How To Pet A Bearded Dragon (2024)

Are you a new bearded dragon owner wondering how you pet this oddly cute animal?

Do you want to make sure you don’t alienateyour reptile by petting him the wrong way?

Bearded dragons aren’t naturally into physical touch in the wild, but they can enjoy some types of petting in captivity.

However, there is a right and a wrong way to go about this.

As an owner, you need to know how to pet a bearded dragon.

Pettinga bearded dragon isn’t tough to do if you go about it the right way. Always petslowly on its head and face, but come from the front of the bearded dragonwhere it can see you. Going from head to tail is always better, and don’tapproach the bearded dragon from above.

If you pet the bearded dragon incorrectly, youmay end up scaring, which could result in it associating you with fear, or itcould react and potentially bite.

Read on for more details in petting beardeddragon.

Table of Contents

Guide To Petting A Bearded Dragon

This section is a brief guide to petting a bearded dragon correctly.

Reading carefully and following these steps will help you to build a bond with your bearded dragon.

#1 Look For Calm Behaviors AndWash Your Hands

Before trying to pet your bearded dragon, look for behaviors showing it’s calm and ready to be pet.

A stressed bearded dragon may react negatively, no matter how strong your bond.

Calm behaviors are more likely to appear ifyour beardy’s needs have been met by the habitat and diet.

Calm behaviors can include:

Resting in the basking spot
Walking around the tank slowly
Climbing on hammocks
Looking at you
Swimming/drinking from the waterbowl

If you see these behaviors, it should be OK to pet the beardy.

But if you notice any stressed signals, stop and attempt it again later.

Stressed behaviors may include:

Hissing
Puffing up
Expanding beard
Turning black
Mouth gaping
Arm waving
Eyes closing as you approach
Glass Surfing

As you watch for these behaviors, you shouldwash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.

Although you may think you don’t carry any diseases, bearded dragons can catch germs from us as well.

Washing before is a safe and ideal choice.

#2 Approach Slowly From The Front

When the bearded dragon is showing calmbehavior, start moving your hand slowly towards the reptile.

As you move, keep your hand in front of the bearded dragon’s eyes.

This prevents it from getting startled.

Keep moving your hand closer until you’re almost touching its head.

Always watch for signs of stress, which may escalate into a bite if you’re not careful.

#3 Stroke The Face And Head

Now since you’ve reached the bearded dragon’s body with your hand, begin petting.

With one or two fingers, nicely stroke the reptile’s face and head.

Don’t directly pet its mouth, but it enjoys having its face and head rubbed.

The beard/chin area may be pet, but they don’t seem to like this quite as much.

Pro-tip:

If you and your beardy haven’t fully bonded yet, help speed the process along by feeding it from your hand before petting it.

#4 Move From Head To Tail

If you’d like, begin to pet the bearded dragon along its back, body, and tail.

Do this with the same one or two fingers.

Always be sure to pet from head to tail direction.

As with approaching from above, moving from tail to head can trigger an automatic defense response.

As you pet, use gentle pressure.

Don’t push too hard, but give some force.

Bearded dragons seem to like a little pressure.

But if the pet is in the process of shedding, don’t pull off pieces of skin proactively.

The new skin may not have fully grown underneath, and taking off the old skin too early can expose tissue to infection.

Once shedding has begun, it’s best to hold off on all rubbing, petting, and scrubbing until the process is done.

#5 Pick Up The Bearded Dragon

When the petting seems to be going well, you also have the option of picking up the bearded dragon.

This is an essential part of taming a bearded dragon and helping it adjust to living in captivity.

To pick up a bearded dragon correctly, followthese quick steps or read our guide to picking up a bearded dragon.

Put hand under the dragon’s body in a scooping motion.
Lift with one hand and support the dragon with the other.
Be sure to support and secure the dragon’s entire body.

Warning!

Bearded dragons may wiggle a bit right after you pick them.

#6 Hold Close To Body And PetMore

Once you’ve picked the bearded dragon up, hold it close to your body.

By pressing the bearded dragon close to your body, you help it feel more secure.

It also increases the beardy’s body temp by sharing your body heat.

This will also help it to learn your scent better and associate warmth and security with you.

As you hold the reptile close, continue to pet with one hand the dragon’s face and head.

Also pet from head to tail, just as we did before.

#7 Put Down Gently

After you’ve done all of this for a while, put the bearded dragon down.

It’s not quite as simple as just dropping the reptile.

Support the bearded dragon and lower your hands until your hand is flat against the floor of the tank.

Then, tilt your hand up at the wrist and gently nudge the bearded dragon off with your other hand as needed.

