While dogs are indeed man’s best friend, it may take some time for this relationship to develop. When you become a caretaker of a new puppy, you are establishing a new relationship and assuming significant responsibility for it. As such, becoming best friends with your dog, while an enjoyable process, also takes persistence, consistency, and discipline. Fortunately, it only makes the reward of this endeavour – a lifelong companion – even sweeter. Read on for some strategies to aid your puppy in adjusting to its new home and making this transition as seamless as possible.
1. Patience is key
Forging a new relationship often takes time and patience – establishing a bond with your dog is no exception. The length of this process depends on the pup. For some, it can happen over the course of a day and for others, it can take months.
Every dog has a unique disposition; some are more adaptable and open than others. Just like people, dogs need time to adjust to any new situation. Before jumping into the bonding process, we must highlight the importance of patience.
If your puppy is hesitant to bond with you, remember that it’s not anyone’s fault. They’re simply taking in their environment. Since the first few days are bound to be more chaotic, try and keep things as peaceful and positive as possible so that your dog can get comfortable.
You might want to immediately do all the activities you’ve been dying to do with your pup. However, do consider their feelings and behaviour before taking those steps. Does your dog seem anxious or withdrawn? Give them time to adjust so they won’t get overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds.
2. Ready their new home
Before you welcome your dog into its new home, you need to make sure it looks like there’s a designated space for them. Stock your place with all the pet-related essentials like toys, food, treats, and the like. You can browse our store for all of these and more for quick and reliable purchases.
It’s also essential that your house is “puppy-proofed”. This means ensuring that nothing in your home can cause harm to a dog. Ensure everything electrical is secured and inaccessible, and the necessary doors and drawers are locked away. Remember that they’re essentially babies who can’t help themselves, and it’s up to you to keep them safe.
3. Create a schedule and stick to it
Your new dog will constantly try to adapt and find a place in your home. Creating a schedule for them will make this process much more manageable.
A set routine is the best way to rein in your puppy and give them some structure. It helps them get potty trained faster, eat at healthy intervals, stabilise good behaviour, and bond with you in a less confusing environment. With a schedule, your dog is somewhat aware of what will happen next and can thus prepare themselves better. They also grow more confident when they can be sure that their needs will be met.
When creating a schedule, remember that it should chiefly consist of their training, potty breaks, playtime, meals, and nap time. You can even align their routine with your own, so your dog feels like they’re doing everything with you.
4. Playtime!
The most enjoyable aspect of bonding with your dog is engaging in playtime. Again, some dogs will immediately be ready to play with you upon coming home. Other times, your new pup will have to be cajoled. It’s important to remember that playtime cannot be forced. If they seem hesitant, you can try again some other time when they’re less overwhelmed.
If you want to play a game of fetch with your dog, you can try rolling a toy around in front of them to gauge their excitement about running after it. If they’re confused, you can demonstrate how to play by chasing after it yourself, and they’ll follow your lead. Other games you can play with your dog include frisbee, hiding treats around the house, tug-of-war, and more.
Conclusion
A dog is a notably loyal animal whose favourite place tends to be by your side. Don’t worry if this bond isn’t immediately evident. It will develop as long as you have the patience to see it through. In the meantime, follow the tips listed above and embark on this invaluable relationship with your new puppy.
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Hamsters are adorable little rodents. It’s a heartwarming sight to see the way they eat their food, run on their hamster wheel and behave in general. They are perfect for people who prefer having a pet that does not take up too much space in their homes. However, many make the mistake of adopting a hamster that may not be compatible with their needs.
Hence it is important to know the types of hamster breeds that exist, and whether they are suited to live with you.
Syrian Hamsters
Syrian hamsters, also known as golden hamsters, can be fantastic companions. They are fairly low-maintenance and easy to tame, making it a suitable breed for first time pet owners.
