Hamster Tales :)
Thought I'd update you on the latest member of my furry 4-legged family - little hammie's been with me just over a week now. I named him "Pippin" (after the hobbit in Lord of the Rings, it just suited him - he's an adventurous little thing!). I'm so pleased with how well he's settled in... I'd been told in the shop he wasn't yet tame and worried he'd be shy. However, whoever bred him handled him well (or he's just an exceptionally confident little hammie!) cause from the start he's been a happy and nosy little character... After 24hrs, I started stroking him, then a little while later, gently scooping him up in my hands]. At first, he scurried off quickly, but now he will happily sit or walk over my hands for a few minutes at a time. He's never once tried to bite or anything :)
He goes out for little adventures each evening in his ball. Of course it's hard to tell with such a tiny creature but I think he really enjoys the explorations around our downstairs. He rolls up and down the hall, the living room and the kitchen, stopping only to sniff an interesting item in his path, give his face a quick wash... or, to investigate Barney!! I'd originally planned to keep dog and hamster apart, particularly when Pippin was in his ball - as Barney is ball obsessed and also a hunter of voles when we're on walks (albeit a very ineffective one!). However as Pip likes to roll everywhere on the ground floor, it wasn't really feasible, so I've taught Barney to be very quiet and calm when Pip's rolling around.
After one quiet but firm "settle down" from me, (he looked a bit too interested on the first evening) he has been good as gold. He actually tries to keep away from Pippin but there's no escape! Pip will spy Barney from up the hall and make a beeline straight for the big dog. He will then sit right up against Barney, sniffing at his paws and fur with obvious interest. Pippin doesn't seem scared, he's happy to groom right next to either dog and doesn't freeze or try and run off... In fact, if I move him away, he often rolls straight back to Barney! Barney lies quietly, deliberately not looking at the hammie and gently moving his paws out the way from time to time. Don't like everything the "Dog Whisperer" says but to use his phrase, Barney's the model of a dog in a "calm, submissive state". Obviously, I wouldn't leave them alone though, it's nice they seem to be co-existing but I wouldn't want Pippin to get hurt...
Anyway, Pippin seems happy in his new home, the dogs have accepted him and he's being very friendly and confident. All going very well really, now, if I can just clicker train him to pose for the camera.... ;-) Haha, will try getting some nicer pics soon, maybe of the odd pair together, reminds me of Bolt and Rhino (if you've seen "Bolt", you'll know what I'm talking about!)
Hamster Tales :)
Thought I'd update you on the latest member of my furry 4-legged family - little hammie's been with me just over a week now. I named him "Pippin" (after the hobbit in Lord of the Rings, it just suited him - he's an adventurous little thing!). I'm so pleased with how well he's settled in... I'd been told in the shop he wasn't yet tame and worried he'd be shy. However, whoever bred him handled him well (or he's just an exceptionally confident little hammie!) cause from the start he's been a happy and nosy little character... After 24hrs, I started stroking him, then a little while later, gently scooping him up in my hands]. At first, he scurried off quickly, but now he will happily sit or walk over my hands for a few minutes at a time. He's never once tried to bite or anything :)
He goes out for little adventures each evening in his ball. Of course it's hard to tell with such a tiny creature but I think he really enjoys the explorations around our downstairs. He rolls up and down the hall, the living room and the kitchen, stopping only to sniff an interesting item in his path, give his face a quick wash... or, to investigate Barney!! I'd originally planned to keep dog and hamster apart, particularly when Pippin was in his ball - as Barney is ball obsessed and also a hunter of voles when we're on walks (albeit a very ineffective one!). However as Pip likes to roll everywhere on the ground floor, it wasn't really feasible, so I've taught Barney to be very quiet and calm when Pip's rolling around.
After one quiet but firm "settle down" from me, (he looked a bit too interested on the first evening) he has been good as gold. He actually tries to keep away from Pippin but there's no escape! Pip will spy Barney from up the hall and make a beeline straight for the big dog. He will then sit right up against Barney, sniffing at his paws and fur with obvious interest. Pippin doesn't seem scared, he's happy to groom right next to either dog and doesn't freeze or try and run off... In fact, if I move him away, he often rolls straight back to Barney! Barney lies quietly, deliberately not looking at the hammie and gently moving his paws out the way from time to time. Don't like everything the "Dog Whisperer" says but to use his phrase, Barney's the model of a dog in a "calm, submissive state". Obviously, I wouldn't leave them alone though, it's nice they seem to be co-existing but I wouldn't want Pippin to get hurt...
Anyway, Pippin seems happy in his new home, the dogs have accepted him and he's being very friendly and confident. All going very well really, now, if I can just clicker train him to pose for the camera.... ;-) Haha, will try getting some nicer pics soon, maybe of the odd pair together, reminds me of Bolt and Rhino (if you've seen "Bolt", you'll know what I'm talking about!)