Terrified!

Zeromyers · 05-08-2009, 03:50 AM

hi there.. I know this is probably the wrong place.. but i have 2 russian dwarfs, they are quite cute and outgoing beiing adventurous but im terrified of dropping them to tame them... they just wriggle!!

Also, are they supposed to squek for no reason.... they are not fighting, and someties they are nowhere near each otehr but they squeak a little, i have only had a chinese one before and she was on her own so im not sure about russian dwarfs, I have only had them a few days but i can already see they are nothing alike.

Im scared of losing them but i want to train them... i stick my hand in quite alot during the day when they come out to play and stroke them, but it would be nice to have them out of the cage so i can handle them properly, they can get used to me.

souffle · 05-08-2009, 04:55 AM

It's early days yet and you sound to be getting them used to you already which is a good start. You could take them out the cage in a ball or tub and take them to the empty bath then you get in and let them walk all over you and handle them. Even if they run off they will not be able to escape the bath's slippery sides. Always handle them either on the floor or on a soft surface like the bed so if they jump they will not be hurt. There is a taming tips article on the WIKI.
Dwarfies do squeak quite a bit and can also tussle around and squeak at each other. Don't use a bowl and scatter the food on the floor so they don't get territorial over the bowl. Also try and have two wheels, houses etc for them. I am sure they will soon be nice and tame.

Zeromyers · 05-13-2009, 01:20 PM

Everytime they come out, they want to chase me to bite... I dont have a bath, only a shower and im scared i cant catch them..

Is it possible that they have nightmares as my one hammie only squeks when he's asleep.

Katty_Sheldon · 05-13-2009, 01:41 PM

Hi,
i have one male winter white dwarf, and he used to bite me in his cage for a month! It took ages to tame him (glove using...), about a month, to stop him from biting me out of the cage. Even now he sometimes likes to "taste" me when out of the cage, but its nothing like biting.
He does bite in cage still if i show him the finger, LOL (i think he imagines its food offering...). Also i read that a lot of them just want to get you of their teritory and are not biting when out of the cage.
Dont worry, even if he bites you really hard its not that painfull, especially when you are prepared. He never managed to draw blood out of my finger.
About the taming: try using the gloves, washing hands before handling and maybe surround yourself and the cage with some stuff they cant climb so that they dont escape (false bathtub

) and then try.
They are not that fast when out of the cage sometimes..because its all new and they are not sure of themselfs outside so much as in their teritory (the cage).
Good luck!

Zeromyers · 05-17-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks for all the advice!!

It really gave me confidence to handle them, they are so cute and fast... seems like they are trying to escape, it's really quite funny. and although it will take a long time to get them used to us, it will definately be worth it!