Help me tame my Russian dwarf!

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ggaabs19

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Hello! I'm a first-time hamster owner. I've had my baby Edmond for exactly one week. I already got a ton of helpful info on this forum regarding diet, and now I need help with taming. So here's the scoop...

I didn't know you were supposed to leave your hamster alone when you first bring it home. Edmond seemed so chill and friendly so we immediately started petting him and picking him up and holding him. I now know this was not a good idea. The next day he started biting us whenever we put our hands in the enclosure. We have stopped all attempts to hold him and now are focusing on getting him to accept treats from us. I know it's only been a week but there has been zero progress. Edmond will take the treat from us, toss it and then try to bite us. Should we just continue trying to offer him treats as we have been doing or stop? I saw here on the forum on the page about taming that it's better to try taming outside of the cage. Should we try that instead? I have a small pen I purchased that I can try using. We are also rubbing our hands on toilet paper and leaving it in the enclosure but so far it seems to have no effect.

Also, my spouse thinks that we should just pick Edmond up and hold him until he gets used to it. Excuse my ignorance, but is there anything wrong with that method? Your tips and experience will be greatly appreciated!
 
It is early days so don’t feel you need to rush into taming, he may just be being a bit territorial in his cage while he settles in, he needs to feel it’s his & a safe place to be so don’t worry about the biting at the moment, most do grow out of it & I’ve found they rarely bite out of the cage.
If they are showing signs of being nervous I start by just sitting by the cage & talking to them softly so they get accustomed to my voice & presence.
Offering treats through the bars to begin with can help so you’re not actually invading his space.
Cage size can be a factor in how territorial they might be, with a larger cage hands may not seem quite so invasive while with a smaller cage it’s a bit scary to have a big hand in your space!
You can also try offering a treat with your hand just by the door, if he does bite try not to jerk or snatch your hand away as that can scare them more/
Once he’s settled a bit more try taking him out for short sessions, find something he can climb into to safely transport him to the play area, a tube (capped off at one end or with one hand over the end) a small box, anything he can easily climb into from the cage but not fall out of while you transport him (this is what we call the hamster taxi!) maybe put a treat in to encourage him then let him climb out in the play area with toy, hides & a wheel for him to use & explore, give him a little time then just introduce your hand lying flat & still, put it treat on your hand & with time he will probably come to take it but go slow & don’t feel there’s any rush.
It can take them a couple of weeks or more to settle into a new home, some are quicker others longer so you have let them guide you as to how fast they’re really to progress.
I wouldn’t worry about handling him the first days, he’ll soon get over that but I definitely wouldn’t recommend just picking him up & handling him again until he’s ready.
 
I forgt to say abit about picking them up, I don’t just pick them up until they’re really used to me & then only if I need to health checks or something like that.
I always begin by letting them get used to walking onto my hand for a treat or food then once they’re comfortable with that I just slowly raise my hand slightly & gradually get used to them being lifted up increasing the time until they’re quite comfortable with that, then I find I rarely if ever need to actually scoop them up as they’ll climb onto my hand willingly.
 
Elusive has given wonderful advice. I just wanted to add, one week is so early and I did not even attempt to interact with my hamster that soon. I took things at his pace. I believe some hamsters do not want human interaction and we should let them dictate that.
 
I have used this force taming method of simply picking up with my first hamster. At that point i knew nothing about hamsters and copied the taming method of an experienced breeder.
Yes, the hamster became very tame which he probably would have become anyway. In the process i got bitten and the hamster got woken up and angry.
Would i use this method again? Definitely not.
In the meantime i have learnt to respect hamsters and their individual personalities, their need for our time and patience to go at their pace, not ours.
I always give them two weeks to settle in to give them a chance to become familiar with their new environment.
Some hamsters come to me and want to make contact or ask to come out of their cages. Other are very nervous and scared so need a very gentle and slow approach and some don't want any contact with humans at all.
I had a dwarf who wanted my company from day one and one who didn't ever want my company but both were happy with their chosen lifestyles. And so was I because it is not about me. It is about what our hamsters are happy and comfortable with.
I will always attempt to socialise a hamster and introduce them to out of cage time but not every one takes up my offer.
 
