|
Allow your hamster the time she needs to become tame. The time required is determined by your hamster, *not* by you!
|
Never try to pick up your hamster when she is obviously scared. A hamster will instinctively react to fright by biting.
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
Allow your hamster to trust you when you pick it up. Always pick it up with two hands to make it feel safe.
|
Never, ever, let your hamster go free without any supervision.
|
  sistra28
|
|
|
ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU PICK UP YOUR HAMMIE! YOU CAN GIVE AN ILLNESS OR SOMETHING TO YOUR LITTLE GUY.
|
NEVER TOUCH YOUR HAMMIE IF YOU HAVEN'T WASHED YOUR HANDS. NEVER HIT YOUR HAMMIE!
|
Dragonslayer6711
|
|
|
Always let your hamster know when you're approaching. Be sure he hears you first, either by tapping his cage or talking to him in a soft voice.
|
Never pick up a sleeping hamster or one who's unaware of your presence. He will instinctively think you're THE ENEMY and try to protect himself.
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
always let your hamster wake up from sleeping
|
Do NOT just grab a sleeping hamster it will stress out and may bite
|
![]() Caycee
|
|
|
Always sho the care for ur hamster
|
never get a hamster if u will never spend time with it....
|
686Jessie1423
|
|
|
Always talk softly to them.
|
Never scare them, or they will bite.
|
VickyJMarshall1
|
|
|
Always wash your hands before picking your hamster up.Your ham might smell like food, and the hamster might bite it.....hard. Believe me.......I've learned it......the hard way!
|
Don't always leave your hamster in the cage. Let it out and excerise.
|
sistra28
|
|
|
Anyone remember the story about Gulliver and the Lilliputians? The little people came to love and trust the giant because he was nice to them and didn't bully them. Our hamsters are tiny and we're giants, to them. If we treat them nicely, respect them, not bully them, they will come to trust us.
|
Don't try to be the "boss" just because you're bigger than the hammies.
|
ALDenverJulie
|
|
|
Aquarium: First step: Let your baby recognize your smell first by feeding him/her some food or treats. Whenever you see that he/she seems to get used to your smell, then go to second step by putting the food/treats on the tip of your fingers, and let your baby grab it. Do that until he/she gets used to it again. Third step: Put the food/treats on the center of your palm and let he/she walk on your hand for the treats. Last step. Repeat third step, but this time try petting your baby. If your baby is still nervous, go back one or two steps if need be. Cage: Open the door and do the same thing like the aquarium's steps. You've got to do those steps at the same time of the day for each day so your baby will know and will be waiting for you. I've done those steps with my hammie and the technique worked great. Every evening when I come to their cage, there they are waiting for me at the door with shiny eyes.
|
Don't rush. Your baby needs time to trust you. Also, why rush? You and your baby are not going anywhere.
|
I_and_LoLa
|
|
|
be nice to it show that you love it
|
never hit your hamster or be mean to it
|
flash_chopper
|
|
|
Be nice.
|
Don't be mean.
|
PermafrostHamstery
|
|
|
Cup your hands to scoop them out of the cage.
|
Don't grab them from above. You are likely to get bitten.
|
kimsgerbils
|
|
|
Every day visit your hamster in the cage. Put your hand in and let the hamster call the shots. If it doesn't want to investigate, let it do what it'sdoing until it feels comfortable with your hand in the cage.
|
Don't go in the cage immediately, and try to pet or pick up the hamster. It will result in biting, and your hamster will be afraid of your hand, making taming even harder.
|
![]() HamsterBreeder28
|
|
|
Getting your hamster used to a leash: give your hamster a treat to keep it occupied and happy while you're trying to get it into its leash. Be careful of anything that may be in its pouches when putting the leash on.
|
Never make the leash too tight or your hamster can suffocate. If its not dangerously tight, just uncomfortable, the hamster will be scared of the leash.
|
Reject27
|
|
|
Hamsters are like people. They eat, drink, play, and get and give love. So try treating your hamster the way your hamster would like to be treated. When someone gives you advice that you're not sure about, DON'T LISTEN!! Unless a veterinarian gives you the advice. My Female Long Hair Teddy Bear hamster named Snuffles wouldn't let me pick her up. Then I thought it over and found out she likes to be softly petted while being picked up. Now she always lets me pick her up except when she has her little mood swings.
