our play session with only 2 new scratches which was wonderful!
Thanks so much!
-Sandra

[TexanSquirrel]

:thumbsup Glad you've found something you both enjoy!

[4skwerlz]

Thanks so much.
The stop sign trick flopped (he is faster than I and it became a "hop scotch" game to leap OVER the hand and STILL ambush the face).
HOWEVER!
He thinks the towel is the best thing since cliced bread. He actually aimed for the towel instead of me, loves to wrestle with it -- and I left from our play session with only 2 new scratches which was wonderful!
Thanks so much!
-Sandra

I guess it only works if you're quicker than the squirrel.....:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl My little guy is a little slow sometimes.

Mars' idea was great. They're always ready to learn a new game. We do the "towel game" also; definitely helps protect your skin from some of those scratches. While Henry is wrastling with the towel, I'll roll him up in it, and then we play "Where's Henry?" He enjoys figuring out how to escape from the towel.