Hi. It’s so hard when they’re new and you want to hold them! It does need some patience. Lots of good advice above.

All I will add is. He is a scared little baby who is confused and not settled in yet. It can take 2 weeks of no disturbance in their cage for them to settle in and start looking contented.

That means it’s important not to clean out the cage or move things around too much for the first two weeks. Otherwise the two weeks starts again :). Ie it’s a setback.

However it can be lovely interacting with them without holding them by talking. If offering treats - don’t put your hand in the cage. Most hamsters dislike a hand in the cage as it’s an invasion of territory. If you have cage bars try feeding treats through there until the hamster is used to you a bit.

But basically - he is very scared! He’s a baby and it’s all new.

I find the two week point is almost like clockwork. Their behaviour suddenly changes- they seem more confident and relaxed.

I also think it takes humans at least 2 weeks to adjust to a house move and finding everything- and it can be a stressful period. So it’s adjustment time.

Personally I would recommend waiting before trying to handle him. A week is such a short time. For the next week to 10 days, maybe just have a routine of sitting chatting to him every day through the cage. It sounds a bit bonkers but they start to respond to tone of voice. It’s about trust building.

That’s all taming is really - earning their trust. If he shows signs of wanting to come out - like coming to the door of the cage or looking like he's looking for a way out - you could let him out of the cage in a safe area without any handling at first. But generally I think it's better to let them settle into the cage first and not have them out too long. They are always keen to go back to the cage as well. He might hop into a hamster ball if you put it in the cage (if it fits) or walk into a tube (wear gloves and put your hands over each end so it doesn't make you jump and drop it, if he pushes against your hand while he's in the tube). If you lift him out in a tube you need a box right next to you to put the tube down in and then carry the box somewhere where you can let him out for a run around with a few toys.

I would try and resist the temptation to get him out for another week though. It will go better if he's had time to settle in. What he needs to do is scent mark his cage, find his way around, build a nest and start building a hoard. The cage is fine left 2 weeks without any cleaning. After that you can just "spot clean".

Hope that helps! It can be a very frustrating time. I got our first one for a six year old who just desperately wanted to hold the hamster and we couldn't. It took 2 to 3 months of bathtub taming - but after that he would just go to sleep on your knee :) And we had fun with the bathtub taming and the 6 year old used to make little videos of the hamster. As well as Hamster toys we had an Octopod and the hamster enjoyed playing in that! Some childrens toys make good out of cage hamster toys - but always check them for safety. Hamsters can get trapped in some things or a leg caught.

Also hamster balls aren't suitable for dwarf hamsters for running around in - there are too many hazards and it can stress them - but they can make a useful way of transporting them from a to b without them escaping. By carrying them in the ball then letting them out in the safe area.
 
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So as well as being a hamster - he is a frightened baby hamster - you have a toddler! Who just needs some reassurance. They bite out of fear. However - environment can affect their behaviour too. If something is not right in their cage - they can get cage rage as well. Usually that’s if it’s very small or not enough substrate for them to burrow in.

So that could be something to consider.

I’m so glad you joined us - we’ve all been through things like this with hamsters. And their personalities vary. My current Syrian was adopted and he was a biter. It took about 3 months before I could handle him and stroke him without needing to wear thick gloves. He just didn’t trust hands and I assume he had a bad experience at some point- either at a pet store or in a previous home.
 
