The chinchilla is a fine alternative to a cat and dog. With a chinchilla it is not necessary to walk, and she spends the most part of time in a cage. At the same time, it is very amusing and clever small animal who can even learn some teams.
Intelligence of a chinchillaIn spite of the fact that the majority of rodents is not really bright, a chinchilla - rather clever small animal. On I.Q. she can be compared to a domestic cat. Chinchillas well see, are capable to distinguish some colors. Also they have a delicate ear and sense of smell. It opens for small animals ample opportunities of knowledge. Experienced breeders of chinchillas will confirm that animals know the name, recognize owners and are even capable to miss if they long are not engaged in them. If to let out chinchillas on walks on the apartment, it easily learn to open cases, to use door handles and to reach the most hard-to-reach spots.
Usually the chinchilla remembers the nickname not longer than 2 months.
What teams can teach a chinchillaThe first that needs to be made after acquisition of a small animal - to give it a nickname. Until the chinchilla learns the name, it is better not to let out her from a cage. Pronouncing a nickname draws attention to the owner and does possible further communication. It is better to choose a nickname as a part of which there are hissing and whistling sounds - "With", "Highway", "H", "Щ".
If you plan to let out an animal on walk on the apartment, first of all it is necessary to teach him to team "home" or "in a cage". After walk you say team and you carry a small animal in a cage. There something tasty has to wait for him. If necessary, by the same principle it is possible to teach a chinchilla to the walk team.
The following important command - "to me". It is said in combination with a nickname. For training tenderly call the pet and allure him delicacy, repeating team. When the small animal accustoms to the apartment, it is necessary to teach him to team it "is impossible" - chinchillas very much like to spoil wall-paper and to dig in flowerpots. The team needs to be said rather strictly, it is possible to influence slightly physically - for example, quietly to push away a small animal, to take him on hands or to drag from the crime scene. It is possible to combine this team with team "to me" that the chinchilla switched attention to the owner. Ideally the animal has to not only stop the forbidden action, but also run off this place.
When training give to a chinchilla not a usual forage, but special delicacies are dried segments of apple, sunflower seeds, small loafs without sugar and special additives from pet-shop.
How to train a chinchillaChinchillas are rather whimsical and cunning beings. They are similar to small children, they need to be brought up from the emergence in the house, otherwise they will not react to your bans. The principles of training of chinchillas are a tender address and constant encouragement. At the beginning of training it is necessary to give a treat for each correctly performed operation, later - for every fifth, and in the end - to replace a treat with verbal encouragement. Chinchillas very well distinguish tone of a voice therefore the praise will be for them an award too.