Bearded dragons are unique and awesome pets to have. They are friendly and can tolerate humans when they are in captivity. It’s not too hard to tame and train bearded dragons.

If you’re a new owner, you should learn how to pet a reptile. It’s the best way to form a good relationship with your beardie.

Do Bearded Dragons Like to Be Pet?

Bearded dragons are solitary animals and they prefer to be alone. But the good news is, bearded dragons enjoy human interaction. They like their owners to stroke their heads, cheeks, and chin. Being held is also something that they can tolerate and enjoy as time goes by.

Sometimes, bearded dragons may try to pull away or show off a black beard. It means that it’s not yet ready to bond.

Give it some time and try again until the bearded dragon allows you to hold them. Once it’s comfortable around you, it may even get excited to see you and anticipate being handled.

1. Beardies Prefers to Be Alone

In general, bearded dragons prefer to be alone since they are solitary by nature. They don’t need to have companions and can live on their own.

The only time you can see one with another bearded dragon is during the mating season. They don’t like sharing a space with another animal.

Bearded dragons are territorial and they don’t like having a companion. They prefer to live alone in their enclosure.

Even in the wild, bearded dragons live on their own. That’s why they should also be given their own space when in captivity. Having a tank mate can cause stress to bearded dragons.

Stress can affect the bearded dragon’s health negatively. It’s best to keep bearded dragons separated from each other.

If two bearded dragons live in the same enclosure, the stronger dragon will dominate the other beardie. The weaker reptile will be constantly bullied by the other one.

2. Likes Interacting With Humans

Even if bearded dragons are solitary creatures, they are curious about humans. They will look at their owners and watch what you’re doing.

It’s a sure sign that they like spending time with humans. Beardies can also recognize you over time and even look excited whenever you approach it.

When you handle your bearded dragon, it will not move and let you take it out from the enclosure. They also like sitting on their owners’ lap and staying on your shoulder.

Bearded dragons will not show aggressive behavior while spending time with their owners. Beardies may even close their eyes and relax while being handled by their owners.

3. Different Personalities

Bearded dragons are not the same and they have their own personalities. Most beardies like being held while others don’t enjoy it.

Sometimes, bearded dragons may display aggression even with their owners. It can be caused by other bearded dragons being abused when they are still younger.

Generally, bearded dragons are friendly with humans. But others may be more temperamental than others.

It’s important to earn their trust by showing the reptile that you don’t mean them harm. Be patient if your pet seems to show aggression instead of affection. Spend more time with your pet until you have a stronger bond.

Do Bearded Dragons Like to Be Stroked?

Yes, some bearded dragons like to be stroked but some may not like it. Depending on their personality, most beardies enjoy being handled. It’s a bad idea to try to handle your bearded dragon right away. The best thing to do is to let it settle and be comfortable in its new habitat first.

Avoid holding the bearded dragon on its tail and risk hurting the reptile. It will make the dragon uncomfortable and you can’t build trust this way.

Make sure to approach the beardie’s enclosure slowly and avoid making quick movements. Don’t stand above the tank to avoid intimidating it.

Bearded dragons are territorial and they may attack you for trying to invade their space. It may also get scared and show aggression towards you.

Observe how the bearded dragon reacts when it sees you approaching. If it looks scared at you, it’s best not to handle it in the meantime.

Before you can move towards stroking your bearded dragon, you need to work on how to handle it. Make sure to hold the reptile once it’s already comfortable.

Take things slowly or you may lose the chance to earn its trust. Below are the ways to handle your bearded dragon properly.

1. Pick Up the Bearded Dragon

Make sure that the bearded dragon is comfortable around you and its new habitat. Once you feel confident, you can try to pick up your pet.

Before doing so, check if your beardie is ready. Never disturb it while eating. It might mistake your finger for food and bite you.

If you think that the bearded dragon is comfortable enough, you can attempt to pick it up. Gently stroke your pet with your fingers.

Observe its reaction before doing anything. If it doesn’t look irritated or scared, slowly place your hand under its belly.

Make sure to be gentle and don’t pick the beardie by its tail or legs. Ensure the weight is balanced evenly when you pick up the bearded dragon.

It may feel worried that you may drop it. Place your finger on its chin to help it relax and trust you.

If the bearded dragon is not moving as you pick it up, that means it’s ready to bond with you. Be careful not to make it nervous.

Slowly take it out of the enclosure if it’s not squirming. If it does, put it down and try again when it’s ready to bond.

