What to do / Taming

[Artisans_uk]

I've just been catching up on your attempts to tame Spot. Just to pick up on the weeing in the house situation, Bracken used to do that too and it was most frustrating because she too stored her hoard in there, so it had to be discarded regularly. However, I am pleased to say that she has finally started to use her litter tray, it only took about nine months but success at last. I did change her house a little while before she changed her habits, so I don't know if there was a connection. The new house, a wooden one, was part of her 1st birthday present. She now fills as much of her house as possible, with goodies, before I meddle with it.

Hopefully Spot will also change his toilet habits, sooner rather than later, for you.

[Spot]

Thanks for commenting Wisp i shall start doing a can can with a marache band


And thts good Artisans! shame they dont come ready to perform like a good monkey only joking! but its good to know its achievable, i dont mind the time scale i just dont want to mess the poor hamster up. Oh the presssures of a pet.

I have a different house (one that came with an alexander) so wasnt sure if that would be better to swop over with and take the Leif house out at the moment till maybe Spot is older!

Sounds like Bracken had a lovely birthday! im quite shocked how they take over our lifes i adore him!

[Spot]

So mini update Marache band commenced under the guise of spot clean so top off Alexander... took top of house and what a surprise spot wide awake just sitting there thinking what the heck is this Alien doing now!

Soooo spot went into his ball (only for 10mins) enjoyed running round while i checked for fresh food and moved poo/wee back to the corner sand toilet!

So at the end of the ball i thought he could come out onto my hand into a cardboard box (shallow) put some fitch down and some food scattered so its a neurtral setting to try taming , and he finally went into the box. Now while in the box he was prancing around looking for ways to get out i offered a treat with my hand and he ignored it. fair enough, so i tried smoothing his fur on his back with one finger .. swear i gave him an electric shock i felt terrible he jumped out of his skin and went onto his back with his feet peddling, now i didnt come down like a claw of doom and he saw my finger face on so it wasnt a surrpise as such. but it gave both of us a surprise. Now he didnt cry out or scream or any noise but he then and went back in his cage and now sulking in his house again.

so have i gone 50 steps back? or could this be sight progress lol

[Willow Wisp]

I think your doing just fine
Hazel does that petrified jumping thing if I try to get her onto my hand when she's in the cage. It's odd because I can move things around her cage with her in there and it doesn't phase her at all, and she's happy to climb out of the door and onto my hand but put my hand near her in the cage and she jumps so high she almost knocks herself out on the roof lol. So basically I don't try to get her onto my hand yet from the cage because I'm following her lead so with Spot I would suggest continuing doing exactly what your doing but maybe hold off on the stroking part until he's a little more confident with you

As for the potty training, Hazel did the same as Spot, I would collect all her pee soaked Fitch and add it to the potty, she would go straight over and dig it all out, spread it around and then go and pee in her house lol. I changed the house, to one big enough to put her nest and litter tray into and it's worked to a point. You know when your potty training a child & they are dry during the day but still wet the bed at night? Well that's Hazel lol During the day she pees in her litter tray, because she can leave her nest, take a couple of steps still in the house and be safe and dark and use the loo, BUT at night when she's up, well then she pees in her wheel.....
Maybe changing Spots leif house could help with potty training?
But it is still really early days, and for this short a time span Spit really is doing beautifully and your doing wonderfully too Patience and confidence

[Spot]

Thankyou i have considered removing the leif house and maybe putting a shoe box? or maybe using the house/ platform that came with the alexander that way its huge and long? so could fit the toilet and have a house bit either end.

I shall contemplate this.

It was such a shock , im not glad Hazel does it but it defo reassures me that i shouldn't google a hamster counsellor or something Lol i shall keep going slowly !

Thankyou again x (ii didnt make another thread or i would clutter the board) haha

[Thin Lizzy]

I did laugh at Spot taking his poo back to his house, it's a bit like a child having a comfort blanket but, Spot's is poo lol! Cypher has given great advice as always! To me Cypher is "The Hamster Whisperer".
Given time I'm sure Spot will grow out of storing his poo. Fingers crossed xx

[cypher]

I'm not sure who's been getting more stressed you or your little ham spot!
Really you're doing just fine, it all takes time & we have to learn to read our hams which isn't always remotely easy so we can often end up giving them & us a bit of a scare from time to time.
Changing the house is a bit of a tough choice to have to make, whatever you choose to do don't worry about little set backs, Spot will get over it & settle down again.
You're doing just fine & giving us some laughs along the way with little Spot!

[Spot]

Lol Thankyou Cypher i agree with the others i bow down to your hamster knowledge and expertise! maybe you neeed a new Tv show Cypher comes in and gives you the book of hamsters LOL (like this is your life)

But also Willow and Lizzy your super helpful too!

Totally agree i think spot just enjoys making me stressed haha its his ebil plan!

[Thin Lizzy]

Thanks Spot's mum! Like cypher says and I agree you're doing just fine! Spot has definitely changed your life in a good way!

[cypher]

lol! Spot Maybe I was a hamster in a previous life? I do try to think like one but haven't started stashing food under my bed... yet!