Gooch is getting territorial

Shan · Honored Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 155

I have had Gooch for a couple of months. He is a wonderful little guy. He is still very lovable but he has learned that when my children are going to pick him up if he charges at them they will leave him alone. So he is either very smart and is training the kids to leave him alone or just is territorial. He tried it with me a couple of times but when he saw that I didn't jerk my hand away he stopped. Now he will only do this with the children. He is fine when he is out of his enclosure. Should I let him choose when to come out? I am worried about letting him get away with this, I know they are not like dogs but should they have a limit on how much they can boss you around. I am very gentle with him and he loves being held but he just doesn't like hands in his enclosure. He hasn't bitten yet but I don't want him to either. So should I keep on with what I am doing? I don't let him bully me around but I am very easy with him. I let him go back in the enclosure when ever he wants. Or should I leave him alone when he charges? Need help I am very new to tegus. But I have trained horses and dogs for about 12 years now. So I have been working with him like you would any other animal rewards for good behavior and do pay any mind to the bad!!!

ElliotJasChief · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:53 am Post subject:

"territorial" behavior generally involves a lot of displaying before any "charging" starts. The trouble you are having sounds more like a feeding response (the tegu knows that people feed it so it comes running up to the front of the cage when people are nearby...expecting food). Do you feed the tegu inside the cage?

Shan · Honored Member Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 155

Elliot thanks so much for the reply. I only give bugs in the enclosure. He eats in the kitchen every feeding. When I put crickets and roaches it is while he is sleeping so he wont see my hand and associate it with food. He seems to do this with the children only. When he tries with me I keep my hand in there and he will stop rite at my hand and act like a banning rooster, he stands tall and arches his back like he is a big man. Very funny but it wont be when he is full grown. When he does this I pick him up and hold him till he calms down. Then I will let him go back into his enclosure. He hasn't bitten at all but I don't want it to start. Thanks for your help. Shannon

tegulevi · Respected Member Joined: Mar 10, 2005 Posts: 489

if your kids are boys than it may be the male scent on them that he feels he deeds to defend his home. my male does this, he will charge at my hand but not bite. my wife on the other hand could do whatever she wants in his home and dont care. just tell them to be carefull and dont back down from him. my male who is "dog tame" doesnt like my father in law very much he once charged to door of his cage and was headbutting it just because he was in the same room. wierd

elchupaneebrae · Member Joined: Dec 14, 2004 Posts: 70

mine, umm generally doesnt like human contact.. a bit sad yes, but i still love him, good old colombians