Hamster leads/harnesses?

lizard · 03-22-2013, 02:17 PM

So I've read on here that a lot of people hate them and think their cruel to hamsters. I looked on YouTube and their was one video where a girl had tied string to her hamster and was dragging it backwards on the floor! But there are other videos of hamsters actually having fun and walking on leads.
I've been considering one, I don't want to take madi outside, but whenever I get her out of her cage she so energetic and will try and run away so I don't risk having her out much. I was thinking if I put her on a lead then she can explore my room and I don't have to worry about her getting lost. I've heard of people who just allow their pets to roam around a room exploring and they'll come back to them but I know madi wouldn't be like that. I want to bond with her more. My room is very small so I couldn't fit a playpen for us to use.
Also on one of the posts someone said they had one to keep their hamster still at the vets, I thought that would be clever, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't stay still for a vet, she won't stay that still for me!

I don't like the look of the ones that are small string as they look like they could strangle them! But I've seen one which is like a vest/jacket kinda think that goes around their front body and legs. If I did try it I'd make sure she was comfy and if she didn't like it I wouldn't force her to use it!
What do people think about it, is it worth trying?

iwasbornwright · 03-22-2013, 02:24 PM

I used to take my guinea pigs for walks to the park on their harnesses but I wouldn't dream of putting one on a hamster. But it's all personal choice at the end of the day x

LavoChain · 03-22-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwasbornwright

I used to take my guinea pigs for walks to the park on their harnesses but I wouldn't dream of putting one on a hamster. But it's all personal choice at the end of the day x

Guinea pigs should not wear a harness or lead! Their spines are not suited to those sorts of things and it is much too easy to hurt them. I'm not meaning to come off as rude but it's shocking how pet shops can still sell these things.

I would not use one for a hamster either, can you not ham proof your room or use the bath?

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-22-2013, 02:31 PM

I'd not do it, the vets are used to hams who don't want to stay still - our vets can all restrain Scamp and Fwirl better than I can lol

And just sit in the bath or a giant cardboard box with Madi, you'll get used to each other and will be more confident in retrieving her when she goes off exploring when you let her out. Ours all try and race off, it doesn't stop us getting them out, the furthest we go is making sure we're both around if all three of the trio are being handled and thats just as a precaution.

Oh and if you can't make her stay still... How'd you plan on getting her still to fit the harness? lol

lizard · 03-22-2013, 02:35 PM

I live in a student house n its a tad old and I have quite a bit of furniture and holes she could get stuck in! I've tried her in the bath, she mainly just tried to climb out, but I didn't get in the bath as I knew she'd climb on me and try to escape.
This house is quite yucky in quite a few places so they only place she's been out of a ball is my bed! I've considered letting her down in the bathroom at my parents house over easter as its clean and not cluttered but I'd worry about the toilet area and the cleaning products there!
How else could I bond with her?

squishyhammy · 03-22-2013, 02:38 PM

i wouldnt touch the thins. hamsters that are particularly i could imagine they could slip out or get caught

lizard · 03-22-2013, 02:39 PM

Are most vets experienced with hamsters, I'm worried the vet wouldn't know correctly and she could run away from them and get lost.
She's pretty tame but just so energetic. When I first pick her up she's okay to hold but then she gets excitable and starts like running up me and squirming when I try to get her back down from where she's climbed to!

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-22-2013, 02:39 PM

Then get a ton of cardboard and block stuff off. Or get in the bath with her and learn to get her off your shoulders if she climbs to them.
You're not going to bond with her unless you spend time with her outside of her cage, and I really don't think a harness is the way to spend time with her out of her cage.

And you can ask the vets when you register. We found out who the best in our practice is when we registered but so far every vet we've met seems to have handled rodents before.

LavoChain · 03-22-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizard

Are most vets experienced with hamsters, I'm worried the vet wouldn't know correctly and she could run away from them and get lost.
She's pretty tame but just so energetic. When I first pick her up she's okay to hold but then she gets excitable and starts like running up me and squirming when I try to get her back down from where she's climbed to!

Kyrilliondaemon has given you some great advice as always so I won't bang on about the same thing. I would like to add though that if your vet can't even handle a hamster properly I wouldn't be too confident with them treating or operating on them!

lizard · 03-22-2013, 02:44 PM

Okay.
Do you think instead of the bath, we could go in the shower together, I know its much smaller but its enclosed so she couldn't escape?
I haven't registered with a vet yet, but planning to soon.