Taming

Basia · 02-22-2007, 05:19 PM

Well I'm determined to do a better job of taming Sybil than I did Basil. Bad tempered dogs, horses, rabbits hold no fear for me but I have to admit I am nervous of hamsters I think it must be because I was badly bitten by a friends hamster as a child.
My children tamed our previous hamsters, by the time I handled them they were already tame. Basil is tame up to a point, he lets me stroke him and will run over me in the playpen but is very jumpy and fast if I try to pick him up. I am (understandably I think) nervous of him since he bit me a couple of times. I really don't think he was being aggressive, he is unbelievably greedy and sees me as a source of all treats. I think he was seeing if he could eat me, but it hurt and the damage has been done psychologically and I think I make him nervous now.
Well Sybil and I are doing ok I think. She is incredibly slow and placid. I have been stroking her and putting my hand on the floor in front of her so she walks on me since the second day really but today I actually held her, sitting on the floor and she walked (slowly) from one hand to the other. I think it helps that she shows no signs of biting me and is soooo slow.

Holly · 02-23-2007, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basia

Well Sybil and I are doing ok I think. She is incredibly slow and placid. I have been stroking her and putting my hand on the floor in front of her so she walks on me since the second day really but today I actually held her, sitting on the floor and she walked (slowly) from one hand to the other. I think it helps that she shows no signs of biting me and is soooo slow.

I'm glad it's going well

Exactly my experience with Mocha - which reinforces the idea that Silver-Greys are very calm and great for the nervous novice! I love the way you say your children tamed your previous hamsters, if I'm honest my son tamed Treacle and Custard - but Mocha calmly sat on my lap almost from the start (to the point where I thought he was frozen in fear!) and was a great confidence booster. He is a joy to have around. I can now happily handle all three of our hamsters and like to think that I wouldn't be as nervous with a new one.

I just hope Sybil hasn't inherited Moxy's chewing habit

suga · 02-23-2007, 02:08 AM

That's great news. A bad experience can be of putting and a good one has the completely opposite effect - i was soo nervous of holding mine originally and it took a long time to pick her up without being really nervous. Keep it up and you will both be fine I am sure.

**pophammy** · 02-23-2007, 04:55 AM

Glad to hear that Sybil is doing well! If you need any help with taming there is an article on HC called 'Taming Tips'. You can find it by clicking on the link below:

http://www.hamstercentral.com/user.php? ... ticle&a=44

Basia · 02-23-2007, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the replies - no bar chewing yet Holly

I read the article Pophammy, I have also read other articles on taming and it have tried to do a lot of it, hence the sitting in the playpen (and the bath). Trouble is Basil is quite a nervy hamster, he runs at the speed of light and jumps and if I put my hand in front of him he nips. This has made me sort of pull my hand away when he comes up to it which in turn makes him nervous. With Sybil I have made myself leave my hand there for her to sniff and walk on but she has never tried to bite me and moves very slowly. I am beginning to trust her and vice versa. I am quite annoyed with myself, I have handled some really vicious rabbits in my time and they can bite a lot harder than a little hamster but I have rarely been bitten by a rabbit and I must have handled hundreds with stewarding at shows, visiting other breeders and my own many, many rabbits. It comes down to confidence I suppose. I am hoping if Sybil builds my confidence I might feel happier handling Basil 'cause he is a lovely little boy.

Basia · 02-23-2007, 04:54 PM

This is Sybil - does anyone know what colour she is?[/img]

Holly · 02-24-2007, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basia

This is Sybil - does anyone know what colour she is?

Well, she looks a lot like Mocha and the consensus of opinion here and on other forums is that he's either a Silver Grey or possibly a Sepia/Sepia Silver Grey.

I'd say Mocha, in the flesh (fur!), doesn't look as brown/beige as his pictures make him look - I think he catches the flash a bit. Would you day Sybil is the same?

Anyway, she's beautiful

....I'm developing a real liking for grey hammies!

Basia · 02-24-2007, 02:25 AM

Mocha is so gorgeous, everytime I see a photo of him I think he is a particularly adorable hammie.
Sybil's picture is not quite as she is in the flesh due to the flash it seems to have made her more tan coloured. I think this photo is the nearest to how she really is.
[img]

[/img]

Hana · 02-24-2007, 02:47 AM

Shr is very cute and does look like Mocha to me, I'm not very good at colours though. I have that cage for my winter white Snowy!

Holly · 02-24-2007, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basia

I think this photo is the nearest to how she really is.
[img]

[/img]

I'd say that's awfully like Mocha's real colouring as well.

I'm taking him to Lymm in two weeks so I'll let you know what colour the experts say he is - Sybil is the same I suspect