A Question about Hamsters and Personalities
Q: I am wondering because you and your hamster are so close, perhaps you have good insight on this. do you think that robo hamsters have as much personality as Syrians? I personally do think so, but the robos are very shy in comparison and more firm on their boundaries.
A: I'm with you-- I think they do. I think anyone who thinks that any animal doesn't have her own personality isn't trying to see that personality or isn't understanding/aware enough.
Updated for this tumblr post: Meaning, not everyone is educated on an animal’s behavior or that individual animal’s behavior. A lot of people, myself included at one point, simply don’t educate themselves on their pets’ needs, and this leads to a lack of bonding and thus getting to know those personalities better or even at all. That’s why I work to bring information online now-- so much of the information provided by pet stores and even adoption agencies is incorrect or even harmful. Getting information online from other people experienced with hams has been an incredibly rewarding experience. :] [smiley]
This also means, though, that we as humans are never going to be completely understanding of another species’ communication methods and needs. For example, as close as Q-Tip and I are, I will be the absolute first in line to tell you I have no clue what she’s trying to tell me sometimes or what some of her behaviors mean. I’m not a hamster! I can’t know that. lol Simply a fact of dealing with other animals. :] [smiley]
I also think a lot of people impose human standards of "personality" onto other animals and that does nothing for the human or the other animal.
Updated for this tumblr post: Meaning that many people seem to be enamored with the idea that if you tell your dog, “Hey, Mr. Fluffkins, don’t pee on the couch,” Mr. Fluffkins will understand their human speech and not pee on the couch. So when Mr. Fluffkins inevitably pees on the couch again, he’s treated as though he’s deliberately behaving in a human manner and spitefully peeing on the couch. What should be thought of at this point instead is that poor Mr. Fluffkins may have a bladder control issue, kidney disease, anxiety, is being abused by someone, etc. Other animals don’t behave the same way as humans, and to anthropomorphize them in such ways is harmful to them.
I think people also are keen to ignore how their own behavior may be frightening their hamster (and preventing a closer bond because of it sometimes) and just dismissing them as "unfeeling" critters.
Updated for this tumblr post: This goes back to the previous example. Many hamster parents think that because their hamster attacks them when their hand is in the hamster’s environment is a sign of an unloving, ungrateful, mean little hamster instead of considering that the hamster has a reason for it. For example, the human may be coming at her in a position that is threatening/looks like a predatory move; the human may not be providing enough space, making the hamster extra territorial; the human may be encroaching on what the hamster views as time alone; the hamster may have a neurological condition; the hamster may otherwise be ill or in pain and the human continues to touch her in a way that is hurtful/stressful; the human may be a jerk who thinks their hamster’s needs don’t really matter because the human bought/adopted her so the hamster is therefore required to be/do what the human wants; and so on. Generally, if you treat your hamster as an object, she’s gonna be pissed off at you and attack. :| [unimpressed face]
I think it's clear to most who get to know and respect their pets that they all have their own personality. :] [smiley]
