Waffles
- Thread starter Doodleham
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She looks very cute there eating her treat on the huge black glove. It's great that the glove allows you to interact with her without the risk of being bitten 
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She literally would leap from my hand if I never had the glove on. I had been trying to use the back of my left hand along with the gloved hand to try and get her used to non gloved hands but she walked onto the non gloved hand and literally leapt in the air as soon as she realised it was bare skinShe looks very cute there eating her treat on the huge black glove. It's great that the glove allows you to interact with her without the risk of being bitten
. (Don't worry the hands were nearly on the ground in the playpen.)
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Socks starts washing himself if I touch him. He will sometimes stop what he is doing and start to groom himself to take away the smell of my fingers 
. I always wash my hands before handling him or taking him to the playpen in his tube. They must be able to smell something on us we don't know about. Getting rid of that smell is almost urgent. But I know Socks still loves me in his hamstery way
. I always wash my hands before handling him or taking him to the playpen in his tube. They must be able to smell something on us we don't know about. Getting rid of that smell is almost urgent. But I know Socks still loves me in his hamstery way 
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It's a lovely photo and you've spent so much time and patience with her - it's great she interacts with you. It's a shame she is scared of hands/warm skin etc. And yes maybe she does see/smell humans as predators for some reason - maybe to do with her history. Such a shame. Would it be worth having delectable treats on your non gloved hand 
Like half a walnut or something she can't resist? She might forget about it. Although I guess you risk a nip then.
Like half a walnut or something she can't resist? She might forget about it. Although I guess you risk a nip then.
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Perhaps hamsters are apalled by our lack of fur - "they're mostly bald!" 
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Thinking about it, actually I think she has. I think she's lightened up and the dark patches have got darker. Weird!
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Aww just been catching up with Waffles (I love her name - can I add her name to my Naming thread? - you will be credited). Mealworms are a major hit for Russian Dwarfs - all 3 of my RIP Dwarfs snatched mealworms up first - before any other food - especially Gizmo, who would literally stuff them as fast as possible into his cheeks - and then head back down his burrow with one sticking out of his mouth lol.
Waffles is very cute - if a little fiesty xx
Waffles is very cute - if a little fiesty xx
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Yes that's fine
I also have "Bruce"
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Waffles has a new trick 
. She now jumps onto my gloved hand and then tries to climb up my arm. She's so fast. She still doesn't trust bare hands and part of me thinks she may never trust them. However she now accepts both the left and right gloved hand which is progress, as she used to attack the left hand. Her favourite is my right hand though 
. I'm taking it as a great sign of progress her climbing on me.
. She now jumps onto my gloved hand and then tries to climb up my arm. She's so fast. She still doesn't trust bare hands and part of me thinks she may never trust them. However she now accepts both the left and right gloved hand which is progress, as she used to attack the left hand. Her favourite is my right hand though . I'm taking it as a great sign of progress her climbing on me.
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That's a sign of affection, she likes you! Maybe in more time you won't need the gloves
I'm happy that she eventually likes me. Fingers crossed the gloves can eventually go. But if they can't I'm ok with that. It's her choice
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Like @Mweekie , I'm also catching up and agree that Waffles is the cutest name! I'm so happy for Waffles that he found someone who has so much patience to work with his fear of hands. I remember being in a local Pet store a few years ago when we had our first Syrian. There was a hamster that had been returned who must have had something similar- scarred from its prior owners. One of the workers showed me how if she put her hand in he'd try bite, but if she covered her whole hand with her sweatshirt it was better. I remember that at the time I couldn't take home another hamster and I was so new that I wasn't even sure I would have known how to work with the hamster. However, if I ever encountered that again I'd probably review your posts for ideas! It's so hard to find people who will work with animals who've been conditioned to have adverse reactions to people, and yet they need us more than most!
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Waffles is a girl
@Doodleham also has Bruce (boy dwarf hamster) But yes @Doodleham has worked wonders with patience and care.
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Oh! Lol. I think I looked at the wrong earlier post when I was looking at gender.Waffles is a girl
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Oh! Lol. I think I looked at the wrong earlier post when I was looking at gender.
. I’ve been known to do that too 