How to Tame a Hedgehog

Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: October 2, 2022 References Approved

Hedgehogs are known for their distinctive snouts, round ears, and prickly quills. They make great pets, but before you can enjoy everything your pet hedgehog has to offer, you’ll need to tame it. Taming is the process of training your hedgehog to feel comfortable around you. Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can win your hedgehog’s trust and affection, like getting it used to your smell, giving it treats, and avoiding things that will scare it off.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Your Hedgehog Used to Your Smell

1
Handle your hedgehog every day so it gets used to your smell. Hedgehogs don’t have the best eyesight, so they rely heavily on smell to identify people and other animals. Once your hedgehog gets used to your smell, it will start to recognize you and feel more comfortable in your presence.^{[1]
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- To handle your hedgehog, gently pick it up by scooping your hand under its belly and lifting it up. Then, you can hold your hedgehog in your hands, or sit down and let it rest in your lap.^{[2]
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- Try to handle your hedgehog for at least 30 minutes every day while you’re trying to tame it.
2
Avoid wearing protective gloves when you hold your hedgehog. Wearing gloves when you handle your hedgehog will make it harder for your hedgehog to smell your hands and get used to you. Even though hedgehogs have pointy quills, they’re not sharp enough to hurt you, so you can safely handle them without gloves.^{[3]
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- If you’re still worried about getting poked by your hedgehog’s quills, try wearing gloves just when you take it out of its cage. Then, take the gloves off and hold your hedgehog with bare hands once it’s more relaxed.
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3
Put an old piece of your clothing in your hedgehog’s cage. Any old, unwashed shirt or pair of pants will work. The goal is to introduce your smell into your hedgehog’s cage so your hedgehog gets more used to it.^{[4]
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- Make sure the piece of clothing doesn’t have any loose zippers, buttons, or strings that your hedgehog could injure itself with.
4
Avoid wearing scented products while you’re taming your hedgehog. The key to taming your hedgehog is getting it comfortable with your smell, so you don’t want to confuse it by wearing a variety of scented products. Avoid any scented body washes, lotions, perfumes, or hair products until your hedgehog is more comfortable around you.^{[5]
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- When you’re shopping for hygiene and beauty products, look for ones that say “fragrance-free” on the label.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Giving Your Hedgehog Treats

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Give your hedgehog treats whenever it uncurls from a ball. When hedgehogs feel scared or threatened, they curl up in a ball. When your hedgehog uncurls from a ball in your hands or on your lap, it means it’s feeling safe, so you’ll want to reward that behavior by giving it a treat. Over time, your hedgehog will start to associate spending time with you with safety and rewards.^{[6]
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- Keep the treats nearby when you’re handling your hedgehog so you’re able to quickly reward it.
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Provide treats that hedgehogs love as rewards. One of the best ways to win your hedgehog's trust and affection is to use treats that it will love and want more of. Since hedgehogs are insectivores (insect eaters) in the wild, freeze-dried crickets and mealworms are a great treat to use while you’re taming your hedgehog.^{[7]
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- You can find freeze-dried crickets and mealworms online or at your local pet store.
- If you don’t want to use crickets and mealworms, you can give your hedgehog small pieces of fruits and vegetables like corn, apples, and carrots.
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Avoid giving your hedgehog too many treats. Hedgehogs are susceptible to obesity, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not giving your hedgehog too many treats. While you’re taming your hedgehog, stick with 2-3 treats per handling session.^{[8]
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- If your hedgehog looks like it’s gaining a lot of weight, reduce the number of treats you’re giving it every day.
- If you can still see your hedgehog's face, ears, or feet when it curls up in a ball, it's a sign that your hedgehog is overweight.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Scaring Your Hedgehog

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Don’t cast a shadow over your hedgehog when you pick it up. Since hedgehogs don’t have the best eyesight, they’re more sensitive to bright lights and shadows. When you’re picking up your hedgehog, try not to cast a shadow over it or you could scare it. You want your hedgehog to feel as safe and calm as possible while you’re working on taming it.^{[10]
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- To avoid casting a shadow over your hedgehog, be mindful of nearby lights. For example, if there’s a lamp next to your hedgehog’s cage, avoid standing in front of it when you’re picking your hedgehog up.
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Avoid making loud noises when you’re handling your hedgehog. Just like with bright lights and shadows, hedgehogs are sensitive to loud noises. You don’t want your hedgehog to get scared while you’re holding it, so try to stay as calm and quiet as possible.^{[11]
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- Avoid yelling, listening to loud music, slamming cabinets or door, or dropping things while you're holding your hedgehog.
3
Let your hedgehog get comfortable with you on its own time. Trying to rush the taming process with your hedgehog will only make it take longer. Don’t force your hedgehog to give you attention or it will feel scared and threatened. Instead, give your hedgehog plenty of time to get used to your smell and company. Eventually, it will feel safe around you!