Petting your bearded dragon can be a great way to bond with it, but it’s important to know where to pet your beardie and to watch for any signs of stress. Bearded dragons are well known for their calm, gentle personalities, but do bearded dragons like being pet?
Many bearded dragons do like being petted—or will at least tolerate it—as long as they are well socialized and handled consistently. Bearded dragons can grow to enjoy human affection as long as they trust you.
Bearded dragons won’t crave physical attention as much as other animals, such as cats and dogs. As with all animals, some bearded dragons like to be petted more than others, and many beardies have their favorite spots to be pet. So, how do you tell whether your Dragon likes to be petted? Read on to find out!
Expert Insight: According to Rick with Aquatic Pets & Reptiles in Clovis, CA, bearded dragons tolerate being held and pet better than most other lizards. They are very chill when handled for short durations of time. He recommended no more than an hour or 2 per day. If your beardie is getting agitated, its neck may start to turn black and its neck scales may frill out. This is a good sign they are ready to be put down and be left alone.
Does Your Pet Beardie Like Being Petted?
Your bearded dragon’s body language and behavior can tell a lot about what it thinks about being petted, but what it really comes down to is the relationship you have with your bearded dragon. Below we’ve listed the behaviors to look for when deciding whether a bearded dragon wants to be petted or left alone, so make sure to check those sections out!
Unlike many mammals, bearded dragons are solitary animals that do not look for physical attention. They generally live alone, and even don’t like having other bearded dragons in their tank. So, it’s not surprising that not all bearded dragons like being petted. However, with the right socializing and enough handling, bearded dragons have been known to like (or at least tolerate) petting. Maybe they don’t love it, but they won’t run away from it either.
While not all Dragons like being petted, many bearded dragon owners have reported that their beardies like to be petted. Some people have even said their bearded dragon will rub against their fingers looking for pets.
Can Bearded Dragons Feel Being Petted?
Bearded dragons can absolutely feel when they are being petted. Just like other animals, they can sense when something is touching their skin. There’s a reason why you don’t squeeze a bearded dragon or hold it by its tail; they may feel threatened and won’t like it! So, when you’re petting your bearded dragon softly, it can feel your finger glide across its skin.
Best Spots to Pet a Bearded Dragon
Now that you know how to tell if your bearded dragon likes to be petted, what are the best spots to pet your bearded dragon? To answer this question, we went through the common spots to pet a bearded dragon and ranked them from the best spots to pet, the worst spots to pet, and how to pet each area.
Just like cats and dogs, bearded dragons have their favorite spots to be petted. However, your bearded dragon’s favorite spot might be different. So, when petting your bearded dragon, keep track of where your beardie likes to be pet and where it doesn’t.
1. Head
The head is the best spot to rub your bearded dragon. When you pet your bearded dragon’s head, make sure you come at it from the front. If you try to pet your bearded dragon from above or behind, it may become frightened and will not want to be petted after that.
The best way to pet your bearded dragon’s head is to take one or two fingers and softly stroke the top of the head. Many beardies like a bit of pressure but try not to squeeze your bearded dragon. If your bearded dragon likes the pets, try moving forward to the spot between its eyes or stroke it from head to tail.
2. Nose
Many bearded dragons like to be pet on their snout, so feel free to try rubbing your bearded dragon’s nose. However, try to stick to just the snout and forehead, and don’t poke your bearded dragon in the eye on accident.
3. Back
Petting your bearded dragon on the back is a great place to go after you’ve rubbed its head. The best way to do this is to start at the head and pet towards the tail. Try not to go back and forth from head to back, instead, only go the one direction.
4. Tail
While you never want to grab or pick up a bearded dragon by the tail, stroking the tail may be something your beardie likes. However, keep in mind that you may not want to start with the tail because this could startle your beardie, especially if it didn’t see your hand. Instead, start with the head and stroke your bearded dragon across its back and tail.
5. Legs
Petting your bearded dragon on the legs isn’t taboo, but it probably won’t enjoy getting petted there. If you’re trying to socialize your bearded dragon and get it used to physical touch, petting the legs isn’t a bad idea; it’s just might not be your bearded dragon’s favorite place to be petted.
