If you’re the type of person that prefers scaly skin to furry paws, then it only makes sense that you should own a bearded dragon! These mellow and well-mannered reptiles are known for being very calm, and love to explore their surroundings in between periods of relaxation.
Even though your bearded dragon might look a little different from your usual household pet, that doesn’t mean that you can’t bond with them. In fact, bearded dragons are known for their love of being petted, and have even been known to go to their owner for cuddles from time to time.
Though it’s no secret that bearded dragons are by no means the most sociable of all animals, it is possible to build a bond with them, and bearded dragons tend to form emotional attachments to their owner that last the entirety of their lives!
Once a connection has been formed, bearded dragons love to cuddle, play and show affection towards their owners.
Whether you’ve recently bought your very first bearded dragon, or your bearded dragon has been part of the family for years and you simply want to improve your bond, petting is a great way to help relax a bearded dragon at the end of the day, help them to feel comforted in stressful situations and, of course, as a way to help get your bearded dragon to trust in you.
In this guide below, we’re going to be talking you through everything you need to know when it comes to petting your bearded dragon.
From the most comfortable areas for your bearded dragon, the different ways that you can pet them, all the way to helpful insights on how to handle your bearded dragon correctly – we’ve made sure to cover all bases to make your bearded dragon petting sessions safe and enjoyable for the both of you. Read on.
Do Bearded Dragons Like To Be Pet?
There’s a very common misconception that bearded dragons do not like to be petted or interacted with, and this couldn’t be further from the truth! Bearded dragons are one of the most sociable of all reptiles, and love to spend time with people that they trust, especially their owners.
They’re generally well-mannered and are very mellow, which means that, in between periods of chilling out and sleeping, they like to fill the remaining portion of their days exploring their surroundings, playing and, you guessed it, spending time interacting with their owners!
Sure, even though bearded dragons are by no means the most sociable and demanding of all animals, many bearded dragons do enjoy being petted, especially very gently on the head.
So much so, then when bearded dragons are being petted, they will often close their eyes and sometimes even drift off to sleep, although this will rely on a number of different factors.
Generally speaking, for a bearded dragon to want to be pet by its owner, the bond shared between them will have to be very strong, otherwise, the bearded dragon may become fearful and lash out.
However, for the most part, it has been shown that the majority of bearded dragons do enjoy the occasional pet here and there.
If a person has become a big part of a bearded dragon’s daily routine and life, then the lizard will begin to enjoy being around its owner’s presence, and it is very common for bearded dragons to be affectionate and loving.
Not only that, but when a trusting relationship has been established, it is not out of the ordinary for a bearded dragon to go searching for its owner around the home to seek out playtime and cuddles.
Nevertheless, for the reasons we touched upon above, we do recommend that you exercise caution when petting your bearded dragon, especially if you’re planning on petting your one for the very first time.
To ensure the safety of both you and your bearded dragon, ensure that you are observing the body language of your bearded dragon while you are petting it.
If it closes its eyes and sinks down in a state of relaxation, then this is a positive indication that your bearded dragon is enjoying being petted by you.
In addition to this, if your bearded dragon is trying to lick your hand while you are petting then this is another positive sign that your bearded dragon is enjoying the petting session, as licking in bearded dragons is a surefire sign of affection.
While petting your bearded dragon, if you need some additional confirmation that it is enjoying you smoothing its head or belly, then slowly move your hand away and stop petting for a few moments.
If your bearded dragon opens its eyes and moves closer to you, then this is a sign that your bearded dragon wants you to continue on with the petting.
How To Pet Your Bearded Dragon:
Step One: Let Your Bearded Dragon Get Used To Your Presence
As we mentioned above, most bearded dragons like to be handled by their owners, especially when there is a good level of trust there.
If you’ve recently introduced a bearded dragon into your home, then we don’t recommend trying to pick your bearded dragon up straight away, as this could cause it to become fearful and try to bite you.
Instead, we recommend that you start slowly, and simply begin by walking up to your bearded dragon’s cage.
To help ease your bearded dragon into being petted, we recommend that for the first few petting sessions you actually refrain from touching your bearded dragon, and instead opt to simply spend some time near your bearded dragon, so that it can have the chance to get used to your presence.
