Dante's Page
When Dante came to live with us in July 1997, he was 1-1/2 years old and had a reputation as an incorrigible hufflebutt. He seemed bound and determined to keep up that reputation, so I just let him free range on the hedgeroom floor. If we saw him out, he would immediately ball up and refuse to come out. I would leave him treats, so that he would know that we meant well, and would often go ahead and pick him up and just sit with him in my lap, under a towel so he could feel safe. We knew we were making progress one day when he not only came out from under the towel, but annointed in full view. We knew more progress was being made a few months later when I was sitting on the hedgeroom floor and out came Dante, ducking and snuffling his way across the room! I sat still and waited for him to come to me, and he slowly did. Then he stopped, poked me in the knee with his nose, and ducked and snuffled several times. I gave him some treats, he ate them secretively, then ducked and snuffled back behind the cages. That was the beginning of a new life for Dante! Soon after that, he began coming out to inspect anyone who entered the hedgeroom, and earned the nickname "Dante the Shoe Nibbler" because he really likes to climb on peoples' shoes and annoint on them! He is still easily startled, but boy has Dante made progress! He is chocolate colored, and his IHR registration number is #934.
Dante has nibbled on 
pairs of shoes.