2. Hold the Bearded Dragon

Make the bearded dragon feel safe and comfortable if it allows you to hold it by holding it to your chest.

The warmth will help it to stay calm and not try to escape from you. Make sure to have your hand stay on its belly.

Another way to hold your bearded dragon is to place its tail on your arm. Hold the beardie’s body with your hand so you can pet it with your free hand.

While petting your bearded dragon, give it a treat as a reward. It will help it trust you more and form a good bond between you and your pet.

Inform other people around your home to avoid speaking loudly. It’s best if they don’t make any sudden movements as well.

That can make the bearded dragon scared while it’s outside its territory. Speaking softly and moving slowly will avoid the bearded dragon from feeling stressed.

If your family members want to also pet your bearded dragon, teach them the right way to do it. Keep an eye on them and make sure that the reptile is not getting stressed.

Your pet will feel safer if you stick around and see you while being pet by other people around the house.

Playing with your bearded dragon can also strengthen the bond with your pet. Allow it to climb on your arms and sit on your lap.

Observe how your beardie might be feeling. If it looks relaxed and happy, that’s a good sign. But if it looks stressed, it’s best to put it back in the enclosure.

3. Putting Back the Bearded Dragon Properly

After successfully picking up and holding your pet, you also need to know how to properly put it back inside the tank.

It will be nice to not overdo it when bonding with your beardie. Letting it out for too long may cause the reptile to feel uncomfortable. Let it out for a few minutes at a time.

Keep in mind that bearded dragons are scared of sudden movements. When putting your pet inside the enclosure, be slow and gentle.

If you notice that your beardie seems to be upset, scared, or no longer want to be pet anymore, put it back in the tank. It will help the reptile to be comfortable. 

Take the beardie back to the enclosure slowly while holding it firmly. Don’t hold it too tight to avoid hurting your dragon.

Make sure that it will not fall from your arms as you walk towards the enclosure. Once you reach the tank, hold your arm out slowly which creates a diagonal line.

Doing this will let your beardie walk back into the enclosure. After that, offer your bearded dragon a treat for behaving well. It will take the experience to be pleasant because of the treat and look forward to it again.

Always observe the beardie’s reaction and body language. It will help you to understand your pet better and make it comfortable.

Do Bearded Dragons Like to Cuddle?

Yes, bearded dragons like to cuddle and they enjoy it a lot. It’s necessary to handle your beardie on a regular basis. That will help the reptile to get used to you and trust you better.

Bearded dragons like to be held with their owners. They are affectionate but the level of their affection may vary.

When the bearded dragon is young, it should be handled by its owners. They will get used to being handled by humans and become tamer.

It’s important to handle and play with your beardie regularly to make them easier to deal with. Infrequent handling can make them aggressive when you finally try to pick up your pet.

The bond between you and your bearded dragon will not be formed if you don’t spend time together. It’s recommended to handle your bearded dragon for at least a few minutes daily.

Feeding or bath time are the best times to cuddle your pet. For beardie’s humans are giants and get scared.

Bonding with your beardie will help it to feel comfortable being with its owner. Even if you’re too big for them, the reptile will not be scared of you anymore.

Make sure to always be careful whenever you pick up and pet your bearded dragon. They can easily lose their trust in you if you’re not careful when handling your pet.

How Do Bearded Dragons Show Affection?

Bearded dragons are one of the few reptiles that shows affection. They can warm up easily with their owners and look forward to seeing them.

Beardie is friendly and they enjoy the company of their owners. They show their affection more to their owners compared to other people around them.

The way bearded dragons show affection may be different from other pets. They have different personalities as well. Some beardies may show that they want to be handled. Others may wait patiently until you pick it up.

It may vary how bearded dragons show their affection to their owners.

1. Time of Showing Affection

When you take home a new bearded dragon, it may not show affection towards you right away. Unlike dogs who will be affectionate on day one, beardies need some time to become comfortable.

They may begin to show their affection once they are used to you and their new habitat.

Some bearded dragons may show signs of affection faster than others. Unlike other pets, reptiles don’t show affection until they bond with their owners.

It may take some time before they feel comfortable with you. They also need to feel safe around you before trusting you.

2. Showing Keenness

A clear sign that bearded dragons are affectionate is they may be the ones to seek being handled. Some beardies will show eagerness to be picked up when you’re around.

Their body language will show that it wants to be picked up. All you have to do is to extend your arm and see how it reacts.

