Hamsters and Dogs?

[WoodFamily2012]

We have a German Shepherd, shes my baby.
Recently getting the hamster (around a month) we didnt think was going to be such a big deal..she was at first, really good with him, she knew to sit at the cage and she can look but she cant make loud noise or sudden movements. She always was very obedient with him and understood he was small and delicate. Recently in the last few days, shes suddenly not listening when we say to leave him alone or to move away from the cage. She also now bashes the cage with her nose, giving my little man the fright of his life of course, sometimes hes good and stands his ground and doesnt even bother, but sometimes he doesnt expect it.
Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Its probably just jealousy and unawareness that hes a hamster and wanting to play with him, but from his point of view, massive dog bashing me = not good.

I posted this previously but in the wrong forum. oooppss

[racinghamster]

German Shepherds can be very loud dogs and are probably the most vocal of most dog breeds so I imagine a bark from one would scare the life out of a small critter. I know, I have one living next door and the noise resonates through my double glazing!

Does the hamsters cage need to be in a room where the dog is all the time? If he was mine (the hamster I mean) I would be looking at the bedroom for the hamster to stay in but I imagine doggy is allowed access all areas? So if that`s the case, the dog needs to be kept quiet and de-sensitised from the hamster. In other words, the hamster cage is out of bounds. If the dog now knows he can go up to and bark at or try and nudge the cage, this behaviour needs to be addressed. It depends how much energy you have and knowledge of training/rehabilitating behaviour. x

[Shannonmcn]

I would very strongly recommend that you move the cage to a room where the dog can't be near it. You might think that your ham is "standing his ground" and is okay sometimes but as tiny prey animal they are very easily stressed by even just the smell of predators, your ham does not need this stress in his life. They also hide their discomfort as it is a sign of weakness and can make them more vulnerable to large predators, like a dog. This is one of the reasons it is sometimes difficult to spot illnesses or injuries, they will act completely normal for as long as they can.

The dog "bashing" the cage isn't just not good, it will be completely terrifying for him. Please don't make him go through that anymore

[racinghamster]

Shannon is correct. The dog living near me lets out a bark when I`m in the garden and I nearly leap from the fright he gives me! They are SO loud. Goodness knows how that sounds to a hamster. x

[WoodFamily2012]

Shes free to roam all over, but the hamster is always in our bedroom and when we arent around the door is closed, making sure the dog cannot get in. She never ever barks at him. She just gives the cage a nudge, as if she wants to play, i dont think she understands hes only small and cant play like another dog could with her. She is good with her training and i am too, just sometimes she does not listen. What i have noticed is that she is perfectly fine sitting with him, giving each other sniffs through the bars, but as soon as you say to her that she needs to come here or leave the room, thats when she nudges the cage. Like i say sometimes the little guy doesnt even bother, but sometimes he gets a bit of a fright. We do try and keep them apart as much as we can.

[Shannonmcn]

The dogs feelings or behaviour honestly doesn't matter. They shouldn't be in the same room at the same tkme at all in my opinion. It's not hard to keep the door closed all the time, it's just getting into a habit of closing it after yourself. The ham doesn't know she just wants to play, even if that is true and it isn't just that she wants to see what he tastes like.

Occasionally we have dogs visit my house and they would never for a second be allowed in my room with Cc, why would I put her through that stress for no reason?

[racinghamster]

Yes, keeping them apart seems the best action really. German Shepherds are intelligent but a high energy breed and that`s possibly why they pace around, whine a lot and bark through frustration. Many need a LOT of excersize and stimulation. That`s probably why they are used as police dogs and army dogs. They are very trainable though, but being the type of breed they are, they do require commands rather than treats! x

[WoodFamily2012]

Yeah, they are kept apart and will continue to be.
Shes a dog not a toy, her feelings do matter.
Shes very obedient and is getting better with listening when it comes to him.

[BrainGirl]

If she sometimes doesn't listen then she's not good with her training. Sorry to sound harsh but having grown up around Schutzhund-level GSDs, if the dog doesn't obey, then it needs to go back in its training.

Not bashing your dog at all! My last shepherd was not what I would call well trained, but he was a really nice dog. He was smart, just a little too slow to respond for that level of work. He was never mean and never barked without a reason. But he was big and could do damage without intending it. He once accidentally stepped on a squirrel he was trying to play with. The squirrel of course died instantly and my dog kept looking from the squirrel to me and whining. The game was over and he didn't know why.

I would take the advice of others and keep your hamster well away from your dog. Even the smell of a dog has been known to upset my hamsters so I keep them behind closed door if there are any visitors of a canine persuasion

[WoodFamily2012]

Thankyou for the advice
Youre definitely right, not doubting that lol she can be a little menace sometimes!

R.I.P Mr squirrel. I completely understand