Hamsters

I used to own a dwarf hamster as an adult, but I didn`t raise him by any book. Now that I have children, I wanted to get some for them. At first, I was going to get the robo dwarf hamsters. They are so cute. Then, I read the book and watched the pet store clerk handle the dwarf hamsters. The book was right, those things were too quick for little children to handle. We went with the winter white hamsters, instead. Great choice. They are much tamer and slower than the robo dwarf. Thanks to the book, it helped us make our first important decision. The book is well-written for first time hamster owners. It goes over all aspects of care, including choosing the proper breed, housing, bedding, feeding and general care. It answered all my new owner questions, like how many hamsters can I put in a cage? What kind of treats can I feed it? And very importantly, what do I do when the hamster gets loose? I found it to be thorough and complete. It is filled with colorful photos and a list of some useful resources, like hamster societies and internet sites. I had my 7 year old read some parts of the book so that he would know what to expect. It is written at a level he can read and understand, yet it's not too simplistic for an adult. I highly recommend this book for anyone buying a new hamster.

I only wish I'd had an invaluable concise guide like this 20 years ago when I had a short-lived pet hamster (whom I found out years later had actually been two hamsters; my parents secretly bought me a second after the first died, but the second died even quicker). Probably the first mistake most otherwise well-intentioned people make with a pet is not doing their homework before getting the animal. Buying any pet, particularly a small one with such unique needs and traits as a hamster, should not be something done on impulse. This brief but information-packed book covers all of the bases, hopefully improving the odds that any potential hamster-owner will know what they're doing and won't contribute to the animal's early death. Topics covered include scientific information about the hamster in general and specific domesticated breeds in particular, diet (it was news to me that hamsters are omnivores and not herbivores!), children and hamsters, finding a lost hamster, breeding, housing, toys, training, when to see a vet, grooming, common types of illness and injury, and handling. There are also adorable pictures of the little guys on nearly every page; like many people, my only experience with the animal had been the Syrian hamster, and hadn't known they come in nearly so many different colors and markings. The back of the book provides a list of resources, such as various hamster societies, rescue groups, and emergency services. Though a serious downside to the pet is that they only live between a year and a half to three years, otherwise they're really described as an ideal low-maintenance pet. The biggest chore associated with their care is regularly cleaning the cage and bedding; they ordinarily don't even need to see a vet, get vaccinated, have their coats brushed or trimmed, have their nails clipped, or even get bathed. Their short lifespan could even be seen as a positive, since they're not as long-lived as other pets such as rabbits, dogs, cats, ferrets, or salamanders, whom children often get bored of and dump on their parents, or who end up being cared for by the parents when their owner goes away to college. Overall, this book paints a picture of a fascinating little rodent, whom I wasn't old or mature enough to fully understand or appreciate when I originally had one in my care.