How do you know what they like?

[Janelle]

How can you tell if a beardie likes something or someone, or if they're just tolerating something or someone? Jayne lets me pick her up without running away--even in the middle of my bedroom, but she doesn't come to me, wanting up. Likewise, when I'm getting her out of her tank, I can pick her up, but she doesn't seek out being picked up--she doesn't come to my hand or climb onto it or anything. She'll sit on my lap for a while while I pet her, then she runs off. Was she enjoying it while she was there? Or was she just biding her time, waiting for the right moment to run? How can you tell? She's super easy-going and lets me mess with her tail, all her feet, etc. But sometimes, with the looks she gives me, I can imagine her thinking, "Why don't you just go away and leave me alone?" I want her to be a snuggly dragon and enjoy her time with me, but I also don't want to force myself on her to where she dreads me coming to her tank. So how do I know?

 

[PatsyB]

You asked a really tough question! We don't really know if they really like someone or something or just tolerating them. I like to think, as long as they aren't black bearding at me or trying to bite me or hissing at me, then they like me. My boy is a lot like Jayne. He will sit on my lap for a bit and let me pet him but after about 5-10 minutes he's planning his escape. None of my dragons really come to me when I open their tank or when they are out playing on the floor. The girls will sometimes snuggle into my neck or my leg when they are sitting on me. The only time Luci (my boy) will come to me is when he's really hungry and I'm putting food in his tank. Which really isn't coming to me, it's coming to the food.

 

[Janelle]

Thanks! I would love to know she absolutely adores me, but I’ll settle for tolerance. LOL

 

[mamaof2dragons]

I have had Stryker for four yrs now and I have learned to read her body language and don't handle her if she is grouchy ( like when she's shedding) she will tilt to the side and be defensive. Other times she will come to me to be picked up or just be still while I take her out. I will sit on the couch with her on my chest and then she will explore the couch but she will always come back to me and climb up to my chest or shoulder and then snuggle up to my neck. I know she is happy when she does her little dragon shimmy and settles in to watch TV. (she is a couch potato )

 

[Janelle]

I love the little snuggle shimmy! Jayne will do that at night, when I have her wrapped in her blanket and snuggling her to sleep. She wiggles down deep, and I love it!

 

[Hdrydr31]

My late female Izzy LOVED to be on my chest or watching TV from her basking spot. I could take her anywhere..
my youngest male will put up with hanging out on me if things are quite and he was in a lazy mood but if it was really sunny or busy he doesn't...
My oldest male does NOT enjoy just hanging out on me if he is out of his tank he wants to explore period.. However if it's close to his bedtime he will cuddle under a blanket.

 

[Janelle]

Jayne walked onto my hand today!!! She was glass surfing, and I figured she maybe wanted out to explore. So I just payed my hand down in her tank, and she came over and climbed right onto it!

 

[PatsyB]

Jayne walked onto my hand today!!! She was glass surfing, and I figured she maybe wanted out to explore. So I just payed my hand down in her tank, and she came over and climbed right onto it!

That's such a great feeling!