Look the expression in that eye. Where is the round, cute, perky eye of a tegu? This is nothing like what I bargained for at all. And although this blog was meant to share the experience of someone coming into the world of tegu ownership and all of its wonders, a good part of it was to also show it's not always what you see online. It's not always about owning a chill, scaled puppy dog to pal around with. In fact when you first invite a scaled friend into your life, especially one who is very young or one that is not very tame and settled ... it is rarely the case. This can really throw a new owner into despair. They can feel like they've failed, or that they've chosen the "wrong" tegu. And therefore they feel trapped and wonder if this is as good as it gets, and this will be life with a tegu for the rest of time. Sometimes they might even wonder if they will have to face the choice of rehoming because it's not in them to have a spirited or difficult tegu. But this is not the case most of the time. It does get better. And most have told me, it always gets better. But when you are barraged by owners with the "perfect pet" online and/or see them when you go out, its nearly impossible to stay positive and feel confident that things will turn out alright.
I got so caught up with my excitement of getting my tegu, which is good, that I started to forget one of the reasons for this blog. And that was to show "all" of the experience when you are brand new to tegu ownership, not just the fun parts. So I am making up for it now.
So far, my tegu bonding and taming experience has been 2 steps forward and 1 step back the majority of the time. Some days are bad. Real bad. Because those days it's 1 step forward and 2 steps back. And too many days just seem like ... well 1 1/2 steps forward. I've grown tired of reaching out to owner after owner asking if this is what it's supposed to be like at first and how long will it last. Because I've heard of everything from, "I wouldn't know because mine calmed down within the first weeks", to "I've had mine for two years now and it's still like this. It might be their personality and this is what mine will be like. Which is fine with me". Sigh. It may not be fine for me if I don't adjust to that personality type and behavior. I'm coming to finally accept the fact that each experience, each individual lizard is different. I need to just go with what I have, follow advice of others to improve the taming, and stop comparing. But it's hard, because I had a dream. And so far, I'm only drifting in and out of sleep just shy of that dream.
Kaiju is not like many other tegu's. On the other hand she is also like many other tegus. She is full of curiosity, stubbornness and energy. She does not like being picked up, but tolerates it. Sometimes. If she so happens to not want to be picked up at that particular time, or sees something she does not like while I'm holding her, or is being held "too long" for her liking ... there is hell to pay. There is wiggling. Then clawing. Then thrashing. And lastly alligator rolling. At which point, you hope to gosh that when you've lost the battle, you can get her down close enough to the ground so that when she leaps out of your arms she will not kill herself. The you have to explain to others you are not a cutter, you just own a mini dinosaur and hope that they believe you.
Kaiju hates strangers. She hates a lot of commotion and sounds as well. So I have yet to be able to take her out to show even my closest friend who comes here at least once a week under the most calm of circumstances and are quiet. For someone that wanted to let her play in the yard, take walks, and sun with me let alone travel to the local store or park, that's more than just difficult. With my impatience, its excruciating.
My husband is even worse. He walks about pitifully muttering "she hates me". We both know that's not really true. And we both know we are being ridiculous with our expectations. But what the head tells you often does not eclipse what the heart feels. And that's the battle for some new owners.
Chin up ...
[soon to come, a video of her true behavior]
I got so caught up with my excitement of getting my tegu, which is good, that I started to forget one of the reasons for this blog. And that was to show "all" of the experience when you are brand new to tegu ownership, not just the fun parts. So I am making up for it now.
So far, my tegu bonding and taming experience has been 2 steps forward and 1 step back the majority of the time. Some days are bad. Real bad. Because those days it's 1 step forward and 2 steps back. And too many days just seem like ... well 1 1/2 steps forward. I've grown tired of reaching out to owner after owner asking if this is what it's supposed to be like at first and how long will it last. Because I've heard of everything from, "I wouldn't know because mine calmed down within the first weeks", to "I've had mine for two years now and it's still like this. It might be their personality and this is what mine will be like. Which is fine with me". Sigh. It may not be fine for me if I don't adjust to that personality type and behavior. I'm coming to finally accept the fact that each experience, each individual lizard is different. I need to just go with what I have, follow advice of others to improve the taming, and stop comparing. But it's hard, because I had a dream. And so far, I'm only drifting in and out of sleep just shy of that dream.
Kaiju is not like many other tegu's. On the other hand she is also like many other tegus. She is full of curiosity, stubbornness and energy. She does not like being picked up, but tolerates it. Sometimes. If she so happens to not want to be picked up at that particular time, or sees something she does not like while I'm holding her, or is being held "too long" for her liking ... there is hell to pay. There is wiggling. Then clawing. Then thrashing. And lastly alligator rolling. At which point, you hope to gosh that when you've lost the battle, you can get her down close enough to the ground so that when she leaps out of your arms she will not kill herself. The you have to explain to others you are not a cutter, you just own a mini dinosaur and hope that they believe you.
Kaiju hates strangers. She hates a lot of commotion and sounds as well. So I have yet to be able to take her out to show even my closest friend who comes here at least once a week under the most calm of circumstances and are quiet. For someone that wanted to let her play in the yard, take walks, and sun with me let alone travel to the local store or park, that's more than just difficult. With my impatience, its excruciating.
My husband is even worse. He walks about pitifully muttering "she hates me". We both know that's not really true. And we both know we are being ridiculous with our expectations. But what the head tells you often does not eclipse what the heart feels. And that's the battle for some new owners.
Chin up ...
[soon to come, a video of her true behavior]