How do i tame my hamster?

Question

She is a Female Syrian hamster, how do i tame her so she does not bite?

Answer 1

In order to have your hamster to trust you, you should occasionally give him treats and avoid handling him until he will gain trust in you and will come on your hands on his own. This usually takes days or even months! Patience is an important factor. Also, to avoid any bites from your hamster, make sure that you wash your hands well after handling any food or else the hamster could bite you, (as the hamster would think that your hand is food!).  

Answer 2

Taming hamsters can be difficult, especially if you have a 'rogue' hamster that panics persistently or gets aggressive when you try to pick him up. If you find yourself losing patience, remember that by nature hamsters are solitary, nervous animals.

In attempting to tame them, we are effectively 'breaking' thousands of years of evolutionary conditioning. In the wild, the panic and aggression is a defence against predators, of which there are many. It is astonishing that many hamsters can be tamed so quickly with careful, gentle handling.

Evenings are best

The best time of day to handle your hamster is the evening, between 7 and 10pm when he will be most active. My approach is to clear a big space for the hamster, put the cage in this space and either open the door or take the top off.

Rub some of your hamster's bedding on your hands to give them a familiar smell. Don't try to pick your hamster up if you have recently handled food as he may think your fingers are something tasty.

When your hamster's out and about, practise scooping him up with both hands and get him used to being handled this way. He will be very nervous and skittish at first, but with time he should settle down. Be sure to use the floor, so that he doesn't have far to fall when he jumps from your hand, which he will almost certainly do from time to time. Don't try to grab your hamster from above; introduce your hands from floor level.

Aggression can be a problem

A common problem is aggression when you try to pick your hamster up. Sometimes he will half-roll onto his back, put its forepaws up and bare its teeth. If your hamster adopts this position, don't try to pick him up! You might be rewarded with a painful bite. Let him relax and then reintroduce your hands slowly.

If he persists in taking up an aggressive posture, try tempting him with a piece of vegetable or fruit. Gently stroking his back can also help to get him used to being touched � he will learn not to fear this and sometimes the job of picking him up becomes easier.

Some people are put off trying to handle their hamster after they get bitten � hamsters have very sharp teeth and can deliver a painful bite. In general, they tend not to turn around to bite, preferring to bite the object in front of them. This sounds obvious but if you keep your fingers away from their mouths you reduce the chance of being bitten.

Other hamsters

This discussion relates to Syrian hamsters, as they are the only kind of hamster that I have experience with. Dwarf hamsters require slightly different handling as I'm told that they are very territorial and for this reason they tend to bite more frequently. The Argente variety of dwarf Campbell seems to be particularly aggressive and has been described as 'teeth with fur'. I've been advised that using the cardboard cylinder from a toilet roll to scoop the hamster up and placing it an area away from its cage is helpful when handling this variety.

The ideal age to start taming young hamsters is not known, but I try to start as early as possible. The very young ones are like little jumping beans so hold them very close to the floor. They are quite robust and can often survive falls but it's better not to take the chance. Make sure that they can't escape, because from four weeks old they become very difficult to recapture.

What not to do

In summary, don't:

    * Try to pick up a hamster that is asleep or has just wakened

    * Handle a hamster if your hands smell of food

    * Try to grab a hamster from above

    * Handle the hamster in area where there is a risk that it could fall and get injured

Handling isn't everything

Despite all these measures some hamsters are, in the end, untameable. This is just nature and you shouldn't think that you are doing something wrong. You can still get enjoyment from your pet by watching him interact with his surroundings.

There has been some research that suggests that hamsters dislike being handled and respond by increasing their heart rate and respiration and can take up to an hour to calm down. This is the normal response for an untamed hamster. However, I believe that with regular handling, this stress response diminishes.

So, you've chosen the perfect hamster and brought everything you need to care for it. You've taken them home, have sat for the past two days talking to and watching your pet, and now you think you're ready to begin taming your hamster. Only, you're not sure about where to start or how to go about it.

Taming hamsters is difficult and time consuming. It can be frustrating too at times when you feel like you're getting no where and are ready to take the hamster back. It is vital to have patient and to be considerate of your hamster's feelings.

From the hamster's point of view you are a strange new creature who has taken them from the only home they know. They are in an alien environment and it will take time for them to get used to it. Very few hamsters are completely comfortable with a new place from the start. It depends entirely on the animal, just like people, hamsters have their own personalities and temperaments.

Getting to know your hamster is the first step to taming them. Begin by talking to your hamster while they are in their cage and playing. You can give them a treat through the bar each time you sit and talk to them so that they understand that you mean no harm.

The next step is to take the lid off the cage and sit the cage on a bed, making ridges so the hamster can't escape easily and fall, or put the cage somewhere that you can catch the hamster easily like an enclosed room or conservatory. Wear gloves if you are nervous about the hamster biting, as this will increase your confidence and make the hamster more confident too. If you are nervous, the hamster will sense this and become anxious too and easily frightened.

Once you are sat comfortably near the cage, let the hamster sniff your hand and offer it a treat. Talk to them for a while and stroke their back gently if they seem calm. If they get scared, stop and put the lid back on. Let them calm down then try again. It is best not too spook the hamster when trying to make friends with it.

As the hamster becomes used to you, you should be able to put your hand in the cage and the hamster may climb onto it to eat some food. Do not lift your hand to start with but just let the hamster become used to sitting on your hand. When you feel more confident you can try scooping up the hamster gently using two hands. Scoop up the hamster so that they are facing you and know what is happening, otherwise they can become scared and run.

Keep handling your hamster until you feel comfortable enough to take off the gloves, if you have worn them, or feel that you and the hamster have become friends. Then you should be able to lift the hamster out of the cage, where ever the cage is kept, and take the hamster to see new places.

It is a time consuming process and can result in bitten fingers, but it is worth it. A tame hamster should be cuddly, eager to see you and inquisitive about their surroundings. Hamsters are curious by nature and love to explore. Try showing your hamster the stairs and watch them climb up and down. Sofa's are a good place to handle hamsters as there is plenty of room for the hamster to run and you can keep a close eye on them at the same time.

I hope this article helps you to tame your hamster. I tamed my current hamster, hamtaro, for the first time on my own. I have not tamed a hamster on my own before him. It was hard but I did it. I have had hamsters before but I always watched my mum tame them. It is a difficult process but is very rewarding! I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 3

Hold her alot but when you go to grab her don't grab really fast it will scare her and she will bite you. When you want to pick her up put your hand in the cage and let the hammy sniff your hand then try to grab her really slowly her put a treat in your hand then grab her but don't squeeze her when you grab her. To tame her hold her alot and give her treats and stroke her daily. Hope i helped.  

Answer 4

I have a dwarf hamster and do too have to handle biting. The first time my hamster bit me, I freaked out and dropped her in her cage! All they want is something to bit on. So the easiest way to tame them. Is to give her a chew toy that you can buy at a pet store. Or when ever she does it, instantly put her back in the cage! Hope I helped! Have a great Summer with your Hamster!

Answer 5

1) You need to play with it more and handle it more but if that doesn'tt work you should wear gloves when taking it out because their very territorial and that could be the problem.