Some reptiles will shy away when their owners attempt to handle them. Even after handling the reptile many times, it will still avoid being handled.

But bearded dragons may even initiate it and look excited to see their owners. They will anticipate being handled and enjoy bonding.

Once your bearded dragon trusts you, it will show its affection more. It will not squirm when you handle it and pick it up.

The beardie will just stay still and wait for you to pick it up. When this happens, it means that your beardie trusts you and is looking forward to bonding with you again.

3. Needs Patience

Most reptiles may show little to no affection at all to their owners. Bearded dragons are an exemption since they can display affection to their owners.

They will show their form of attachment to their owners which does not usually happen with other reptiles. It makes them popular pet reptiles due to their friendly nature.

As an example, snakes can also become comfortable with their handlers. They will not hiss or try to bite them. Their way of showing affection is not as heartwarming as other pets.

Bearded dragons are more expressive than them. But the length of time you spend with your beardie matters.

Bearded dragons can be affectionate but they need some time to adjust and become comfortable. As a beardie owner, you have to be patient.

Building the beardie’s trust is important. When your beardie trusts you, it will start showing its affection. Until then, you have to patiently wait until it’s ready.

The more time you spend with your bearded dragon, the greater affection it will show. If you want your beardie to display more affection, you also need to do something.

Pet your bearded dragon, let it walk over you, feed it regularly, and offer treats. These can contribute to forming and strengthening the bond between you and your pet.

Interacting with your bearded dragon will make it more comfortable showing its affection. Although the longer time you spend with your beardie, the greater level of affection it will show.

Treating your pet well and being a caring owner will make the bearded dragon more attached to you.

4. Affection Grows Overtime

As bearded dragons age, they can display more affection compared to younger beardies. If you have a baby bearded dragon, it means that it will be less affectionate.

Young beardies are still scared of everything around them and that includes their owners. It will be stressed when handled.

Young bearded dragons are nervous but as they grow older, they will know that you’re not a threat. Over time, your beardie will trust you more and become more affectionate.

The longer time you spend with your pet, the more it will feel comfortable having you around.

5. Have Different Ways in Showing Affection

If you’re a new owner, you have to be aware that bearded dragons have different ways of showing their affection.

It may vary depending on their personalities as well. Some may be affectionate but others may still feel nervous. They may also show affection longer than other bearded dragons.

Some bearded dragons may like curling up with their owners when handled. Others may look happy and anticipate being handled by their owners.

Depending on their personalities, some bearded dragons may not appreciate being handled for a long time. They might prefer to sit on your shoulder or walk all over you.

What Does It Mean If a Bearded Dragon Cuddles You?

When a bearded dragon cuddles you, it means that it feels safe with you. Cuddling for bearded dragons means that they need warmth and feel a sense of security.

When the beardie likes you, it will approach you the moment they see you. It makes them feel safer when being handled.

Hand-feeding your bearded dragon will increase your bond and associate you with food. It can also recognize you as its owner and trust you enough to show its affection.

Do Bearded Dragons Get Attached to Their Owners?

Yes, bearded dragons can get attached to their owners. Similar to pet dogs or cats, bearded dragons can love their owners’ overtime. These reptiles can recognize the voice and scent of their owners.

They are more comfortable with them than seeing strangers around their enclosure.

Feeding your bearded dragon will help them to associate you with food. They can recognize you as its owner.

Bearded dragons are one of the few reptiles who can get attached and show affection to their owners. They are friendly by nature when it comes to humans.

Do Bearded Dragons Like Being Petted?

Yes, bearded dragons can tolerate being petted or some may even enjoy it. If the beardie is being handled regularly, it will appreciate this gesture. They like human interaction and enjoy being petted when being done by the person they trust. Petting your beardie is a good way to form a bond.

However, it’s best to watch out for any signs of stress before petting your bearded dragon. They are known to have calm and gentle personalities.

But it doesn’t mean that they are always ready to be petted. Beardies don’t crave physical attention like other household pets.

Some beardies enjoy being petted more than other dragons. They may also have a preference where to be petted.

The bearded dragon’s body language will let you know if it enjoys being petted. If not, you can see that the beardie looks stressed. As solitary animals, they don’t like unnecessary attention.

Not all beardies like to be petted by their owners. They prefer to be left alone and enjoy the solitude of their enclosure. It depends on your bond with your pet as well.

If the bearded dragon feels safe around you, then it will allow you to pet it. They may not like it but they can tolerate it for you.