As soon as warm days begin, hamster owners seriously think about how to provide their pet with a walk. Taking the cage outside, buying a leash for the hamster, arranging a special pen for it, or otherwise diversifying the pet’s life are questions that many lovers of these rodents think about.
Accessories for walking
Walking balls have long gained popularity among hamster owners, but there are other devices that can be used for walking your pet. However, more often these things are bought for decorative purposes to dress up your pet.
In addition to the special ball, there are the following accessories for walking:
- Leashes for hamsters. They are a tiny collar to which a long bright cord is attached. Naturally, you cannot walk a homa by squeezing its throat. After all, there is a risk of breaking the animal’s spine if the animal suddenly twitches. Also, compression of the neck leads to attacks of suffocation. Therefore, a collar with a ribbon is a purely decorative accessory.
- Harnesses for hamsters. A simple design, similar to a lace tied with a butterfly. The animal's paws are threaded through the loops; they also support its tummy. A small carabiner with a leash is attached to the upper crosspiece of the harness. Sometimes harnesses are sold as a vest. This accessory does not put pressure on the animal's neck, so it is great for walking.
These accessories are made from genuine leather, substitute or soft fabric. Leashes are decorated with beads, beads and rhinestones. Carbines come in plastic and metal.
How to make a harness with your own hands
If the pet store does not have accessories of this type or you could not find a suitable one, then you can easily make it yourself. No special pattern is needed. All you need to do is carefully examine the harness in the photo and accurately measure your pet. Taking all this into account, sewing a collar yourself will not be difficult.
A few tips you might find useful:
- Organize a strong and reliable fastening.
- The material should be thick or leather.
- The harness should be bright, for greater practicality.
- The size should not be large or small.
A homemade harness is different from a store-bought one; it is much more convenient, because it is tailored individually to your animal.
After the harness, all that remains is to pick up the leash. Any strong rope to which you need to attach a carabiner is suitable for this.
It is better to wear a collar at home. If the hamster does not give in, he needs to be distracted with tasty food. The pet will immediately forget about the leash when it finds itself on the grass. He will have more important things to do. If this does not happen and the animal tries to escape, most likely the harness is causing discomfort to the hamster. If you carefully choose and choose the right leash, walks can make your pet a little happier.
Where can you take your hamster for a walk?
The place to walk must be safe. The best option is your own apartment. The hamster can also roll on it in a ball, choosing its own direction. But carrying an animal for a walk in the yard in a walking ball is dangerous, because the door may suddenly open. In this case, the homa will run away and you will never see him again.
It is for street walking that special harnesses for hamsters have been developed. They securely clasp his body: with the correct size, it is almost impossible to jump out of the vest and run away. But during a street walk, you must remember that a tiny animal can suddenly be overtaken by predators. Therefore, we do not recommend dragging your hamster around the yard.
You can walk your animal at your own dacha. It’s great if you have a neatly trimmed lawn: your pet will willingly run on the grass, eat it, and won’t get lost. But you cannot leave a rodent harnessed alone, even in a tied state. Firstly, a neighbor's cat, dog or crows may suddenly appear and offend the defenseless hamster. Secondly, the hamster itself can chew through the leash and run away. Therefore, when walking, make sure that:
- there are no other animals around;
- the harness is not too big for the fluffy one;
- the carbine is in good condition.
These rules will ensure a safe walk and will not allow your nimble pet to escape.
What walks can you offer your hamster?
Not everyone takes their pets out onto green grass, because not everyone knows whether it is possible to walk a hamster outside.
In order to make your pet’s life more fulfilling, you can let him go for a walk, even just around the room. However, it is necessary to strictly ensure that the hamster is in sight at all times. Otherwise, a small animal can climb into a place from which it will be very difficult to pull it out (small gap in the floors, household appliances, etc.).
A walk outside will be a great joy for a hamster. A naturally curious animal will instantly find something to do - it will begin to explore a new territory, sniff the herbs, look for tasty cereals.
But in order not to lose your pet even in your own home, and even more so on the street, leashes are simply necessary for hamsters, because a cage, if simply placed in the yard, will not provide room for a full walk.
Attention! Walking your hamster outside should be safe for your pet. It should be remembered that even a small animal on a leash can be harmed by a cat or dog. Therefore, it is better not to trust small children to walk.
How to choose an accessory?
You can make a strap for your furry pet yourself. But if you are too lazy to make a leash for your hamster with your own hands, you can buy it in a store or order it online. At the same time, you need to know what to look for when choosing. Let's consider this point in detail.
Choosing a leash
For Homa, you can purchase a small collar with a clasp, to which a strap will be attached using a carabiner. The material should be non-stretchable; leather or a substitute is ideal. The leash can be of any length and color - it depends on your preferences.