When you’re petting your bearded dragon’s legs, don’t pull or grab them. If your bearded dragon happens to wiggle around, gets frightened, or pulls away, holding onto its legs could cause an injury, which is definitely something you want to avoid.
6. Mouth
While many beardies like getting pet on the snout, it’s best to avoid petting your bearded dragon’s mouth. Bearded dragons aren’t known for biting, but if you try to get your fingers in its mouth or pet around that area, you’re simply asking it to make an exception.
7. Belly
Bearded dragons don’t like to be on their backs too long. In fact, it makes it hard for them to breathe. So, avoid petting your bearded dragon’s belly. Unless you have a perfect relationship with your bearded dragon, it will probably wiggle out of your hands or flip upright before you have a chance to even stroke its belly.
How to Pet a Bearded Dragon
After you’ve read through the best spots to pet your bearded dragon, it’s time to learn how to do it! Firstly, you’ll want to make sure your bearded dragon is in the mood to be pet. Below there are guides on how to know when your beardie wants to be petted and signs that it’s not in the mood, so check those out for more information!
Once you’ve decided that your bearded dragon wants to be pet, approach it slowly and from the front. You never want to sneak up on your bearded dragon, otherwise you could scare it. If you’re still getting to know your bearded dragon, this would also be a good time to present it with some treats.
When you pet your bearded dragon, start at the head and slowly pet from the head to tail. The best way to do this is to use one or two fingers and lightly pet. While many bearded dragons like a little force, you don’t want to apply too much pressure because your beardie might not like that.
You don’t need to spend hours petting your bearded dragon. Long periods of time spent handling your bearded dragon may actually cause stress according to a study done by Stockley, Wilkinson, and Burman (2020). Until you know your bearded dragon and have a strong relationship, only spend between 5 and 15 minutes petting them. After that, watch your bearded dragon for stress-related behaviors (more on these below).
Are Bearded Dragons Kid-Friendly?
While bearded dragons are gentle reptiles, you should always be present when a child is handling a bearded dragon. It can be dangerous for a child to squeeze a bearded dragon, and the child may not notice the signs that mean a bearded dragon is stressed.
Bearded dragons can be kid-friendly but never leave a child alone with a bearded dragon. This is important for the safety of the child and the dragon.
How to Know When Beardie Will Accept Petting
When you pet your bearded dragon, you want it to be comfortable, so how do you know that your bearded dragon wants to be pet?
Having a good relationship with your bearded dragon means that it trusts you. Trust is important when bonding with your beardie and is the best way for your bearded dragon to feel comfortable being petted. Once you’ve established a good, trusting relationship, you’ll start to notice some behaviors that indicate your bearded dragon is ready to be petted.
Some of these signs include:
- Beardie greets you at the glass
- Beardie is relaxed (not wiggling) when you pick it up
- Closed mouth that looks like a smile
- No aggressive or frightened behaviors (listed below)
- Dilated pupils
- Rubbing up against your fingers
All the signs above are examples of relaxed behaviors that mean your bearded dragon trusts you and is ready to get some petting and cuddles!
Signs Beardie Does Not Wanted to be Petted
Along with knowing where to pet your bearded dragon and if it wants to be petted, there are some clear signs that your bearded dragon does not want to be petted. Luckily for the bearded dragon owner, these signs are pretty obvious. So, if you see your bearded dragon displaying any of the below behaviors, make sure you give it some space or trying some other bonding techniques before you pet it.
- Hissing
- Puffing its body up
- Head bobbing
- Running away from you
- Wiggling away from you if you’re holding it
- Expanding its beard
- Body-color darkens (this is a sign of dominant behavior)
- “Glass surfing” or trying to escape
- Hiding in its burrow
- Closing its eyes (more on this in the next section)
- Arm waving
- Gaping mouth
If you notice your bearded dragon doing any of these behaviors, give it some space. You don’t want to over-stress your bearded dragon, so the best thing you can do is to let it be and come back later. If after you’ve given it some space you want to start bonding with your bearded dragon, try giving it some treats, giving it a bath, or wrapping it up into a “beardie burrito“.
