Introducing Bashful Blake

[Kem]

Hello all,

This is Blake, she is 6weeks old and she is a pedigree chocolate longhair syrian from the Bourne Valley lines.

I obviously am very biased, however...I think she is such a beautiful girl.

We collected Blake from the breeder on Sunday and we have rarely seen her since, when we've put food in for her she runs and hides behind her litter tray (classy lady ) or behind her house. I obviously don't want to force her out, so giving her time and hoping soon she will realise I'm not too bad .

We're currently just talking to her very softly and seeing how things progress as we really don't want to rush her. I felt awful earlier when I offered her a treat with my fingertips and she ran away .

Anyways, good things come to those who wait and for now here are a few pictures I've managed to catch of her .

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if I'm missing anything in her detolf, please let me know.

[cypher]

Awwww bless her! She does have a very sweet little face
I'm sure she'll come around soon & get braver.
The detolf looks great, plenty of space & some nice things in there, the only thing I would suggest is maybe some more substrate so you can have a nice dig & maybe a big pile of nesting tissue for her to use as & when she likes.

[Kem]

Thank you .

Added more substrate and now she has 3 big piles of nesting material , felt a bit odd having it all up my sleeve! Lol.

Some silly questions... She is currently hiding behind her house with no nesting material, will she be warm enough? Another thing is she very rarely leaves behind the house, unless we're asleep and I obviously don't want to rush taming her but I've read articles stating that the longer I leave it the harder it will be.

Thank you

[Skeever]

She's a wise ham. She knows she is both a)chocolate and b) a hamster. Those who seek the company of such an enlightened being must earn it I think it's cute she's being all shy and hard to get

[cypher]

I'm sure she'll come out from behind her house & make a nest if she gets a bit cold so I wouldn't worry too much about that.
I think it's better to take things slowly with taming, if you try to rush her you'll probably end up going back to square one anyway!
Just spend lots of time talking to her quietly so she gets used to you being around & put a tissue with your scent on in her cage so she gets accustomed to your smell being in there then gradually start to approach her with your hands, just try to take it at her pace & she should come round fairly soon.

[Kem]

Haha, Skeever! I can definitely see that!

Thank you Cypher , I was just anxious I was doing it all wrong by taking it very slowly. Happy to report she has now moved away from the walls and now in her nesting . I know she is active as heard her most of last night and this morning on her wheel!