Hello! I am a fairly new hamster parent (I don’t want to call myself an “owner”!) and I’m glad to have found this forum! I was googling for some advice on a hamster related issue, which I’ll address on another thread, and it lead me to this place. We got our teddy bear hamster, Hamtaro, as a baby a few months ago, and he quickly became a member of the family. I have never had a hamster before (though I had a gerbil when I was a child) so this is a new adventure for me!
We did not actually plan on getting a hamster. A family member had purchased him as a birthday gift for their child’s friend without checking first with the parents….bad idea….and, not surprisingly, the child was not allowed to keep the "gift". The (homeless) hamster made a stop at our house for a visit as my family member's child was trying to find him a home, and before we knew it, we were hooked. When the whole family, including the dad, are huddled around the cage talking baby talk, it is a pretty good sign the hamster is not leaving!
We also have two dogs, a 12 year old black lab named Jasmine and a 7 year old large mixed breed (part Newfoundlander) named Saheira, and they were curious about the hamster from the start, though initially we were not sure if they thought he looked cute or delicious
. We made a point of having the cage out in the main living area once Ham was settled in so that he and the dogs could get used to one another. Although we know our dogs very well, this was a new situation and we took our time acquainting them with Hamtaro. Very recently…in the last couple of weeks….we finally have trusted them enough that they touch noses with him while he is walking around on the coffee table. Saheira was even grooming him a little, and he was completely unbothered by it. I think she sees him as a baby/puppy.
This morning I was really glad the dogs and hamster are so comfortable with each other because Ham got loose for the first time during the night last night (my fault!) and we relied on the dogs to find him for us. My lab found him in no time, and since Hamtaro is so used to the dogs, he did not dart off when Jasmine found him and was sniffing at him. He pretty much just sat there and visited with the dog until my husband walked over and picked him up.
Anyway, as a new hamster parent, I’m looking forward to the advice and insight more experienced parents have to share. I had no idea this furry fellow would be such a member of the family, but I’m sure all of you can relate!
New Hamster Parent
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