Why Do Beardies Close Their Eyes When Petted?
While it may seem like your bearded dragon is closing its eyes because it’s enjoying being petted, that’s not the case. In fact, beardies close their eyes when they feel threatened, stressed, or uncomfortable. So, if you’re petting your bearded dragon and it starts to close its eyes, it’s time to stop petting and return your beardie to its vivarium.
But why is closing its eyes a signal that your bearded dragon is threatened? It seems backwards, doesn’t it?
In the animal world, eye contact is used to express dominance or threaten another animal. Have you ever seen a dog become submissive? Usually, the dog looks down and then rolls onto its back and looks away. Bearded dragons are no different, they close their eyes to show they are not a threat.
Bearded dragons also close their eyes when they feel scared. Humans do it too, in fact. Have you ever watched a scary movie and closed your eyes during the worst of it? Closing your eyes when you feel afraid is completely natural, so it makes sense that bearded dragons close their eyes when they feel afraid.
The bottom line is that if your bearded dragon closes its eyes, it means it doesn’t like what’s happening and you should stop petting your bearded dragon right away. Too many dragon owners interpret eye-closing as a happy response and continue petting. This can be damaging to your relationship with your bearded dragon. So, make sure you watch your beardie’s behavior when you pet it.
Is Your Bearded Dragon Closing its Eyes Because of an Infection?
Something else to keep in mind if you notice your bearded dragon closing its eyes is whether this behavior could indicate an eye infection. To tell if your bearded dragon is uncomfortable or is suffering from a parasitic or bacterial/viral infection, look at its behavior. If you notice one eye closing instead of both, then there is a good chance that it’s not fear and something else is bothering your bearded dragon. If that’s the case, call your vet to get you beardie in for a checkup.
Benefits & Potential Risks Associated with Petting
When petting your bearded dragon, there are some awesome benefits, but some risks involved, too.
Potential Risks from Petting Bearded Dragons
The potential risks associated with petting your bearded dragon include accidently pulling off its skin when its shedding, getting bit, salmonella, and stressing your bearded dragon.
1. Shedding
If your bearded dragon is shedding, don’t pull off its skin. You can still pet your bearded dragon but let the shedding process happen on its own so that you don’t harm your beardie.
2. Biting
While a bite from a bearded dragon is harmless to humans, it may still hurt. Those who have been bitten by a bearded dragon report that it feels almost like a bee sting and will often swell. If you are bitten by a bearded dragon, just wash the bite off with soap and water. The swelling will go away in a few days.
3. Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that’s mostly caused by eating contaminated food. However, you can also contract Salmonella from certain animals, such as turtles and reptiles. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella. It’s usually not life-threatening but can cause a fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
To prevent a Salmonella infection, simply wash your hands with soap and water after handling your bearded dragon.
If you want to learn more about Salmonella, this link will take you to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Salmonella page and has a lot of great information.
4. Stress
Finally, prolonged petting or handling of your bearded dragon can cause stress and anxiety. This is particularly true for animals that haven’t been properly socialized, but can be an issue for all bearded dragons. This can easily be avoided if you monitor your Dragon’s behavior and give it a break whenever you notice signs of stress.
Benefits from Petting Bearded Dragons
The benefits of petting go beyond having a friendly bearded dragon, it can also help with socialization and detect an illness in its early stages.
1. Bonding
Petting your bearded dragon can help cultivate that important bond. Plus, the more you handle your Dragon, the friendlier it will get! By taking your beardie out for 15 to 20 minutes a day, you can make an everlasting bond between you and your Dragon.
2. Detect Illness or Disease
If you have a good relationship with your beardie and pet it often, you’ll likely catch any illness, disease, or injury it its early stages. Not only will your bearded dragon be more likely to let you examine its body, but your consistent handling will catch a problem early on.
3. Socializing
Having a socialized bearded dragon is the goal of many Dragon owners, and petting can be a great way to do this. If you get your bearded dragon used to touch and petting, it will be more likely to form a bond with you and will be less shy around strangers.