"We don't eat family members!"
Mr. Little to Snowbell the cat in Stewart Little

I have received equal amounts of inquiries concerning our new family member Tater Tot the hamster, and Heidi the lost deaf dog.

How is the hamster?
Fine!

What does Charlee think?
Not much!

Has it bitten the kids yet?
Not yet.

Are you concerned the dog will try to kill it?
Charlee like any dog has a prey drive and we will never completely trust her with things that run, but we have done a great job at instilling in her that "we don't eat family members!" Take the same rodent in the woods and it would most likely be snack food, but in the house, the dog knows that the hamster resource is MINE. Dogs do respect ownership and the dog knows that the hamster and the birds (who have been known to fly straight into her head!) are not hers.

Can I teach my dog not to touch our other animals?
Great question! Respecting boundaries is not just an issue about one thing. Training, and bonding, and teaching the dog a solid "leave it" and "come" all come into play, but certainly some breeds (terrier owners you know who you are!) need to use more caution than others. One thing we have always done around here is to feed A LOT when the new animals come out. The dog learns that it is great to have the other animals around and that when the new animal is around good things happen. This is the exact same thing you do when you bring home human babies by the way. The next step is to set your dog up for a reliable recall. For some that could mean on leash even in the house, for others you may need to go within inches of your dog before you say their name. Be sure to praise and reward wtih lots of yummy treats. Obviously if your dog is too interested in the new animal you need to use extreme caution to keep it safe. But if your dog is a bit lackadaisical about your pet as is Charlee, the more successful "leave it's" and "recalls" and just plain "open bar" with special goodies when the other animal is around the better. We don't anticipate any problems with the new rodent and the dog.

What does Tater Tot look like?
The one in the 4th row

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