Bearded dragons are a favourite in many homes in the US and Europe. This is because they are beautiful. Some people love them because they’re cheap to maintain. Everyone has their own reasons for the pets they do choose. But there are some things that cannot be denied or ignored when it comes to the bearded dragon. These are the things that set them apart. Therefore, It makes it such an ideal pet for almost everybody and anybody. Bearded dragons require less food than conventional pets like dogs. They are silent and rarely make sounds at all. They are exotic pets and are native to Australia. Bearded dragons can’t perform tricks like dogs or cats. But that is part of their appeal. They are ideal pets for all sorts of people irrespective of class.
Bearded dragon is one of the most domesticated species of reptiles in the world. These silent lizards are also known to be some of the tamest in the class reptilia. They are friendly and often tolerate human touch better than most of their counterparts. Bearded dragons live solitary lifestyles on their own. But they also flourish when they are paired with their human friends.
But how do we know that dragons are friendly?
They are not dogs or cats. They can not communicate in such a distinct language as we would see in dogs and cats. What exactly makes them friendly? How exactly do they express their friendliness? I will answer these questions and shed more light on the topic in the paragraphs to come. So sit back and take your time to read this.
Are all bearded dragons friendly?
The summary of all this is that no. Not all bearded dragons will be attached to you or any other human for that matter. But don’t worry about this because it doesn’t mean that your dragon is unfriendly. It just means that your dragon does not show it’s friendliness in the way others do. It will still love other activities.
Can You Pick Up And Handle A Bearded Dragon?
Of course.
Most Bearded dragons like to spend time with their humans. Some even pay attention to the TV. You can leave them alone to walk around your house freely. They love the sun. Hang out with them in the sun. They need the ultraviolet rays of the sun to digest their food and stay healthy. Do not put them on loose sand. Also, try to avoid anything that could cause impaction as this is dangerous to their health. You can take them in the yard. But don’t leave them unattended because other animals can prey on them. Bearded dragons generally warm up to touch.
How do you know bearded dragons are friendly
Because bearded dragons are the most docile and social reptiles around. They are very adaptive to human presence. They also really grow on you and you on them. The keyword in your relationship with your dragon is time. Your dragons behavior is a direct result of time spent with you. Don’t be surprised if your dragon starts to rush to the front of his enclosure to meet and greet you. This will happen if you spend a lot of time with them. You will find that your efforts on your dragon are not wasted. This is because he or she will be very tame and friendly.
They love handling
Bearded dragons are docile. They usually enjoy touch long after other reptiles are tired of it. You need to take things slow with them though. You cannot go from 2 to 1000 in one day. Give your dragon time to adjust to your touch for longer stretches. You can start with just seconds and then allow it to grow into minutes. Your dragon can become aggressive due to stress if you don’t give it time to adapt to touch.
Give it time
Take your time to let the dragon grow on you in order to earn its trust. Wait for your dragon to adjust to a new duration before you increase it. And remember to only pick your dragon up from it’s under or side. Never from the top. He will see you as a predator if you pick him from the top. He will not trust you at all. Your bearded dragon will love your touch eventually. He may close his eyes in ecstasy when you stroke or pet it on the head.
Do Bearded Dragons love People
Bearded dragons are solitary animals. They are highly unlikely to be seen in packs or groups that are more than one. Dragons often look forward to their owners’ company. They love to be touched
and handled moderately. Bearded dragons are one of the most docile reptile species in the world. Bearded dragons very rarely bite even though they have teeth. The bite is never strong or serious on the rare occasions that they do bite.
Proof of emotion
There is no proof to show that dragons actually have emotions. But bearded dragons recognize and actually prefer their owners to strangers. This is because bearded dragons associate their owners with positive emotions. Thus bearded dragons actually love you in their own little way. Bearded dragons sometimes walk up to their owners all by themselves. This shows that they need some attention. Bearded dragons can behave sweetly and affectionately towards other people. And the best part of all of this is that most bearded dragons become tame, Friendly and docile in just a few weeks.
