Course Content
Course Introduction
Get started with everything you need to know before beginning the course. Learn what to expet, how the course is structured, and how to get the most out of your learning journey.
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Welcome to The Hedgehog Program
Navigating through the course
Course introduction
1. Species Overview
Discover the origins, natural behavior, and physical traits of the African pygmy hedgehog. This chapter explores their evolution, how they live in the wild, and what makes them unique among hedgehog species.
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Origins & evolution
Species & Subspecies
Life in the wild
Natural behavior patterns
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Physical traits & senses
Communication & social behavior
2. Legal & Ethical Considerations
Learn the legal and moral responsibilities of owning an African pygmy hedgehog. This chapter covers regional laws, permit, ethical sourcing, conservation concerns, and what to do if rehoming becomes necessary.
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Are hedgehogs legal in your country or state?
Permits, registration & Notification requirements
Owner responsibility: Legal and moral duties
Conservation status and species protection
Ethical sourcing: how to choose responsibly
The risks of illegal or unethical trade
Rehoming: if you can’t keep your hedgehog
3. Choosing Your Hedgehog
Learn how to select a healthy African pygmy hedgehog from a responsible source. This chapter helps you spot health indicators, avoid unethical sellers, and understand the risks of wild-caught hedgehogs.
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What a healthy hedgehog looks like
Red flags and warning signs in sellers
Where to buy (and where not to)
The truth about “Wild-caught” hedgehogs
4. Preparing The Enclosure
Set your hedgehog up for a safe and healthy life with the right housing. Learn about cage size, temperature, lighting, bedding, enrichment, and why hedgehogs should be housed alone.
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Enclosure requirements & minimum cage sizes
Temperature, humidity & lighting
Substrates & cleaning routines
Choosing the right wheel
Environmental enrichment
Layout & zoning: creating a functional space
Multi-hedgehog housing: why it’s not recommended
5. Daily & Weekly Care Routine
Build a consistent are routine to keep your hedgehog healthy and happy. From daily feeding and bonding to weekly cleaning and health checks, you'll learn how to make good care a habit.
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Daily tasks: a routine for health & happiness
Weekly & monthly cleaning: keeping the enclosure safe
Feeding routine: what, when & how much
Handling & bonding: daily contact done right
Monitoring health through daily care
Establishing a care schedule
6. Feeding & Nutrition
Learn how to meet your hedgehog's nutritional needs with the right balance of kibble, insects, and natural foods. This chapter covers safe foods, feeding schedules, common health risks, and special diets like raw or BARF.
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Understanding nutritional needs
Safe & unsafe foods
Choosing the right kibble
Insects, meat & natural foods
Fruits & vegetables in the diet
Supplements & gut health
Feeding schedules & portion control
Obesity, diabetes & malnutrition
BARF diet
7. Handling & Bonding
Discover how to build a trusting relationship with your hedgehog through safe handling, daily routines, and an understanding of body language. Learn how to overcome fear, recognize their cues, and prepare them for health checks without stress.
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Building trust: a step-by-step bonding plan for beginners
Reading body language: understanding comfort vs. stress
Daily contact: Routines that promote bonding
When & how to handle safely
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Óvercoming fear & defensive behavior
Scent, sounds & presence: How hedgehogs recognize you
Handling for healthcare: Gently preparing for vet visits
Common mistakes in bonding (and how to avoid them)
8. Health & Hygiene
Learn how to keep your hedgehog health through proper hygiene, early symptom recognition, and preventative care. This chapter explores common illnesses, chronic conditions like WHS and IVDD, and how poor breeding can impact long-term health.
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Recognize the signs: when is your hedgehog unwell
Basic hygiene & care practices
Obesity & diabetes: the cause and the treatment
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome: Symptoms, progression & support
IVDD: Intervertebral Disc Disease in hedgehogs
Health impact of poor breeding
Common conditions in captivity: mites, fungal infections & injuries
Preventative care & vet visits: what to expect
9. Veterinary Care
This chapter helps you navigate veterinary care with confidence, from finding an experienced exotic vet to understanding routine check-ups, recognizing emergencies, and planning for costs. Learn how to communicate effectively and advocate for your hedgehog's health.
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Finding a qualified exotic vet
What to expect from routine checkups
When to seek immediate help
Communicating with your vet
Costs & planning for veterinary expenses
10. Enrichment & Play
This chapter explores how to keep your hedgehog active, curious, and mentally stimulated. Discover safe toys, exercise essentials, stress-reducing setps, and how to build and enriching weekly routine. Including tips for supervised free roaming.
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Choosing safe and engaging toys
Exercise essentials: wheels, tunnels & more
Stress reduction through enrichment
The benefits and risks of free roaming
Creating an enrichment schedule
11. Understanding behavior
This chapter helps you decode your hedgehog's body language, sounds, and activity patterns. Learn the difference between normal, neutral, and abnormal behavior, recognize the signs of stress or stereotypical habits, and understand how age, health, and enrichment influence behavior over time.
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Introduction to hedgehog behavior terms
Normal vs abnormal behavior
Neutral behavior and its importance
Common hedgehog sounds & their meanings
Reading hedgehog body language: Part 1
Reading hedgehog body language: Part 2
Nighttime activity patterns
Behavioral signs of stress and fear
Stereotypical behavior in hedgehogs: Understanding and addressing repetitive actions
Social behavior and interaction
Behavior changes over time
Behavioral enrichment and its impact
Troubleshooting common behavioral issues
12. Seasonal Care & Hibernation Risks
This chapter explains how temperature and seasonal changes affect African pygmy hedgehogs. You'll learn to recognize hibernation triggers and symptoms, how to respond safely, and how to prevent hibernation attempts through proper care and environment control.
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The importance of temperature regulation
How seasonal changes affect hedgehogs
What is hibernation?
Common hibernation triggers in captivity
Monitoring your hedgehog for signs of hibernation
Step-by-step guide to warming your hedgehog safely
Prevention strategies for hibernation
When to seek veterinary help
13. Traveling With A Hedgehog
Learn how to safely and comfortably travel with your hedgehog, whether it's a short trip to the vet or a long journey. This chapter covers preperation, carrier selection, minimizing stress, post-travel recovery, and important legal considerations for domestic and international travel.
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Preparing for travel
Choosing the right travel carrier
Traveling short distances: day trips & vet visits
Long distance travel: Road trips & flights
Keeping your hedgehog calm and comfortable during travel
Post-travel care and recovery
Legal considerations for traveling with hedgehogs
14. Your hedgehog journey continues
As you reach the end of this course, it's time to reflect on all you've learned. This final chapter brings everything together with a course recap, a final exam to test your knowledge, and practical next steps to deepen your understanding of hedgehog care. Whether you're a new owner or an aspiring expert, this is just the beginning of your journey. You've built a solid foundation, now it's time to continue growing.
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What you’ve learned
Exam: test your knowledge
Keep learning: Resources & next steps
Final words of encouragement
Introduction to African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Welcome to The Hedgehog Program

Welcome and thank you so much for joining The Hedgehog Program as a student!

it means a lot that you’ve chosen to invest in your knowledge and in the well-being of your new or future hedgehog. Whether you’re brand new to African pygmy hedgehogs or just brushing up on the basics, you’ve come to the right place.

At The Hedgehog Program, we believe in combining expert knowledge with compassion, responsibility and a deep respect for these incredible little creatures. With this course, you’re not just learning how to care for a hedgehog. You are becoming part of a growing community of thoughtful, dedicated hedgehog owners.

We’re excited to have you here. Let’s get started!

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