Training Chinchillas 

Can I train my chinchilla?

   Chinchillas are intelligent for rodent-type animals, in that they can be conditioned/trained, but it takes a while to train them, and you need to go slowly and do one thing at a time. It is a type of Pavlovian conditioning training, much as you would train a cat or dog. Take the time to get to know your chinchilla, gentle it to your companionship, and gain its trust [takes up to 6 months] then try to coax it to come to you using sweets like raisins or dried fruit of its choice etc. It can take a while - even years - to train one, especially if it has had bad experiences with humans before you got it. They are so intelligent and responsive if they trust you that it is worth it.
   Training is based upon principles found in Richard M. Foxx's book "Increasing Behaviors", [standard behavior modification and is based upon rewards for good behavior].  Start with rewarding the chinchilla for trusting you, and getting to know you.  Reward the behavior you want to reinforce, and do not frighten the chinchilla unless it is for a wrong or dangerous behavior [like shaking a can filled with pennies when it goes near a dangerous place, or chews on your antique furniture].  Then go to intermittently rewarding the good behavior.  They will continue the behavior thinking a reward will come.  Be consistent, be kind, and keep trust, and the animal will reward you with an uncritical friendship.

Are they friendly animals that like to be handled?

   Yes they can be handled, but they need affection and gentling. They are very shy and have long memories. If you frighten them they will remember that and can reject you until you regain their affection. When children have chinchillas they need to remember to be gentle and affectionate and not frighten, or squeeze them too hard. For that reason children under the age of around 10 years old are not mature enough to have chinchillas. The age is not as hard and fast as the maturity, and the ability to understand another's needs -- e.g. learning empathy which comes with maturity. Sometimes children don't have that –even in high school.
   Letting chinchillas out of their cages is something that is done only after they are no longer afraid of you [see above about training].  If you have to chase them it will only increases fright and mistrust.   Begin with giving treats while in the cage, then graduate to laying your hand in the cage and letting them come to your hand which has a treat on the palm.  They have to come to get the treat and will equate your scent with the treat.  Scratch under the chin and talk softly, and if they run away and hide [still in the cage] don't force the issue.  Eventually they will come to you and allow you to handle them.  Then you can let them out, but have to coax them back, chasing only frightens them.
   Usually it is best to be consistent about the times each day you let it out. At the same time daily and for the same amount of time and in the same area. The chin will soon learn the routine and even be willing to get back into the cage with the same prompt [bath, special treat etc.] after the same amount of time. DO NOT chase it around to get it back into the cage as it will become increasingly afraid and mistrustful of you and will be harder to catch each time. Gentle the chin first (more on that later). Remember, that chinchillas are animals that prefer the same routine. So they like being fed at the same time each day, and like being let out at the same time each day for the same length of time. Consistency is the key here. You can build mazes for them to run in, it does keep them busy and they are curious and intelligent animals who like challenges.
   The room you let them into should be free of danger;  no open wires, no holes to hide into, no poisons or chemicals easily found, furniture you don't mind being tasted, nothing that if run under or around can cut or scratch or they can catch a small foot in and break a limb.  Get down on the ground and look around with your face on the floor. What do you see?  Is it dangerous?  Wrap all loose wires in PVC plumbing pipe. Bathrooms are good, but remember they do taste toothpaste tubes too.  Bedrooms are good, if the kid has cleaned it up, or you haven't a lot of clutter in the room. Kitchens are ok if you block off the refrigerator and stove. The problem here is that small holes they can get into are smaller than you think. They can get into spaces around 1.5 inches around. Be very careful too, of the under the sink spaces. We all usually keep soaps and things there, poisons.  Utility rooms are ok if the washing machine, dryer, and hot water heater are made off limits.  Block off those areas you do not want your chin to run into, use a baby gate with small mesh.  If you have a room that is primarily family, but has old furniture and not much they can hurt themselves on, and you have gotten on the floor and looked at it with your face on the floor, and crawled around looking for small spaces they can get wedged into and really checked out the dangers; that is chin-proofing a room.