|
When you first take a hamster home, it might not want to be picked up.
|
![]() HamsterLoverGirl
|
|
|
Hamsters are the bosses! If they try avoiding your hand, it's obvious they are scared and don't want to be carried! Respect your hammie's rules!
|
If they run, DON'T try chasing them!
|
Midnight-Romance
|
|
|
have ur lil guy get use of u before you put ur hand in the cage
|
don't pick them up when they don't know they are going to get picked up
|
686Jessie1423
|
|
|
I know this might sound silly, but let a hamster pick you. All of my hamsters decided that I would be ok for them by me and my daughter just lettingthem come to us (with washed hands, of course). It might take some patience and having a chomp or two on the hand, but we just held our hand nearby the hamsters and waited for a curious one to come and check us out. After they had a sniff and didn't run away, we would stick our hand in the cage again and, when hamster came back slowly, turn our hand over. After that, our two babies just let us pet them, and we took them home.
|
Don't be impatient when teaching them things like leash walking. Be careful with blowing on them to get attention. Mine get grumpy when we do that.
|
![]() mech
|
|
|
I love the challenge of taming my hamsters (I have 6, soon to be 8). I find that training them to climb into a coffee cup works well. I allow him to climb out of the cup onto my hand when he feels safe. This way, the hamster can choose the cup over attack. Now my pets know the cup and won't climb in when they don't want to play. At first, I would put a treat at the back of the cup to entice the pet in. My most difficult hamster has taken about 3 weeks to tame, and she is still a little nippy.
|
|
![]() amysatticgalt
|
|
|
I recommend that you get a "scoop" for your hamster if he or she is not hand-tamed yet. That way, if you sit in a secure area, you can let the hamster go from the scoop to your hand without the risk of picking him or her up roughly. A scoop could be almost anything, but a little plastic cup-like thing about 4 inches long with no handle or anything is best.
|
Don't use a dustpan or ladle for a "scoop."
|
_Rukii_
|
|
|
if you got a new hamster and leave alone for 4 days and slowly call her his or her name gentle and give sunflower seeds to your hand and he will sniff you and this is a trust between you and your hamsters
|
Don't Yelled and don't pick up sleeping hamster and don't touch hamster from behind and wait until she or he get used to you remember Hamsters is need a time to get to used to owner
|
S_S_B_Melee_Fox_Player
|
|
|
if you just want a hamster as a pet, give it as much affection as you can! act like you are it's best friend!
|
don't pick it up as soon as you get your hamster, it will become very scared and may bite and squeak!
|
lilmissrainbowsocks97
|
|
|
If you want to potty-train your hamster, you have to buy a hamster litter-box. Put the gravel [Mgr's note: chinchilla sand or children's play sand is safer than gravel] in the box. Then put the old shavings from his or her house so they will think it is their house. They will go potty in there after a few weeks. Don't put the shavings in any more and that is my trick.
|
Don't put the box in the cage without the old shavings or they will have droppings all over the place!!!!!
|
![]() B ballsweets
|
|
|
Let hammie play.
|
Don't be mean.
|
PermafrostHamstery
|
|
|
Let one person at a time pick him up...to many hands are scary to the little guy
|
Don't scream, yell, or let anyone else make loud noises when you're holding him...little ears, big noise.
|
![]() SammyJ
|
|
|
let your hamster walk around on your hands and sniff you some times the hamster may smell food or another hamster and nibble or lick your hand . Dontget scared if your hamster starts to nibble your hand
|
never make your hamster stay still in one place unless its for their own health.{such as putting flea or some kind of spray on them}
|
louieduge
|
|
|
Let your little hamster adjust to you when he/she wants to. Don't rush your hammies. Act like they are your children, and let them choose. Don't force them to do anything. Trust me on this one. If you are expecting to have two hamsters get to know each other, take one hamster and try to get its scent on you as much as possible, then take your other hammie and let him adjust to the smell so she isn't jealous when they see you with another hamster. I learned my lesson the hard way. I didn't do that, and, when my little hammie saw me with a new dude, she went crazy, and bit me every time I tried to hold her. Then my father told me to do what I told you, and my babies were just fine together.
