lol...tom... had to read that like 4 times before I got it.

Tom, sometimes pet stores won't/can't pass out info packets like that unless they come from or are signed off on by a vet... would your vet (or yours, Bitsy) do that? I think it would be fabulous if we could get those things into the hands of everyone who took a glider home. That would make me one very happy girl! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Oh you guys!! English teacher's nightmare!! LOL!!

24 pages is a good size for info packet!

I used to work in a couple of pet stores. I don't agree with selling gliders in a pet store, but in this case I think it is an exception. I also used to take my fatty, Igor to work with me everydaya and it drummed up a lot of business for the local breeder. Anyway, I think that a vet approved care packet of info is a great idea. A lot of times, a pet stor employee doesn't have the time to explain in great detail the amount of care required for such unusual pets, so I think that that would be a great help. It is also good that you give out your number for people to ask questions.

I think it is extremely important that a glider gets used to being handled by humans at an early age. It is much easier to do when they are young since they aren't spunky enough to get up and run away and leave you chasing them across a room! Since it exists to be a pet, then humans are a part of it's reality that it should be exposed to as early as possible. It will learn to trust human hands and see them as a source of good things like food, warmth, safety, play. It doesn't have to involve much more than a quick daily checkup. At the least, I check weights on mine every day or so to make sure progress is being made and I handle each one for a few minutes afterwards and let my lady hold them too. As they get older I handle them more and expose them to more aspects of human life so that they are well rounded little folks. I think that doing this leaves me with a much better feeling about selling them. I know that when the glider goes to it's new home that it will be much more likely to be loved by someone since it won't feel so threatened by people and won't be a biter. Consequently, it's life will be much more pleasant in it's new home and the transition will be easier. I think that it is also an excellent selling point (although sometimes inappropriately used) when selling joeys.

I do think that a joey can be handled too much also and that may be what the breeder fears. Some do get quite accustomed to their handler and express fear when handled by a new owner <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />

I guess one just has to find a middle ground <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />