Have your new pets' home set up in advance of their arrival. Give your dormice a day or two to become adjusted to the new surroundings. While they are still confined to the cage, offer them fruit cocktail from your hand. Let your dormice lick the juice off your fingers. During this time, talk to your pets gently. While your dormice eat, softly pet and scratch them. When you first start handling your dormice, do it over the tank to prevent escapes. Do this until you feel comfortable with each other. If the dormice run up your arm, gently cup your hand over the animals and return them to your palm. With time, your pets willl run up and down your arm, hide in your pockets and crawl through your hair. Soon everyone in your family can spend time with the dormice.

Remember to use slow movements. Fast motions tend to startle the animal, thinking you intend to make it food. Gain their trust, and soon you can move about normally. Because of their small size, parents need to supervise young children while handling the pets.

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