Beautiful but took months to settle

My chinchilla was extremely skittish for the first six months. She would bark (yes, they bark) and flee whenever I approached. Patient, consistent interaction — sitting nearby, talking softly, offering treats at arm's length — gradually built trust. She's much calmer now at 3 years old, but the early period required real patience. Chinchillas are worth the effort but don't expect an immediately tame pet.