As we’re sure you already know, bearded dragons love spending time with their owners, so initially choosing to keep your bearded dragon company will help to establish a connection, and your bearded dragon will look forward to your visits.
Step Two: Open The Cage
After you have established trust with your bearded dragon, the next step will be to open your bearded dragon’s cage and begin attempting to pet it.
To do this, begin by approaching your bearded dragon’s cage as you normally would, kneeling down next to the cage so that your bearded dragon can see you.
After a few moments of talking to your bearded dragon as normal, proceed to gently lift open the cage door, making sure to do this nice and slowly.
To help relax your bearded dragon as you place your hand inside the cage, we recommend holding a treat which you can then give to your bearded dragon.
After your bearded dragon takes the treat from your hand, you can then slowly and gently lift your hand up and over its face, so that you can then begin slowly petting its head.
Begin gently petting your bearded dragon from the top of its head, all the way down to its tail, making sure that you are observing body language all the while.
For the next few petting sessions, we recommend sticking to petting your bearded dragon from inside the cage, where it feels most comfortable in its surroundings.
Each time that you visit your bearded dragon, you should notice that he is becoming more and more comfortable with you handling and touching his head and tail, and you may even find that your bearded dragon begins to approach you in anticipation of getting petted.
If you are beginning to notice that your bearded dragon is becoming happy and excited when you approach the cage, then this is a sign that it’s a good time to open up the cage door and allow your bearded dragon to approach you.
To safely do this, begin by approaching your bearded dragon’s cage and greet him as usual. Then, whenever you feel comfortable doing so, slowly open up the cage door and begin moving back into the room, settling down on the floor at a little distance from your bearded dragon.
You should find that your bearded dragon curiously steps out of his cage and begins walking towards you.
However, if he is a little shy, then we recommend feeding him a treat prior to opening the door and then having another treat in your hand to help encourage your bearded dragon to walk over to you.
Once your bearded dragon has approached you, begin gently petting his head, back, and tail.
As a side note, you should only ever pet your bearded dragon in a head-to-tail direction, rather than a tail-to-head direction. If you try to pet your bearded dragon by starting off with his tail, then this could cause him to become fearful and anxious.
Step Three: Pick Your Bearded Dragon Up
Allowing your bearded dragon to freely interact with you in an open living space is a fantastic way to build trust levels in each of you.
So, as soon as you and your bearded dragon have both started to become comfortable in each other’s presence and interacting together, you can then move to the next level of picking your bearded dragon up.
Once you are ready to pick your bearded dragon up for the first time, gently place your hand underneath your bearded dragon’s belly. For a few moments, gently stroke your bearded dragon’s belly so that he can relax and become comfortable.
Then, in one gentle motion, pick your bearded dragon up and place him on your chest. As a side note, if you have a baby bearded dragon, we recommend that you place one hand under the belly of your dragon, and one hand under the chin to help put the baby at ease.
Bearded dragons love warm spaces and to feel safe, so the best place to position your bearded dragon while you hold him is to gently place him down on your chest, so it’s a good idea to prop yourself against a wall.
While you are holding your bearded dragon, it’s important to make sure that you are speaking softly and not making sudden movements that could cause your bearded dragon to become distressed.
All the while, it’s also very important to make sure that you are constantly keeping an eye on how your bearded dragon is feeling.
If you’re noticing that your bearded dragon is upset, place him back into his cage, or allow him to explore his surroundings a little bit more.
Petting Your Bearded Dragon: What To Keep In Mind
Petting your bearded dragon should be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for both you and your bearded dragon, although there are a few things that you should keep in mind before, during, and after.
First things first, you should make sure that you thoroughly wash your hands prior to handling your bearded dragon, as well as thoroughly washing your hands once again after you have finished petting and cuddling him.
Additionally, if your bearded dragon has bitten or scratched you, you should also take great care to clean and disinfect the wound.
Before petting your bearded dragon, make sure that your home is quiet, and that other family members know that they are not to make any loud noises or shout during the petting session, as this could cause your bearded dragon to become distressed.
Alongside this, you should also make sure that you are constantly checking the body language of your bearded dragon. If you are noticing signs of stress or fear, you should immediately place your bearded dragon back in its cage, where it will feel comfortable.