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elusive said:
It is early days so don’t feel you need to rush into taming, he may just be being a bit territorial in his cage while he settles in, he needs to feel it’s his & a safe place to be so don’t worry about the biting at the moment, most do grow out of it & I’ve found they rarely bite out of the cage.
If they are showing signs of being nervous I start by just sitting by the cage & talking to them softly so they get accustomed to my voice & presence.
Offering treats through the bars to begin with can help so you’re not actually invading his space.
Cage size can be a factor in how territorial they might be, with a larger cage hands may not seem quite so invasive while with a smaller cage it’s a bit scary to have a big hand in your space!
You can also try offering a treat with your hand just by the door, if he does bite try not to jerk or snatch your hand away as that can scare them more/
Once he’s settled a bit more try taking him out for short sessions, find something he can climb into to safely transport him to the play area, a tube (capped off at one end or with one hand over the end) a small box, anything he can easily climb into from the cage but not fall out of while you transport him (this is what we call the hamster taxi!) maybe put a treat in to encourage him then let him climb out in the play area with toy, hides & a wheel for him to use & explore, give him a little time then just introduce your hand lying flat & still, put it treat on your hand & with time he will probably come to take it but go slow & don’t feel there’s any rush.
It can take them a couple of weeks or more to settle into a new home, some are quicker others longer so you have let them guide you as to how fast they’re really to progress.
I wouldn’t worry about handling him the first days, he’ll soon get over that but I definitely wouldn’t recommend just picking him up & handling him again until he’s ready.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for responding! Yes, I just need to be patient. I just wanted him to love me right away 😅 . But I understand now that it's a process. Unfortunately, we have a bin enclosure so there are no bars or doors, so I need to reach in from the top to offer him treats. I guess based on what everyone has said, I wonder if I should cease hand-offering him treats until another week has elapsed. Then maybe he'll feel less harassed and can really get used to his new surroundings. Does that seem reasonable?
 
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That sounds a good idea. Bare in mind that hamsters are not often human orientated but you can have so much fun watching Edmond and observing him. You may like to get a camera so you can find out all he gets to when you are asleep. :)
 
Maz said:
Hi. It’s so hard when they’re new and you want to hold them! It does need some patience. Lots of good advice above.

All I will add is. He is a scared little baby who is confused and not settled in yet. It can take 2 weeks of no disturbance in their cage for them to settle in and start looking contented.

That means it’s important not to clean out the cage or move things around too much for the first two weeks. Otherwise the two weeks starts again :). Ie it’s a setback.

However it can be lovely interacting with them without holding them by talking. If offering treats - don’t put your hand in the cage. Most hamsters dislike a hand in the cage as it’s an invasion of territory. If you have cage bars try feeding treats through there until the hamster is used to you a bit.

But basically - he is very scared! He’s a baby and it’s all new.

I find the two week point is almost like clockwork. Their behaviour suddenly changes- they seem more confident and relaxed.

I also think it takes humans at least 2 weeks to adjust to a house move and finding everything- and it can be a stressful period. So it’s adjustment time.

Personally I would recommend waiting before trying to handle him. A week is such a short time. For the next week to 10 days, maybe just have a routine of sitting chatting to him every day through the cage. It sounds a bit bonkers but they start to respond to tone of voice. It’s about trust building.

That’s all taming is really - earning their trust. If he shows signs of wanting to come out - like coming to the door of the cage or looking like he's looking for a way out - you could let him out of the cage in a safe area without any handling at first. But generally I think it's better to let them settle into the cage first and not have them out too long. They are always keen to go back to the cage as well. He might hop into a hamster ball if you put it in the cage (if it fits) or walk into a tube (wear gloves and put your hands over each end so it doesn't make you jump and drop it, if he pushes against your hand while he's in the tube). If you lift him out in a tube you need a box right next to you to put the tube down in and then carry the box somewhere where you can let him out for a run around with a few toys.

I would try and resist the temptation to get him out for another week though. It will go better if he's had time to settle in. What he needs to do is scent mark his cage, find his way around, build a nest and start building a hoard. The cage is fine left 2 weeks without any cleaning. After that you can just "spot clean".

Hope that helps! It can be a very frustrating time. I got our first one for a six year old who just desperately wanted to hold the hamster and we couldn't. It took 2 to 3 months of bathtub taming - but after that he would just go to sleep on your knee :) And we had fun with the bathtub taming and the 6 year old used to make little videos of the hamster. As well as Hamster toys we had an Octopod and the hamster enjoyed playing in that! Some childrens toys make good out of cage hamster toys - but always check them for safety. Hamsters can get trapped in some things or a leg caught.

