This is a short lesson on understanding irken behavior. Learning this is a very important step in training later on. Please note that this the behavioral expectations of breeder born none Teska/Perspective Teska's. If you have a Teska, a perspective Teska and or a wild irken please refer to a professional trainer for help as they are very different in training.
-The most well known trait of any irken is that they are very territorial creatures, and will often try to claim your home as their own. Irkens mark there territory by leaving possessions (toys, food packages, clothing, ect.) in high up areas that are easy to see. This is why keeping their things inside their pen or room is important to keeping your home yours.
-Another thing to know is that irkens are very wary of things that are bigger then them and will often try to show dominance or submissiveness in order to protect themselves. This is a natural response to predators and or competing race members. You can tell if an irken is trying to avoid or overtake you quite easily if they take a stand against you or not. Here's a small list to tell if he's trying to be dominate or submissive to you.
Dominance: Slight crouching position, ready or tightened claws and body, raised antenna, baring teeth,
Submissive: Crouching position, slinking away, flattened antenna
-Touch has very different meanings to irken then to other races in the universe. Irkens rarely touch one another. Being able to pet or nuzzle your irken has to be something they are trained to do otherwise it's foreign to them. It is possible to hold your irken without them having to be in the B-position. If they trust you slightly you can grab them under the arms and hold them out in front of you. (Just do not hold them against your body.) This is how smeets are moved by there caretakers and placed elsewhere it's quite normal.
Hugs are a definite no, embracing an irken is something that their mates do, needless to say awkward and agitating on their part. Or it could mean a predator is going to eat them either way not a good thing really.
Antennae are not to be touched ever. They use them to sense vibration and hear,they are not very pleasured by rubbing at all. Think about it how would you like your eardrums scratched at? Probably not a very nice thought eh? Antennae also convey emotion such as anger or sadness as a non-verbal way of communicating.
-Irkens are very verbal and sometimes even very loud. They may grunt, sing, laugh, click, and make chirping noises or just scream for no apparent reason what so ever. This could be considered cute or annoying however this behavior is easily controllable if trained correctly, you can even teach them to speak if you want it's all up to you.
This has been a short guide to irken behavior and in the next section you will begin to train your irken using this understanding. Stay tuned!
