Training a one year old hamster.?

Question

I have a 1 yr old hamster and I want to train him. He's used to my hand in the cage and will eat with it there but he jumps when I try to touch him. He knows the sound of my voice and takes food from my finger tips. Is training possible? If so, whats the best way to go about it?

Answer 1

One year old hamsters are a bit difficult to tame but I don't think your hamster needs taming since he is already used to your hand in the cage. If he is taking food from your hand without biting, then that means he already trusts you and is tamed. So I do not understand what you want to train him on? If you mean you want to take him in your hands and pet him, do it in the following way -

1. Before you handle your hamster make sure you have washed your hands well. Hamsters have a strong sense of smell. If they smell something on your hand they may mistake it for food and decide to bite!

2. Get a cup or something similar and place it into the hamster's cage. He should come to investigate and crawl inside. Take the hamster and cup out of the cage and let him walk out onto your hand. While you do this make sure you're sat down or sat close to the floor incase your hamster decides to jump. Let him walk from hand to hand. Be careful you don't grab or wrap your hands around your hamster until he is fully tame as this may scare him and he will jump out of your hand.

3. Once your hamster is more confident with you, you can start to pick up your hamster straight from it's cage. Just make sure your hamster is aware that you are there, if not you may suddenly scare the hamster and it may turn around and bite you.

4. Best way to hold hamsters is to make them climb into one hand and cupping the other hand softly over the body so that his head pokes out from the gap between your two hands. Remember, do not apply any pressure on his body, he will get scared and snap at you.

Answer 2

Here are the steps to training your hamster:



Step 1

Hold, cuddle, talk to and pet your hamster. If she seems frightened or shy, let her get used to the sound of your voice whitch yours already is.

Step 2

Lay food next to your hand. Your hamster will walk up to the food and eat beside your hand.

Step 3

Put food in the palm of your hand. Your hamster will sit in your hand to eat the food.

Step 4

Stroke her back while she is eating.

Step 5

Cup your other hand over the hamster while she is eating.

Step 6

Carry her around in your cupped hands for a few minutes.

Step 8

Remove your other hand and set your hamster-filled palm back down. Let the hamster look around to see that it is safe.

Step 9

Hide peanuts in your shirt collar. Encourage your hamster to run up and down your arms and across your shoulders, searching for peanuts.

Step 10

Lie on the floor with your hamster. Hide bits of apple underneath your back.

Step 11

Enjoy your hamster running across, under and over you, sniffing for the apple.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Yes it is possible. What I would do is take his favorite treat and dip it in yogurt and put it on your palm just outside the door. Let the hamster smell the yogurt and your hand if it gently nibbles on your palm or your loan fingertip that is normal it just wants to taste you. This may take a little bit. After a while the hamster will be daring and put one paw on your hand try to make your hand as stiff and still as possible. Hamsters like to feel safe. Once the hamster is all the way on your hand eating the treat cup the hamster with your other hand but make sure a little light can get in and make sure your hamster has enough wiggle room. After the treat is finished gently put your hand back in the cage and let the hamster crawl off your hand give it another treat for being a good hamster and then leave. Hope this helps! :) :)

Answer 4

yes it is possible, just do it with treats.

you can pick some up at your local pet store.

everytime it does it right, reward it.