|
NEVER force your hamster to do anything!! Hamsters are individuals and don't like being bossed around by someone they don't know very well or anyone!! If you boss your hammie around, don't expect it to ever like you.
|
![]() hamster_gurl
|
|
|
Make a particular sound - like kissing noises when offering your hamster a favorite treat. Your hamster will get associate this sound with treats and will stand on his hind legs whenever he hears it. My three dwarves all stand at attention whenever I make kissing noises- it is very cute
|
Don't make loud noises or sudden movements around your hamster. They are easily startled. I picked up one of my cat's squeaky toys while holding one of my hamsters- when the toy squeaked my hamster freaked out and jumped to the floor!
|
![]() DeeDee
|
|
|
Make sure that u wash ur hand before picking ur hammy up
|
dont make any sudden while u are picking him/her up.
|
hisoka3ks
|
|
|
Make sure your hammie is used to something, like taking him outside, or letting someone else hold him
|
Immediantly force your hamster to do anything.
|
![]() hammy_lover101
|
|
|
okay it does not matter how softly u talk to your hamster! all you have to do is start by getting he\she used to your sent! them handle as often as possible and be firm but also gentle if they bite it dont hurtr that much so dont fling them off some were! um.... they need love and constant attention!
|
dont make strange noises! dont pick up by frail body parts such as legs wiskers arms ears and things such as that! and u should be all right
|
![]() FireDrake
|
|
|
Once you get your hamster, leave it alone for a few days so it can get used to it's new home
|
When you try to pick your hamster up for the first time, do not quickly pick it up. This may frighten the hamster and the hamster will probably defend itself by biting.
|
hamsterlover25
|
|
|
Pick them up EVERYDAY once got through the "gettin used to you" stage, then feed them treats frequently (especially foods like monkey nuts). Also, buy a hamster ball! All the energy will go into movin the ball, so they will be quiet at night ;)
|
Don't neglect them, they'l grow more to hate you and bite you once you have tried to stroke them. Im kinda guessin, its neva happened to me lol!! :P
|
Rhiannie_aka_Hippy
|
|
|
Picking Up Your Hammy. Put your hand outside the cage (with washed hands) and put some bird sunflowers in your hand. Eventually the hammy will cometo you, and when it's finished, it might give you a bite or two. You'll be playing with your hammy. The next time, don't put any food in. Then try with food.
|
When you get your hamster to play with you, don't yell at it for not doing anything. They'll just get scared. Do not pick them up. Let them come to you. Do not grab them. They will not trust you picking them up. It took me weeks to tame her, but she was at the stage where she was a-okay with me.
|
![]() Lightning
|
|
|
Place your hand in the cage and allow him to come and smell you. If he steps on your hand, you may pick him up by cupping him from underneath. If he does not place all four of his paws on your hand, use a small container or ladle. When he steps into that, pick him up in the container or ladle without touching him and "pour" him onto your hand.
|
Do not grab a timid hamster who is just beginning to learn your smell. The process takes time. He'll need to feel completely trusting of your hand before he'll allow you to lift him. Do not use food to tame him. He will confuse your scent with the food and might bite you instead of the food.
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
Play with them regularly. Just like good friends, the more you spend time together, the more you like each other.
|
Don't ignore them. If hamsters aren't used to humans, they get very defensive and let you know just how sharp their teeth really are.
|
![]() Victor B Clyde
|
|
|
Put gloves on when first handling your hamster. If it bites you and you put it back right away, it thinks, "Oh, I bite. I get to go back to my cage."If you have gloves on then they can't penetrate your skin.
|
Don't put them back in their cage after they bite you.
|
![]() Boo Bear
|
|
|
put the plug in your bath tub.then lay a towel down. then get gardening gloves and pick up the hamster.even if it struggels pick it up, but if it jumps or squirms free let it, then pick it up again.after it is a bit calmer, pic it up with a regular pair of gloves.do this untill you feel ready to go gloveless.after it is being used to being picked up work on holding it and cuddeling it.
|
|
horselover_2004
|
|
|
Put your hamster in the bathtub with no water with you and let him sniff you and climb on you.
|
Don't put your hand in his face. He might bite you.
|
monkey_evil
|
|
|
Read this article by Lorraine Hill if your hamster is especially hard to tame.
|
Try not to give up just yet!