Also hamster balls aren't suitable for dwarf hamsters for running around in - there are too many hazards and it can stress them - but they can make a useful way of transporting them from a to b without them escaping. By carrying them in the ball then letting them out in the safe area.
Click to expand...
Thank you Maz! I appreciate your advice. Good to be reminded that he's scared. I mentioned to Elusive above that we have a bin enclosure so the only way for me to offer him treats is to stick my hand in from the top. I'm thinking about stopping for the next week so he can just relax. And resume trying to hand feed after that. I really hope the 2-week rule works in Edmond's case! And I will not do any cage cleaning until the 2 weeks has elapsed. 👍
 
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RainbowBrite said:
That sounds a good idea. Bare in mind that hamsters are not often human orientated but you can have so much fun watching Edmond and observing him. You may like to get a camera so you can find out all he gets to when you are asleep. :)
Click to expand...
Yeah I really do have fun wathching him even if I can't play with him. I put his bin on our coffee table every evening when we're winding down so we can watch him run around. It's so adorable!
 
ggaabs19 said:
Yeah I really do have fun wathching him even if I can't play with him. I put his bin on our coffee table every evening when we're winding down so we can watch him run around. It's so adorable!
Click to expand...
My hamster is very shy but I get so much joy watching him on his camera. It is lovely Edmond feels comfortable to come out when you are in the room. :)
 
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Maz said:
So as well as being a hamster - he is a frightened baby hamster - you have a toddler! Who just needs some reassurance. They bite out of fear. However - environment can affect their behaviour too. If something is not right in their cage - they can get cage rage as well. Usually that’s if it’s very small or not enough substrate for them to burrow in.

So that could be something to consider.

I’m so glad you joined us - we’ve all been through things like this with hamsters. And their personalities vary. My current Syrian was adopted and he was a biter. It took about 3 months before I could handle him and stroke him without needing to wear thick gloves. He just didn’t trust hands and I assume he had a bad experience at some point- either at a pet store or in a previous home.
Click to expand...
53C27F83-C789-44B3-8DA6-59287A42C77F.jpeghere is a picture of his bin. It’s 597sq inches of floor space. He seems to be enjoying it.
 
Are you keeping his bin on the floor? If you can I would put it on a table or something so it’s off the ground, they pick up a lot of vibrations if they’re on the floor & that ca be quite disturbing for them.
I wouldn’t move the bin either as that can be a bit unsettling for them.
It is a bit harder when you have to reach them from above but the bin looks a good size so you can always approach from the side, what you can do once he’s settled in a bit more is just sit & talk to him then leave a treat in the cage for him to find, that way he’ll begin to associate you with good things without getting to scared or stressed.
 
That's a lovely bin cage set up :) Yes tricky to feed treats by hand like that. I'd focus on talking to him, letting him settle in and the tissue trick. The tissue trick is putting some sheets of toilet paper up your sleeve (or down your bra). Leave them there for an hour or so maybe - then tear the sheets into strips and put the pile of strips in the cage near his house (but not inside it). He'll take some for his nest and they'll have your scent on. So he'll associate your scent with his favourite cosy place.
 
As Elusive mentioned above, they do react to any kind of change of environment - even moving the cage to a different location - so it's better if the cage stays in the same place all the time.
 
I used to keep our first hamster cage on the floor (although it was carpeted). I guess it's a good idea to have it on something even if it's just a piece of wood. But I think the main thing is the cage stays in the same place usually. I suppose vibration could scare him a bit - I hadn't thought of that.

Sorry ggabs - we're chatting away here. It's clear you have put a lot of thought into a great set up for your hammy. Some people put them in awful tiny cages and then wonder why they're stressed.

I do think, yes, taming will be easier in a week or so, out of the cage. Partly as well because sometimes it scares them if a hand comes from above - with them being prey animals.

With our current Syrian I only tried handling him when he was in the playpen. But that still meant putting my arm in from above and he still used to bite me (I wore gloves). Some people actually sit in the playpen or bathtub with them, then they can run all over you. So it's less about "hands". I couldn't do that due to a bad knee!

I persevered with the gloves on till he got used to be handled a bit. I noticed if he was distracted and eating something he didn't bother about being touched or stroked! So there is some psychological aspect.

It wasn't till I had him out on the sofa that he was fine about hands and being picked up and sit on my arm to be stroked. I think that's because I was on the same level as him so my hands weren't coming from above.

It's just time and patience :)
 
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