Hi! (some advice please)

MyrmidonPrince · 03-27-2017, 10:08 AM

Hi, this is my first post here and I wasn't quite sure where it should go!

I've had syrian hamsters since I was young, but for the first time today I decided to take my current hamster (Jekyll) outside because I'd seen a lot of people say their hamsters enjoyed it.

Long story short she absolutely loved it, she didn't stray too far and kept coming back to me every few minutes for a cuddle. Now, when I got back inside I had a weird thought and decided to see if anyone had ever made harnesses small enough for hamsters so you could put them on a lead while they're outside, expecting it to be something that only a few people did (if any at all).

But it looks like there are a lot of companies out there making harnesses and claiming they're safe to use with hamsters, and they seem to be selling really well. Does anyone here use one? Jekyll's a big muscly girl, so her being too small for them isn't a concern tbh.

I just thought if anyone were to know whether or not these are a good idea it would be someone on here lol.

tldr; are hamster harnesses safe and are there any particular models/brands I should look for?

SKB_Hamsters · 03-28-2017, 04:17 AM

Hello and Welcome to Hamster Central

Hamster harness are not safe to use for hamsters - personally I feel they can be quite dangerous as most harness to go around the hamsters necks.

As Jekyll enjoyed going outside I would advise that a playpen would be the best and safest option. You can make a playpen like this one Stylish playpen - I wouldn't make it too big but big enough so you can sit in there with her and she has room for a few toys too. These playpens are also tall enough so a Syrian can't escape. However Jekyll must be supervised the whole time she in the playpen - to ensure she doesn't escape as well as preventing birds or other animals from harming her.

Drago · 03-28-2017, 07:03 AM

Hello and welcome to hamster central!

As SKB has said, harnesses unfortunately aren't safe for several reasons

For one, it triggers their natural fear instincts, the idea of being grabbed by something unknown and held can cause them to panic and stress is definitely something you'll want to avoid. Another reason is that it can rub uncomfortably against their skin. For animals like dogs, horses, and MAYBE cats, leashes and harnesses are something they've grown used to over the years, but hamsters really have yet to adapt to that. Another risk is it being too tight, in all honesty there's really no way to tell whether it's too tight for them or not and a harness that's too tight can cause broken ribs and a whole list of other issues!
The playpen the SKB shared is a wonderful one that I'm sure would benefit Jekyll greatly

make sure when taking her outside it's not too hot, there's no chemicals on the grass where she plays, and always be monitoring. Have a sharp eye out for birds and other creatures that may want to make a snack of her! Best wishes

dreamtree1234 · 03-28-2017, 08:07 AM

Hello, MyrmidonPrince! Welcome to Hamster Central.

I agree with both SKB and Drago. Although it may seem like an excellent idea to use a harness for your sweetheart, it will DEFINITELY not be a good idea for the reasons mentioned previously. I do think that the playpen idea is an excellent one. Just keep a sharp eye on the conditions of Jekyll's surroundings and be sure to watch carefully that nothing attempts to harm your little one. Have fun and good luck with your outside excursions.