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Old 10-01-2018, 09:09 AM   #21
JennySTL
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

She is so lovely!
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Old 10-01-2018, 07:47 PM   #22
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Sounds like Liquorice has been keeping you entertained and her latest pics are so cute. She's got a mesmerising face that pulls me in and melts my heart.
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Old 10-07-2018, 09:49 AM   #23
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Thank you Coco61, Sasha04, cypher, Ruth Edwards, JennySTL and Thin Lizzy for your lovely messages. Liquorice has been managing to mesmerise me more with her beauty as she getting more comfortable with being handles and I know she know how gorgeous she is, fortunately no more bites!

Coco61 – I did find getting bitten twice very daunting and did really knock my confidence but I am not somebody who give up and just had to find a new way which worked best for us both to continuing our bonding – luckily the gloves have really helped with taming Liquorice. Although the only other hamster to bite me during taming was Cotton and she blossomed into a very sweet girl that I knew that Liquorice will too with time.

_______________

Taming Diaries – Day 13 to Day 22

These updates I have grouped days together as the taming progress was very similar. Huge progress has been made!

Day 13 to 15 – I started to wear thinner gloves for taming so that Liquorice would be able to smell my hand but she would still feel comfortable that their was a barrier inbetween to help her feel calm when being handled. Initially she was very nervy about the change of gloves so after being handled Liquorice did spend the majority of her taming session hiding away or keeping herself amused in her playpen – occasionally she did find some of her confidence to come out for a cuddle but was quite shaky and was happy to be placed back into her playpen. The following day I started taming with a session of cuddle and I found this started to help her confidence grow – we even made progress with being picked up and also getting stroked from head to tail where she wouldn’t flinch or get shaky but stayed calm. Although once returned to her cage Liquorice was getting more relaxed with the idea of taking treats from me instead of refusing them.

Day 16 to Day 19 – As she was starting to feel at ease with being handled with me wearing thin gloves plus me wanting to go back to handling her with my bare hand I took one glove off therefore my left hand still had a glove on whereas my right I didn’t. I must admit I was a little nervy as she wanted to sniff my hand before stepping on but she didn’t show any intent to bite so as taming went on I also started to feel more relaxed too. Every day during taming something spooked Liquorice that she would end up spending taming cowering away and she looked a little scared that on Day 19 half way through her taming session I decided that a possible switch in taming methods might help with bosting her confidence. This is a method I started using for Maple once I had upgraded her to the DIY cage so I decided to switch from using “Cotton’s method” to a the method I have dedicated to Maple in her memory – “Maple’s Method”. Maple’s method involves using the carrier and placing Liquorice inside – I ensure she has somewhere to hide i.e. a bendy bridge. So once Liquorice is inside I don’t close the lid but leave it open so when she want to she can climb out. Whenever she climbs out I offer my hand and will cuddle her briefly before returning her (like I was doing with “Cotton’s method”) but I instantly noticed a big improvement in her confidence she looked so much more relaxed plus me moving didn’t cause her to flinch. At the end of this session she was more than happy for me to pick her up from the carrier to return her to her cage.

Day 20 to 22 – I been continuing to use “Maple’s Method” to tame Liquorice and the improvement have been huge that I can’t be more proud of the progress she has been making. Whenever something made her feel uneasy she would seek me for comfort and reassurance – and with some gentle massage she would relax. Although her confidence has grown significantly since I started taming she is still shaky initially after getting her out but with a bit of time this stops. Liquorice has done something that none of my past hamsters have ever done in taming on Day 21 and Today (Day 22) – Liquorice melted into my hand whilst stroking her head and started to fall asleep – this instantly melted my heart and it made me more aware that our special bond is blossoming plus the switch in taming methods is doing wonders for her. Today even marked the first day I handled her with no gloves since being bitten – I can’t be more happier especially with her walking from hand to hand with confidence and even allowing me to pick her up. Eventhough I wouldn’t say she fully tame yet but nearing that stage and I couldn’t me more proud of Liquorice.


Recently I have been considering moving Liquorice into the DIY cage as I feel that this would be a beneficial move to Liquorice as she will have lots of space to run around, deep bedding to dig and plus have plenty of sheltered spot to hide in if she feel scared something the IKEA Samla doesn’t provide. I am planning of setting up the cage for her sometime this week or next depending on how busy I am – using it as a play area during taming and like with Maple allowing Liquorice to decide when she want to move into permanently.

Liquorice has also decided that she not overly keen with using her sand as a toilet instead rather pee in the comfort of her house. Hopefully this habit will stop and she will realise sand is a lot nicer and less smelly place to pee.

This Saturday was a special day as it marked a month since bringing Liquorice hime she has been a joy to have and it so lovely seeing her specially sweet personality emerging more and more with each day!

Due to my focus being more on taming recently I haven’t managed to get many photo of Liquorice during her taming session although did get these two cheeky photos of her…

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Last edited by SKB_Hamsters; 10-07-2018 at 10:41 AM.
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Old 10-07-2018, 12:30 PM   #24
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

I’m so happy for you two! Glad to hear how well taming is going! Bahaha! Both photos are two cute! So exited to hear more!
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Old 10-07-2018, 02:12 PM   #25
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Lovely photos of Liquorice, she’s stunning. Sounds like taming has come along brilliantly too, it really is an achievement. I’m sure she’ll love the cage upgrade when the time is right.
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Old 10-07-2018, 09:18 PM   #26
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Good to hear how you've found ways to interact & move taming on so well now.
The sand bath photo really made me smile & the second one is just so sweet
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Old 10-08-2018, 01:33 AM   #27
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Liquorice is a real beauty! Sounds like you are forming a wonderful bond with her.
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:11 PM   #28
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

lol! These pics so made me giggle, she's black beauty with loads of charisma. She so oozes with beauty!
Picture perfect.
Loving hearing about your ongoing taming and bond.
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Old 10-23-2018, 09:08 AM   #29
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

Thank you Sasha04, mangoandmimi, cypher, pinkpixie and Thin Lizzy. She really is a black beauty I am totally smitten over her and the progress she has made is huge although still not fully tame yet but we are getting there.

