taming

[jkudach]

is it normal for a younger hamster that you are taming to not sit still? i work everyday with getting him tused to me, trewats and having him come to my hand and all, and he will walk over my hands and me but i still feel like when he gets into to my hand he wants out.

i get afraid to hold him cuz i dont want to drop him and then if he is running away i dont want to just grab him and scare him.

is this usual for a hamster or do you think he is still a little scared of me?

he seems to know who i am, and come to me so i can put him in his ball or to give him a treat or to get out of his ball if he wants a snack, he just dosnt like to be handled by me yet.

[SnowPrincess]

lol, yes it's normal for younger hamsters to be fidgety...they want to explore.

as soon as the baby gets older and alot more used to you he will eventually stop and be alot calmer with you.

NEVER be afraid of your pet. there is no reason to be.
they can sense your fear and it may cause him to feel uncomfterble.

try this, one day when you have the time, and he is awake and running around set his cage on the floor and stick your hand in it wih a treat.

talk very softly to him, don't startle him or try to grab him, let him come to you. it may take a bit, maybe even a day or so but eventually he'll come up to you and take a treat, this can build trust and lets him know your not a threat and in time will stop fidgeting.

try this at least 10 - 15 minutes a day.

and if you want to pet him be gentle, let him smell your hand before you take him. talk softly and when you pick him up pet him softly and gently.

taming can take awhile depending on the hamster but it is worth it by the freindship and trust you will receive from your pet.

btw, what type is he?

Syrains tend to be a little easier to tame and Dwarfs can be a bit harder.

good luck!!!

[lilforjc]

we have a sweetheart of a "black bear" and yours sounds just like ours! When my daughter(age 14) first tried to tame him this is exactly what would happen to her, but with lotsa love and patience you can do it! I don't really have anything to add to snowprincess except if your afraid of dropping sit on the ground-we did and were much more comfy0also doing the thing with your hands where your kinda stairstepping them as you let him walk from one to the next...he will get used to being held pretty quickly-ours did,anyway...good luck! let us know how it's going.

[yodelinghamster]

lol I'm STILL (slightly) taming the syrian I got 4 weeks ago. (she gets spooked real easy, I'm working it out of her though) I tamed my dwarf the same day I got him! They are all different....

[jkudach]

he is a syrian "black bear"

he takes treats from me, he will crawl across my hands and up them for a treat, and he will use my hand as a step to get to a treat, or into his ball.

should i pick him up by letting him walk into my hand and scouping or shoulld i pick him up by wraping my thumb and index finger around him?

[SnowPrincess]

i would try to let him walk into your hand...and if he seems ok, try lifting your hand up slowly.

or if he dosent let you do that and runs away you can pick him up sit on your bed or the floor (in case he tries to jump or anything, he wont get hurt).

also, try using your whole hand and then place him in your other. instead of your thumb and index finger. (be sure to let him smell you first) you don't want to hurt the little guy.

when i first got Lily (my syrain right now) she was a little harder to tame. i would sit on my bed and let her run around on my bed and all over me.