Hello... again!

[Rach]

In the lead up to lots of tests, I've not been on here much... but the tests are over and I have more time!! Fudge is doing very well still, but I'm still too scared to handle Summer. I feel cruel. But I would rather her safe in her cage than risk her getting hurt with her jumping away when I try to handle her. My fish is also 4 now! But his tank is already crowded, so I'll not add to the problem with a present. Camra has broken, so no new pictures... sorry. But it's good to be back...

And question. Will using gloves to handle Summer make her worse? Because it will give me confidence, but I don't want to make her life terrible by using gloves. I don't think I would be scared with them to help me. At the minute she goes out in the wheel with me watching outside when it's not cold or wet (I'm not allowed them in the balls in the house, but I watch them like a hawk outside!)

[souffle]

Glad to have you back Rach and hope the tests went well. Pophammy sits hers next week so has not been around much and lots of others have exams coming up.
Well I think that if you might be able to handle Summer wearing gloves then you should give it a go. If you have some of the soft, light, cotton gardening gloves you could use that would be best. I am sure that once you gained confidence with her, and her with you it would be very soon that you could start handling normally.
Give it a go and see how she takes to it. Maybe you could get in an empty bath with her and let her scramble over you then you will not need to worry about her jumping.
Let us know how it goes

[Holly]

Hi again Rach - good to see you back

Just a thought - where did Summer come from? On another forum I go to there are breeders who will take their hamsters back for a short period of intense socialisation - is that an option for you?

As someone who is a bit nervous of handling untame hamsters myself I know where you are coming from - I'm lucky that I have a ten year old hamster guru who isn't bothered by getting bitten! I know, without him, ours wouldn't be as tame as they are.

[Rach]

I'm not that lucky, Pets At Home keep them wild so yea, she's stayed like that for the 6 monthish I've had her because every time I go to pick her up, something just stops me. I have the option of getting bitten (I think thats my fear) and taming her or leaving poor hamster in the cage all her life, which I really don't want to do. I'd love the empty bath idea, but if anything touches my feet I kick out, and I'd not want to kill her! I've kicked the dog before, it's just one of those reactions I have, I'm extremely ticklish. Nice to be back here though and hear from you guys! I'm going to try the glove thing, I've got a pair that I used to tame Nibbler which have been sitting around outside in a pine shed for years, so they shouldn't smell of anything but pine anymore... I'll try and use them.