They have an average lifespan between 2 to 3 years. Their size is usually between 15 to 17cm
Coat Coloring & Features
While their main coat color is Golden, these hamsters tend to have variations:
Yellow
Cinnamon
Grey
Black
Cream
Mink
Sable
Their features include:
Golden brown with a lighter belly
Stubby tail, small eyes and cheek pouches
Some has long coat
Dietary Requirements
Their diet should include:
Commercial hamster mixes
Small pieces of fresh vegetables and fruits, such as:
Apples
Pears
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Carrots
Occasional treats like nuts, grains, seeds, mealworms
Facts About Syrian Hamsters
Syrian hamsters are territorial mammals and will start fighting other hamsters by the time they mature. they may not be the right hamster for you to adopt if you are considering having more than 1 hamster or other animals in your home.
They are nocturnal animals which are very active at night.
They are not naturally prey animals, so loud noises, sharp movements and touch may startle them.
Long-haired variants require grooming at least once a day. Ensure that you have enough time to dedicate to brushing their fur.
Winter White Hamsters
Winter white hamsters are small hamster species with a social personality. Due to their small size and speed, they can be difficult to hold. However, because they are sociable and can be easily tamed, they are suitable for hamster owners of every experience level.
Winter White hamsters have a lifespan of 1.5 to 2 years, and their size is from 7 to 10cm.
Coat Coloring & Features
The coat of winter white hamsters is actually grayish-brown for most of the year. However, it changes to white during the winter . The purpose of its coat changing to white is because it acts as a camouflage in the snow to protect themselves from predators. Do note that keeping them in captivity does not guarantee the coat color change as they aren’t exposed to the winter light.
Their features include:
A wide black dorsal stripe along their backs
Small ears, furry feet and a round face
Dietary Requirements
Their diet should include:
Keep it balanced
You can feed them a combination of:
Fruits
Vegetables
Seeds
Nuts
Insects
Hamster Mixes
Facts About Winter White Hamsters
They are half the size of the Syrian hamster
They are also known as Russian Dwarf Hamsters
They can be kept in small groups or same-sex as they are sociable. However, if they start fighting due to their territorial behavior as adults, then it is best to seperate them.
Campbell Hamsters
Campbell Hamsters are the most common hamsters that you can find. Due to their popularity, it has led to breeders all around the world to produce different colors and variants of the breed. Currently, there are over 40 different coat colorations.
They are generally low-maintenance and quiet. Hence, it is suitable even for beginners to care for.
Their lifespan is about 1.5 to 2 years old. They are usually about 10cm in size.
Coat Coloring & Features
Campbell hamsters tend to come in these color coats:
Grey (normal)
Cinnamon
Sandy
White (albino)
Their features include:
A thin dorsal stripe on back
Light grey fur on stomach
Large and upright ears
Long and thin face
Dietary Requirements
Their diet should include:
High protein content
Minimal fruits The reason for this is because Campbell hamsters are more prone to developing diabetes. Hence, we should minimize sugar intake as much as possible.
Facts About Campbell Hamsters
The name originated in Mongolia, 1992 by a man named W.C. Campbell.
They are nocturnal animals, similar to Syrian Hamsters
Campbell hamsters are more prone to develop diabetes. As a result, minimize sugar intake levels when feeding this breed.
They have extremely poor eyesight and even worse depth perception. To combat this, they have many scent glands located on the face, behind the ears, on the cheek pouches, near the rectum and genitals.
The hamster may groom itself when in an unfamiliar location to create a trail to allow them to reburn back to their burrow.
This is usually done by scenting the feet.
These scent trails may last up to 8 days.
Roborovski Hamsters
Roborovski hamsters are often regarded as the cutest and smallest hamsters out of all the species. They are very playful, curious and will try out anything. Despite being extremely shy, they can be sociable, so it is fine to keep them in groups, compared to solitary breeds like the Syrian hamsters.
However, due to their difficulty in handling, you should only adopt them if you are an experienced pet owner.
Their lifespan tends to be 3 to years, with some having gone higher than that . Their size measures at 5 to 7cm.