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
Reward good behaviour with a treat.
|
Never hit your hamster for bad behaviour, just don't give them a treat if you want to "punish" them.
|
Reject27
|
|
|
run your finger across the cage door, hammies are curious and will come (be patient) allow your hammy to crawl on to your hand let him smell if your hand don't smell like food hammy wont bite
|
do not grab your hamster
|
![]() gracie134
|
|
|
See question 24 at alt.pets.hamsters FAQs.
|
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
Show them humans can be good!
|
Never get a hamster if there's no love in your heart.
|
peterdashflash
|
|
|
Some more taming ideas in a CHA Newsletter article by David Imber.
|
Don't give up! :-)
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
Speak quietly to your hammy whilst he is eating or playing. That way he will get used to your voice and smell.
|
If your hamster is very nervous, DON'T make any sudden movements or loud noises. It will make your hammy frightened.
|
MightyBooshlet
|
|
|
Talk to him\her softly and say Hammie's name.
|
Don't stick your hand through the cage. Hammie will think it's a treat.
|
MajesticLakotawolf
|
|
|
Talk to your hamster as much as possible. Let him or her know you are there. They also get used to your smell this way (your breath). If you must wake up your hamster, try blowing gently on him or her and then reward the sleepy-head with a small treat. This way being awakened is not so traumatic.
|
This may seem odd, but they KNOW if you are nervous around them. My sister was extremely nervous around mild-mannered Tristan and he got annoyed and bit her (the only time he EVER bit). Being nervous increases their stress too!
|
![]() CarrotGrower
|
|
|
Tame the hamster(s) when they are young like when their eyes are open (when they are babies).
|
Do not show your hand or fingers before picking up the hamster. [Manager's note: I have found that hamsters tend to be more tame if they first become comfortable with the scent/sight of hands and fingers and know they are coming before being handled].
|
![]() sweet_teddy98
|
|
|
Wash your hands before handling your hamster.
|
Do not touch food or another animal (even a hamster) before handling your hamster.
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
When Picking up your Ham, let it come to you. If it dosnt come to you, leave it be.
|
Always wash your hands before picking it up, dont pick it up when it is sleeping. When it is in your hands dont do any sudden movements either, they will become scared and bite.
|
tjbsr1
|
|
|
When you first get your hamster, let her get to know her cage!! Give her a couple of days before you pick her up!!!
|
Do not pick your hamster up when you first get her!!!!
|
QTAuBiE
|
|
|
When you first get your new hamster, give him a couple of days to get used to his new environment. He needs to get settled into his new home.
|
I know it is hard, but try not to disturb him for a day or two. :o)
|
![]() Lisa D
|
|
|
When you have taken your hamster home from a pet store or breeder, let it stay a while and don't touch it. Let it get used to its surroundings before you try to tame it.
|
Do not put your hamster in the cage and immediately demand to play with it or start taming it. It will definitely not greet you happily!
|
![]() HamsterBreeder28
|
|
|
When you pick up your hamster, let him walk onto your hand or "scoop" him up from underneath.
|
Never grab a hamster from above. They often think that motion is a predator trying to "swoop" down on them, and they will try to protect and defend themselves when they have that feeling.
|
![]() SqueakyChu
|
|
|
y with you hammie every day
|
DONT spin him around in the hamster ball
|
animal_crossing_luvur
|
|
|
You may like to take your hammy out sometimes and bring it around here and there. I think this is good as my hamsters actually look forward to nighttime when I take them out and let them roam around the floor in my room freely.
|
Don't take them to places too far away, like outside your house or any place where you can see that the hammy isn't feeling comfortable. When feeling uncomfortable for too long, the hammy will tend to bite when you handle it in your hands or when you play with it.
|
![]() Steffi
|
|
|
Young hamsters are often more excitable and defensive then older hamsters. When you get a baby or any hammie, be sure to let him have time to get used to being alone in his new environment. Babies are used to having mom and siblings around and will feel displaced and ready to strike back at ANY intrusion. You may need to let him alone for as much as a week or two before trying to handle or interact with your new baby.
|
The flee and attack response is an outcropping of self preservation in the hamsters wild state. At 4 - 6 weeks this is very strong, so DO NOT overdo the taming before this age is passed.
|
LarsRG
|
