Hi All! TwoDog and I were at a county fair the other day, when we came upon the Pocket Pets folks. This post isn't about their business practices (let's not get into it), but about how incredibly well-socialized their "display" gliders are.

Much like the first time I encountered PP at a fair and decided to adopt the two I have now, these handlers each had exceptionally docile gliders that they handed around to the horde of fair-goers constantly.

Now, I don't know about all of you, but that wouldn't fly with my gliders. Mine won't even sit still for me! The PP gliders were casually passed hand to hand among so many strangers, but they didn't seem stressed by the situation.

We asked one of the handlers how long he and his little critter had been together - which was only 3 weeks. The glider was three years old. They appeared fully bonded, but then... that glider kinda looked fully bonded with each passing stranger as well.

I don't know what method they use, but somehow PP trains their marketing gliders to happily go to anyone, anywhere, any time. I imagine that they must have a number of different people handling them every day to keep the gliders accustomed to all that touching...?

Does anyone here have personal experience with such well-socialized gliders? I'm just wondering what it takes to get to that level of socialization.

Looking from the outside I too would be amazed by gliders being handled his way and possibly a tiny bit envious. But in reality I'd be a nervous wreck when a stranger was holding one of my gliders. I do have to say though, while reading your post Stef, I too wondered if they could have been drugged to act and be so docile with so many people. Like Karen said, just a feeling and no proof, and definitely sad if so.

I consider my trio to be fairly bonded to me and my husband but when our kids come around they get skiddish and jumpy and thats just because of the noise and movements they may make. I couldn't imagine how they'd be with dozens of people around.

Yea, the thought of sedatives did cross my mind.

We also noticed that both display gliders were considerably smaller than our gliders (ours at barely a year old), and their fur wasn't nearly as smooth and soft as ours. Other than that, they seemed healthy and alert - even if oddly well behaved.

Those gliders are supposed to be their personal pets.

I know I could do that with Gizmo and Tucker, they were very bonded to me.

Hmmmmm.

Doesn't Mechnut have a retired PP demo glider? From when the pets tore he worked at a while ago? He might be able to shed some light...

This reminds me a little about how franchises work. I mean, I'm not saying that PP is franchised, I really don't know. But, They have the umbrella company, but different people run their business how they want to pretty much, as long as they keep within their "standards" or something. So it may be possible that some PP sales reps use personal pets and others don't just verbalizing possibilities here. Anyway, I can't say I've seen enough PP demonstrations to really know for sure. I've seen two of them in my lifetime, and neither was for very long. The last time though, I did question the size of the glider because I thought it was a joey and he told me it was an adult. I don't really remember what he said about the diet verbatim, but I'm sure he mentioned he didn't offer their "Glider Gravy" to his glider's diet.