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Old 12-28-2015, 06:17 AM   #1
slatted
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Default Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I have been told, by a prospective owner for one of my pups, that her daughter was recommended a book about dwarf hamsters by Dr McBride.

As I have not read them myself (I think she has a few) I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them and what they were like with regard the information contained therein.
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Old 12-28-2015, 06:33 AM   #2
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I ordered a sample of the book and shes already wrong on page one as she gives the upper limit for syrian size as 150g lol

Paging Bec to the thread, you need to show this lady Tuna Chops!

She also uses the term "Russian dwarf species" which is incorrect, as well all know there is no Russian species, just the winter white, Campbells dwarf and their hybrids.

I don't really want to spend £4 to read the whole thing but the quality of writing is a bit... Childish? Which I guess mught be fine for an actual child. Most of what's written in the first pages is nothing special and she doesn't actually give numbers for cage size or anything, just vague "enough space" generalisations. And you can probably find all the necessary information on forums like this one.

In short, I think get her a HC account instead of the book.
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Old 12-28-2015, 09:42 AM   #3
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

It was a propective owner of one of my pups that mentioned her daughter had been recommended it and read it.

I was encouraged that she was looking into such matters but knowing what we all know here, was worried it would have some significant "differences" (being polite). Sounds like it does, Dr McBride needs to visit a hamster show...150kg maximum indeed!! lol


Thanks for that
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Old 12-28-2015, 09:55 AM   #4
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

Well now....I have just been given this book by my Syrian Mocho for Xmas! I am not sure if this was because he thinks his care falls below his expectations! It may be because my OH thought a small reference book was better than none. After a brief glance through, I would say that it is very good preparation for a young owner. It has looks of cute pictures too.
I agree with Shannon that after that coming onto HC would be the best!
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Old 12-28-2015, 12:27 PM   #5
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I avoid hamster books like the plague! For people who apparently have PhD's, they know nothing about hamsters. One that they had on sale at pets at home said that modular cages are okay on their own without a big cage connected to them!

It's way better to use HC, I agree.
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Old 12-28-2015, 02:02 PM   #6
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I did mention HC to them, always drop it into my messaging

Just wondered what information the girl was getting elsewhere and if it was worrying or not, sounds like it is basic and fairly harmless...at least they were looking for a pure WW not a hybrid and that is a good start.
I wouldn't be advocating anyone reading anything in particular but was just interested in what it was like.
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Old 12-28-2015, 02:20 PM   #7
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I think those are the books I got when I was deciding to get a hamster again, before I found the forum. I'll have to reread them now and see... I think they were okay but a bit vague on some points as nearly all the books are. Y'know, things like a decent cage & suitable food but no sizing or quantities, that sort of thing. But then hamster care is changing so rapidly that all books are out of date too soon if you do that. Hamsterlopdedia is a good example of that. Excellent book but the cage sizes, now, seem pretty small.
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Old 12-28-2015, 05:03 PM   #8
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I watched Erins Animals review of hamsterlopedia and I was interested by the anatomical drawings, I like that there's some real science in there even if the housing recommendations are out of date.

Considering the dearth of any real info on hamsters outside the Internet, and even then kind of restricted to a few places, any book that encourages a young person to start researching is a good book I guess
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Old 12-28-2015, 06:38 PM   #9
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I agree. I was very encouraged to see that she had looked into things before thinking of getting a hamster and it is hard to get information.

Even on the internet different opinions are held by different people, all with valid experience and reasons and that can confuse new or prospective hamster owners.

I think that what matters most is that the hamster is loved and cared for and that the housing/toys make them happy and allows for their needs as they grow and develop. When I have been shown the cages or asked my opinion I have kept that in mind and told them what I have discovered about my hamsters which are the parents of theirs.

Last edited by slatted; 12-28-2015 at 06:44 PM.
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Old 12-29-2015, 04:00 AM   #10
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Default Re: Has anyone read Hamster Care books by Dr Anne McBride?

I've got the Dwarf Hamsters book and whilst it's not the best book out there, I don't think it's the worst. They've not labelled a photo of a Chinese Hamster as Russian like in one book I saw and it also says that Chinese Hamsters are better off kept separately which is more accurate than the leaflets the pet shops gave me when buying some of my hamsters. I don't like the fact that the photographs show unsuitable cages such as a one with a wire platform.

However I think that whilst books are a great starting point, I think they're best supplemented with information from internet resources. I'd probably refer people to the websites from some of the NHC breeders and sites such as this one.
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