Grumpy Hedgehog?

[HannahHedgie11]

My hedgehog Smoochie always seems to hiss and growl at me. She's still young (seven months) and I've had her for four months. I hang out with her a lot and try to bond with her as much as I can but she doesn't ever seem like she wants me to hold her. She is always hissing at me!! Is she always grumpy? When I first got her she didn't hiss that much. I feed her and clean her cage regularly! What is wrong with her? Or me?

[giry76]

When do you take her out? I try to wait till the eveing to bring Doris out. We brought her out this morning and she was very grumpy, but in the evenings she is pretty good.

[Love4Hedgies]

Some hedgies are just on the grumpy side. Of my three, I have one that always hisses at me when I pick her up. After a while she calms down and sits nice and just likes to be loved. But at any sudden movement she hisses. I just refer to her as a nervous hedgie. Yours may be like that too.

What you can try is getting her out in the evening in either a blinky or hedgie bag and let her burrow on your lap. This may make her feel more comfy. Try feeding her treats out of your hand and talk to her.

Good luck!!

[HannahHedgie11]

Oh yeah, she is sorta like that. Once I take her out of her cage it takes a little while to settle down, and she does always hiss whenever I move my hand. Thanks! I just wish she wouldn't be so nervous most of the time!

[Love4Hedgies]

It can be difficult but you have to love what you have! I just have gotten used to my Zoe being a little huffle butt. She still loves to snuggle and her quills are down most of the time. She just doesn't like fast movement. You have to remember, hedgie have poor eye sight too so this plays a little factor in that as well. Seems like you are doing everything right. Get her out in the evening though, that is when she will be the most relaxed! :)