That picture is a disaster waiting to happen. Dogs and tortoises should not be left together, there are any amount of horror stories about many horrible outcomes. They are NOT friends!
My Sulcata Pees When Held
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
Could be worse ... the dog could pee haha
mswolfgram
New Member
My dog injured my tortoise and it was horrific, he took her right out of the enclosure. Please be careful they had played together many many times before the accident.
chartle
New Member
I think they pee when they have to! We hold our 2 all the time and once in a while they pee, I put a towel under their rear parts when holding them! Ours loves to be held, they will come over and hit their shell on your foot when they want up!
I agree with @wellington, but want to add a few more comments.
Try talking to your tortoise... Think sweet-talking. Nice and mellow, nothing abrupt. It doesn't matter what you say, just say it calmly and nice-like. (Tell him what's on the menu today, why he needs a soak, what the weather is like outside, what errands you need to run, etc.) That gives the tortoise a little more warning about being picked up.
The other thing is, if at all possible, try to hold him with his feet resting on your hands or something solid. It doesn't feel like flying if your feet are on something solid.
Try to hold your tortoise with his plastron parallel to the floor (horizontal). That way he stays right side up, in the orientation he is most comfortable with. My turtles are definitely more restless when I hold them vertically.
My mud turtles usually protest when I pick them up and take them out of their enclosure. Holding each turtle in a paper towel (centered at the back end/vent) helps to contain the poop-in-protest and protects my hands from those surprisingly strong jaws -- at the end of those surprisingly long necks!
Try talking to your tortoise... Think sweet-talking. Nice and mellow, nothing abrupt. It doesn't matter what you say, just say it calmly and nice-like. (Tell him what's on the menu today, why he needs a soak, what the weather is like outside, what errands you need to run, etc.) That gives the tortoise a little more warning about being picked up.
The other thing is, if at all possible, try to hold him with his feet resting on your hands or something solid. It doesn't feel like flying if your feet are on something solid.
Try to hold your tortoise with his plastron parallel to the floor (horizontal). That way he stays right side up, in the orientation he is most comfortable with. My turtles are definitely more restless when I hold them vertically.
My mud turtles usually protest when I pick them up and take them out of their enclosure. Holding each turtle in a paper towel (centered at the back end/vent) helps to contain the poop-in-protest and protects my hands from those surprisingly strong jaws -- at the end of those surprisingly long necks!
Chubbs the tegu
Well-Known Member
I tried those techniques with all my kids when they were babies .. still ended up changing diapers all day pfft
C. Nelson
Active Member
Ha HA! I love that I'm not the only crazy person that talks to tortoises.
My Male hingebacks will often make a nasty mess when carried from the sink to their place so I simply hold them with my hand on/under their tail end. They usually pull in their tail and usually don't mess that way but if they do anyway at least it's not on the floor or my foot.
I had to wash my hands afterwards anyway.
I had to wash my hands afterwards anyway.
Hitting your foot is more likely saying "move right along out of my space!" Not asking to be picked up...! But anyway...
lucky you never held an asian leaf turtle in hand. it can squirts a stream of high pressure liquid poop right on your face