There are special leashes that allow you to choose the diameter of the collar. These models have a bright cord with a button that allows you to adjust the collar so that it is not too tight or loose.
When purchasing a leash, press the button and make sure that in this position the buckle moves freely along the lace. Then release the button and pull the ends of the collar in different directions, while the buckle should remain in place. If it moves, the pet can quickly free itself from such a leash.
Choosing a harness
If you want to buy a harness for your hamster, first find out what types they come in. Here are the types of harnesses that exist:
- simple - a cord with a carabiner. To ensure that the accessory fits your pet well, there are special sliders that allow you to change the length of the straps;
- vest - unlike the previous model, this harness is closed, it resembles a sleeveless vest, to which a small carabiner with a leash is attached;
- insulated - the style resembles a vest, but is made of warm fabric (or contains insulation).
A simple, open model is suitable for walking around the house. If you want to walk your lovely miracle in the yard or at the dacha, give preference to vests.
Size matters too. They sell different harnesses for dwarf hamsters and large Syrians. It is better to give preference to an accessory with a metal carabiner, because the plastic ones break quickly, and the homa can chew them.
Types of leashes
Pet stores offer a wide selection:
- Collar with leash.
This type of collar specifically for hamsters is used infrequently, only if the pet is a large breed. Usually it is worn as a decoration, since walking with such a collar is problematic, because the pet can slip out of it at any moment.
- Harness for a hamster.
This type of collar is more reliable and is best suited for walking. A loop made of leather or fabric material secures the body and legs and is attached to the back. This design will definitely not allow the animal to wriggle out. The harness is put on loosely, so that you can stick your finger into the gap between the loop and the hamster’s body. The collar should not be worn tightly or loosely, otherwise the hamster can be injured or create conditions for escape.
- Harness vest.
A vest harness is much safer and more reliable. It is believed that the hamster is more comfortable in it. Please note that the harness and collar must be securely fastened, otherwise the hamster may be lost somewhere.
- Walking ball.
Another worthy option for walking your pet. The walking ball is not a leash, but at the same time it is quite comfortable to use. The material of the device is usually plastic, the ball is dotted with special holes. This option is best suited for walking dzhungarikas or other small breeds, so the hamster will definitely not run away. Larger breeds of rodents will feel uncomfortable, so their use does not make sense.
Popular models
Let's look at hamster leashes and harnesses that are popular with pet owners. The following models have proven themselves well:
- Gamma. A simple harness made of cord with a diameter of 6 mm, leash length 1.3 m. For large hamsters. Metal carabiner and sliders. Price – from 100 rubles.
- Ferplast. Open harness made of nylon cord. The size is easily adjustable, so the accessory is suitable for dwarf hamsters and large Syrians. Cost – from 220 rubles.
- Ferplast jogging small. A vest for small rabbits, which is also suitable for a well-fed hamster. The size is adjustable, all fastenings are made of plastic. Costs 690 rubles.
- Taonmeisu. Open harness for jungarik with a bell. The harness itself is made of nylon, the fastenings are metal. Price from 170 rubles.
Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase such things for their tiny pet. If you want to dress up or walk your pet, you will have to make an accessory for your hamster with your own hands.
Making a leash
First of all, the hamster needs to be measured
You can make a harness for a hamster only after the pattern has been made. It is necessary to take measurements:
- pet's neck circumference;
- abdominal girth;
- distance from the neck to the lumbar region (along the ridge).
Then you should sketch a model of the future product. The resulting marks are transferred to paper, taking into account a margin of 1-2 cm.
Preparation of materials
Having decided to make a collar for a hamster with your own hands, you need to prepare all the necessary tools:
- needle and spool of thread;
- a piece of fabric and insulation (at the request of the hamster owner);
- rope or strong fabric tape, carabiner, fastening rings.
The harness can be made from leather or leatherette, or you can get material from the owner’s unnecessary things (jackets, jeans, sweaters, etc.).
When preparing the fasteners necessary for making a hamster harness, it is important to take into account their size and weight. The carabiner and rings should not be heavy, create difficulties when moving, etc. The resulting vest can also be equipped with plastic accessories.
How to make a vest with a leash
The pattern is cut out and applied to the fabric, and its outline is traced with a pencil or soap. The workpiece is cut and the edges of the fabric are stitched. The next step is to install the fasteners:
- It is necessary to put the future harness on the pet, wrapping it around its body. It is necessary to mark the place where the fastening rings will be sewn on the animal’s belly.
- The ring is sewn to the product from the back side. It will be the attachment point for a carabiner with a leash.
If desired, the product can be decorated with embroidery or fabric stripes. Walking in the cold season requires insulation. A DIY hamster harness is made using two layers of fabric. Between them should be stitched (sintepon, down, etc.). Such an accessory will be not only comfortable, but also warm.