Coat Coloring & Features
These hamsters come in a range of colors, including:
Sand-colored (Common)
Agouti
Cinnamon
Cream
Husky
Head spot
Black-eyed white
Mottled
Dominant spot
Features include:
White fur around nose, base of ears, belly, tail and legs
Do not have dorsal stripes
Dietary Requirements
Feed a tablespoon of hamster mix and small amounts of fresh food daily. This is because they have very fast metabolisms.
Facts About Roborovski Hamsters
They ar eless prone to illnesses and injuries compared to Syrian, Chinese and Winter White hamsters. Despite that, they may still be prone to:
Broken bones
Allergies
Mites or ticks
Overgrown claws and teeth
Provide them with a lot of toys as they are very active
They tend to be active during the night and early morning
They have longer lifespans compared to other hamster breeds
Keep them away from children as the hamster is very fragile, and can resort to biting when provoked.
Chinese Hamster
These hamsters come from the deserts of China and Mongolia. They are very friendly and don’t nip frequently. However, you should provide them with a lot of attention to prevent behavioral problems as they rely on interaction.
These hamsters have a lifespan of 2.5 to 3 years with a size of 8.2 to 13cm.
Coat Coloring & Features
They tend to have a brown coat with thin black dorsal stripes along their backs. Their fur color is white on their stomach.
Their features include:
Round, upright ears
Pointed nose
Dietary Requirements
Chinese hamsters will benefit from:
Hamster food
Fruits and Vegetables
Nuts
Grains
Seeds
Insects
Facts About Chinese Hamsters
Provide them with constant attention to keep them satisfied. This is to prevent them from provoking unnecessary behavior such as chewing on objects. You can try using small animal toys to keep them entertained.
They’re often mistaken as mice due to their pointed nose and noticeable tail. They have an uncommonly long tail compared to other hamsters.
They have an uncommonly long tail compared to other hamsters.
To tell the difference between a mouse and a Chinese hamster:
Look at the tail of the animal. Mices have tails as long as their body, which can go up to inches long.
Another way to tell is that hamsters in general are nocturnal animals, while mices can choose to stay active throughout the day.
This breed is territorial, so keep them away from other household pets or hamsters.
Hybrid Dwarf Hamsters
Hybrid Dwarf Hamsters were created as a result of crossbreeding. They may be harder to take care of, as crossbreeding may lead to potential health issues such as diabetes, a common disease in Campbell Hamsters. They are also known to develop neurological and behavior problems. For instance, the hamster may show aggression and start biting. Due to their aggressive nature, this often leads to them being neglected, abandoned or euthanized.
In addition, they may also have a shorter lifespan of less than 2 years. Hence, adopting Hybrid Dwarf Hamsters is only recommended if you are a very experienced and patient pet owner willing to constantly show care for them.
Coat Coloring & Features
The Hybrid Dwarf hamsters may shar the same coat coloring as Winter White or Campbell hamsters as they were cross-bred. However, crossbreeders have managed to obtain new color mutations.
These color mutations are:
Tangerine
Mushroom
Orange
Brown
Moscow
These colors are banned from shows and competitions, as they are not considered as “purebred”.
Dietary Requirements
Hybrid Dwarf hamsters may follow the typical diet of other hamster breeds. However, keep in mind to minimize the sugar intake since it is inheriting the trais of a Campbell hamster, which is more prone to developing diabetes.
Facts About Hybrid Dwarf Hamsters
The crossbreeds involved in the creation of these hamsters are the Winter White and Campbell hamsters.
Their chances of inheriting diseases from their parent breed is very likely. For example, they may develop diabetes as their parent Campbell hamsters have a history of such disease.
Understanding the Breed’s Differences
Each hamster breed has their own fair share of differences. Their behavior may also vary depending on their age and environment. However, this is not something to fear! As long as you have familiarized yourself with how you can take care of your hamster, there shouldn’t be any issues too severe to be handled.
We hope this blog serves you well in determining the kind of hamster that you would like to adopt. If you already have adopted one, we hope that you have learned something regarding your hamster’s breed. Considering adopting a hamster or any pets in general? Feel free to give this blog post a read!