How to cuddle a bearded dragon
Some bearded dragons are cuddle lovers. They will hurry over to you or even wave towards you to show submission and friendliness. However, other bearded dragons are more reserved and unlikely to come so closely of their own volition. Some bearded dragons like to sit in your lap and just watch TV. They prefer that you do not handle or touch them at this time. Some other bearded dragons like you to touch them and they enjoy it when you stroke them or pet them while they watch a TV show. Take your time to allow your bearded dragon to get used to you. Do not squeeze or pull on the bearded dragon in any form. These cute lizards are individuals and they all have their own personalities.
Do bearded dragons like to be touched?
Some bearded dragons like to be picked up a lot. But others are just content to sit in their owner’s lap while they watch TV or read a storybook. A younger bearded dragon takes more time to adapt to humans than adult dragons. So it’s just for you to wait for them to grow up. Allow your bearded dragon to set the pace and tone of your relationship in touch. This is the only way to find out what temperament he has. Your bearded dragon will set the pace for how you handle him. Give him space to develop in his love for you. Provide your bearded dragon with strong support underneath when you handle him. Never hold a dragon by its tail or a limb. You may injure or fracture the limb or tail. Don’t drop your dragon from tall heights. Also, don’t hold them tightly or squeeze them.
Tips
Handle your dragon from the beginning: Handle your dragon right away. Establish a relationship as early as possible.
Hand feeds them: your dragon will associate your presence with food. food is one of the most important things every living thing needs to survive. Place food on your body and let your dragon eat it from there.
Spend time in their company: make yourself a constant feature in your dragons’ life. It will allow him to get used to you.
Take walks: let your dragon sit on your shoulder and take a walk in the sun. This is another way to create a positive association.
Watch television together: this will give you the opportunity to Bond properly. It may also help your dragon grow in intelligence.
Have shower time: bearded dragons sometimes need a shower to stay hydrated. Therefore, you can use this opportunity to sit close to your bearded dragon and just keep it company. Keep your dragons head above water at all times.
Allow your dragon freedom in your house. It will get acquainted with the smell of you. Your bearded dragon will become more friendly in your presence and even crave your presence more.
Reasons for hostility in bearded dragons
Sickness. A sick bearded dragon will be unfriendly. Just like a sick human will not be in the mood for jokes. Recognize signs of sickness in your bearded dragon as fast as possible. It helps prevent unfriendliness or even a chance of biting.
Hunger. There’s a saying that a hungry man is an angry man. This also applies to bearded dragons as well as other animals. You can’t expect a dragon that is hungry to be in the mood for play. Feed your dragon just before playtime.
Lack of familiarity. Nobody likes a stranger in their spaces. it’s really that simple. Bearded dragons don’t bite often. But they sometimes snap at people when they are not familiar with that person. Strangers should wait for a proper introduction before they touch dragons. You should spend time with a bearded dragon before you try to pick him up. Try to be friendly. Get involved In feeding times and such. This will allow the bearded dragon to get familiar with you.
Wrong handling. There is a right way and a wrong way to pick a bearded dragon. A bearded dragon will snap or try to wiggle away from you if you pick him up wrongly. And sometimes the bearded dragon can bite to show displeasure at the way it is handled. The way you handle it can make a bearded dragon to perceive a human as a threat or predator. Pick bearded dragons up in a way that has been designated.
Caution
Exercise a lot of caution in control when handling a bearded dragon. We have established that bearded dragons can be very friendly. But bearded dragons can actually carry and transfer a bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella is very dangerous to human health. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water the minute you drop your bearded dragon. Supervise young children to wash their hands after. Take a shower if you let your bearded dragon walk over your body. Salmonella is not something to joke about. It is very harmful to humans and maybe even disastrous. Wash your hands thoroughly after you handle your bearded dragon. Don’t let this discourage you from a bearded dragon. Wash your hands after you touch any animals at all. This is standard for all interactions with animals.
