Chinchilla desperately trying to escape

[kaylamg2014]

Hello,
My chinchilla has started to develop an unwanted behavior. Every time I open his cage door, he tries to escape. He will start scratching at my hand and doing everything to push his way out of the door. It's starting to make feeding him and other things difficult to do.

I'm trying to open his door more to just pet him, but he still seems interested in just running around the house (I don't have issues getting him back in the cage after play time). Any suggestions on how to reduce this behavior?

 

[hmccoll13]

Any time you open the door, if he tries to escape, close the door and wait 5 seconds, then open it again. If he continues to try escape, once again close the door and wait. Repeat this until he starts being calmer when you open the door. Also be sure to reward him with praise, pellets, treats, and/or play time when he does sit and wait patiently when you have the door open!