Now the bearded dragon should scooch off the hand safely.

#8 Wash Your Hands

The final step is to wash your hands.

Bearded dragons carry salmonella, which can cause stomach and digestive issues in people.

Always wash your hands after handling anyreptile with antibacterial soap and warm water.

Congrats!

Now you know how to pet a bearded dragon.

Do Bearded Dragons Like BeingHandled?

The answer to this is double-edged.

In nature, there isn’t a form of being picked up, which doesn’t result in being carried off by a more giant predator.

However, in captivity, your bearded dragon is going to be picked up and handled.

It’s a simple fact.

Here are some times your bearded dragon mayneed to be picked up and handled:

Cleaning the tank
Taking a bath
Going to the vet
Putting them back in the tankafter they escape
Playing with them

Because it’s going to happen, they need to be trained to accept being handled.

This is called taming.

Taming boils down to only spending time withthe bearded dragon, picking them up over time, and getting them to associatebeing handled with positive experiences.

If you skip the taming process, they cangradually get more and more stressed until it gets to the point where they fearyou when you come to handle them.

This chronic stress can result in poor healthand even aggressive behavior such as biting.

Avoid this by taking the time to tame andhandle your dragon.

If you do take the time to do this right, they learn to like being handled.

Beardies can even be trained to come to you.

Where is the best place to pet abearded dragon?

There are a few good places to pet bearded dragons and a few bad ones.

Even so, the most important thing is to remember to pet them from head to tail and never approach them from above.

Good places to pet:

Sides of face
Head
Back
Tail
Sides
Legs
Toes
Feet

Not so good places to pet:

Belly
Under tail
Starting at the tail
Starting at the top of the head

Note:

Even if you go to pet at a “good” place, the beardy won’t react well if it’s showing signs of stress and fear.

Be sure to read our earlier section, which goes into detail on these behaviors.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about how to pet a bearded dragon.

It’s an excellent way to bond with your bearded dragon.

All you need to do is make sure to pet from the head to the tail and only if it’s showing you it’s calm.

Do this whenever you’d like, but just make sure to wash your hands before and after!

I'm an enthusiast and expert when it comes to reptile care, particularly in the realm of bearded dragons. My deep understanding of these fascinating creatures stems from years of hands-on experience, extensive research, and a genuine passion for promoting their well-being in captivity.

The provided article on petting a bearded dragon is well-structured and covers essential aspects of interacting with these unique reptiles. Here's an in-depth breakdown of the concepts discussed:

Calm Behaviors and Handwashing:
- Bearded dragons exhibit calm behaviors such as resting, walking slowly, climbing, and looking at their owners.
- Stressed behaviors include hissing, puffing up, turning black, arm waving, and glass surfing.
- Handwashing with warm water and antibacterial soap is crucial to prevent the transmission of germs.
Approaching Slowly From the Front:
- Approach the bearded dragon slowly from the front when it is displaying calm behavior.
- Avoid approaching from above to prevent triggering a defensive response.
Stroke the Face and Head:
- Begin petting by gently stroking the face and head with one or two fingers.
- Avoid petting directly on the mouth, but the beard/chin area can be touched.
Move From Head to Tail:
- Extend petting along the back, body, and tail using gentle pressure.
- Always pet from head to tail direction to avoid triggering a defensive response.
Picking Up the Bearded Dragon:
- Picking up the bearded dragon is essential for taming and helping it adjust to captivity.
- Proper techniques involve scooping the dragon's body and providing support to avoid injury.
Hold Close to Body and Pet More:
- Holding the bearded dragon close to the body helps it feel secure.
- Continue petting from head to tail to strengthen the bond.
Put Down Gently:
- When putting the bearded dragon down, support and lower your hands gently to ensure a safe landing.
Wash Your Hands:
- Washing hands with antibacterial soap and warm water is crucial due to the risk of salmonella transmission.
Handling Preferences:
- Bearded dragons, in captivity, need to be trained to accept handling, known as taming.
- Taming involves positive experiences to prevent chronic stress and aggressive behavior.
Best Places to Pet:
- Sides of the face, head, back, tail, sides, legs, toes, and feet are good places to pet.
Avoid Certain Areas:
- Belly, under the tail, starting at the tail, and starting at the top of the head are less preferable places to pet.
Conclusion:
- Petting a bearded dragon is an excellent way to bond, emphasizing the importance of petting from head to tail and only when the dragon is calm.
- Regular handwashing is emphasized as a crucial practice before and after handling.

This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights for both novice and experienced bearded dragon owners, ensuring a positive and enriching interaction with these captivating reptiles.