Meet Wintrow

[Tacey]

Hi Everyone

Last week I brought home my first ever hamster - a Chinese called Wintrow. I actually work in a pet shop so I see a LOT of hamsters... they've slowly become my favourite small animal that we sell and I've wanted one for a while!

Wintrow was sold with his brother to a customer before Christmas. (I'm recently discovering that we should not really be selling Chinese hamsters in pairs...! A lot of misinformation happens at pet shops as I'm sure you all know). The pair were returned a few weeks later because the customer was not getting on with them and one of them had an eye problem. Not really sure whether this was caused by fighting - as it was soon apparent that the two were not getting along - or by the customer... but Wintrow appears to be blind in one eye. Doesn't appear to bother him though! He's extremely tame, travels around the house in my pocket and loves my dog (she even allows him to sit on her head!).


At this point I would provide you with some photos of him but the forum isn't letting me yet!

[cypher]

Welcome to the forum & congrats on getting your first Chinesey!

It's a shame pet shops don't really seem to get that it is generally accepted now that Chinese hams are a solitary species, maybe you could try to explain to the people who run the shop where you work.
Good to know that Wintrow has a nice home of his own now anyway!
Look forward to seeing some photos of him, I think you have to make a few posts before you're able to add photos.
I would definitely keep your little one away from your dog though, no matter how docile & good natured your dog may be accidents can happen very easily & being around a predatory animal is stressful for a hamster.

[velma]

Looking forward to seeing photos. He sounds lovely! I do love a chinese ham, I've just got my first one in donkey's years. I'd second what cypher said about your dog though. Better to be safe than sorry. Welcome to the forum Tacey and yellow little Wintrow

[Thin Lizzy]

Hello to you and your chinesey ham Wintrow.
He sounds adorable but be careful with your dog.

[Tacey]

Originally Posted by cypher

Welcome to the forum & congrats on getting your first Chinesey!

It's a shame pet shops don't really seem to get that it is generally accepted now that Chinese hams are a solitary species, maybe you could try to explain to the people who run the shop where you work.
Good to know that Wintrow has a nice home of his own now anyway!
Look forward to seeing some photos of him, I think you have to make a few posts before you're able to add photos.
I would definitely keep your little one away from your dog though, no matter how docile & good natured your dog may be accidents can happen very easily & being around a predatory animal is stressful for a hamster.

I will try to explain it to the company, but unfortunately they very rarely listen to their staff. I will make sure that my shop no longer sells them in pairs however! (Although I'm desperately hoping to change job soon).


We have just finished creating a "bin cage" from the handy tutorials on here - he loves it! Once I am able to I'll share some photos of that as well.

Dog and Hammy are always very strictly supervised... it would be very difficult to keep them completely apart without shutting her away all the time. I appreciate that accidents can happen so we are extremely careful.

[Tacey]

Oh I can post pics now!
Here he is

[Thin Lizzy]

What a beauty!

[Tacey]

And his bin cage

[velma]

What a cutie!

[Cinnamon Bear]

That looks like a lot of fun, nice cage. Really lucky to have such a tame Chinese hamster, still would take extreme measures to keep the dog separated from the hamster no matter how cute you think they look together. Like other have said shutting out the dog would cause less stress on the dog than letting the dog & hamster "play" together. The hamster's safety is at risk & certainly I can't imagine how a hamster would enjoy being around a dog? All it takes is a moment and it's too late, you don't want that to happen!