Like I mentioned in Treacle's thread I had initially planned to update you all on Liquorice last week but due to being busy and troubles with my internet I have only just found time now to post the reply I had started to prepare.
_______________

Wonderful Progress

Liquorice has made amazing progress since I last shared her taming diaries with you last Sunday…

On Monday 8th, I went back to just using my bare hands and Liquorice did wonderfully gave my hands a good sniff – which was a little nerve wracking for me but I stayed calm – and Liquorice felt comfortable and was happy walking from hand to hand. As I was sitting on the floor once Liquorice confidence fully came out she just wanted to climb down off my lap onto the floor. As she is comfortable with me picking her up I decided to let her have a little explore with in my reach at first she was a little shaky but she stayed close to me and was happy to get lots of cuddles before it was time to go back in her cage. Tuesday 9th, I the playpen back up with myself being one of the sides – she seemed so much more relaxed in it plus whenever she felt unsure she would come running over to me to seek comfort – this really melted my heart. I even whitnessed some of her naughty tortie shining through her shy exterior! I decided to weigh Liquorice again today just to see how she is doing weight wise – and currently she is 140g – again I thought she would weigh more as she does look very big.

Wednesday, I had to do taming early today as I had a busy afternoon so Liquorice was a little more tired than usual but still happy to be our getting cuddles plus getting to have an explore of the playpen. As it wasn’t our usual time for her taming session there were lots of different noise she hasn’t yet heard like the doorbell – so she was a little jumpy but apart from that she did marvellously . Thursday 11th, marked another great taming session, very curious and thoroughly enjoyed all the cuddles she received.

Friday 12th, Today a little more nervous that she has been in previous days but still her friendly self and was more than happy to picked up when she tried venturing out of her playarea (i.e. trying to sneak past unnoticed). But she wasn’t very happy about having to go back in her cage as she was getting a little sleepy, so when I tried to get her ot come over she did stand up and get a little defensive showed me her teeth but once she realised it was only me she happy to climb onto my hand for me to returned to her cage. Unfortunately Saturday I was very busy so had to miss her taming session, but we made up from the missed taming session on Sunday – as Liquorice did amazingly so had lots of cuddles, was being very cheeky plus scented marked everything in her playpen. Also today I decided her cage needed a bit of spot cleaning – as her cage was getting a little smelly eventhough I frequently spot clean her house – so wondered where this awful pee smell was coming from. That’s when I realised that as well as having a hamster who pee is her house Liquorice is also peeing in her wheel! Liquorice is the very first hamster I have had who has peed in her wheel hopefully I will be something she grow out of!

So now for Monday 15th taming updates, another amazing day although a little hesitant at first as I decided to introduce her to the wooden wheel – so she was very nervous to approach it and kept making herself jump but once she realised what the wooden wheel was – she absolutely loved it plus rubbed her hips all over it. We hardly had many cuddles as she was having too much fun in wheel but when she had breaks she ventured over for a quick cuddle before returning to her running. I would pretty much say she is almost tame – word can’t express how proud of her I am as she has come so far! Plus, I started setting up my DIY cage for Liquorice however I have to get a few more toys and chews to go in her cage as the cage looks fairly empty plus I don’t feel comfortable using any of Maple’s toys or chews (they are still all up in my loft). Although the cage isn’t ready for her to move in yet - I did let Liquorice have an explore and she was loving exploring – I was a little apprehensive that she would be a little nervous but she looked very happy and confident to explore. So hopefully once I have finished setting the cage up she will feel happy to move in permantely as I know she will love it.

Liquorice moved into her DIY cage on Tuesday, I wasn’t going to move her in so soon but she looked to at ease and relaxed plus was having lots of fun exploring that I decided to leave her in the cage after taming and see would monitor her and if before I went to bed she looked stressed I was going to move her back to her bin cage. However she was thoroughly enjoying herself that I decided that she could stay in the DIY cage – and she is loving all the additional space she now has – plus like Pumpkin and Maple enjoying having access to two wheels. I decided to not to get Liquorice out for a few days for taming just to let her fully adjust to her new home plus I was really busy that I wasn’t available to get her out in the evening. Although resumed taming on Thursday which she was happy to come out again and explore her playpen although during Friday taming session she did bite my finger again – the bite looks worse that it actually is plus I didn’t feel a thing. I quickly managed to get a plaster on my finger and wash my hands – instead of putting her straight back in her cage after biting I did continue taming just so she is doesn’t start associating biting with going back into her cage. Taming has continued to go well the following day and she is still ok/plus I still feel comfortable holding her bare handed so hoping that soon she will be fully tame as she almost there. Even though she has recently bit me I do feel that she has made wonderful progress in her taming.

When Liquorice is confident I can really see her true mischievous side glowing through but her nervousness keeps her from fully expressing herself. But with time she will realise that there is nothing to be worried about and she can just be herself.

As well as the updates her are some cute photos of Liquorice, investigating her cork log for the first time plus playing around in her tent – that she ended up knocking over! …


And here is how her DIY cage looks like at the moment – fortunately she hasn’t made a big mess of her cage!

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Old 10-23-2018, 09:46 AM   #30
Lorraine
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Default Re: All About My Liquorice

She's really sweet,lovely color!
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