Guest viewing is limited

Taming and trust building, but Norbert is in charge. Always.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Norbert Wrigglebottom
  • Start date Start date
N

Norbert Wrigglebottom

I think we are doing pretty well, but he chooses the pace. What do you think?
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
The way he keeps looking at you is so cute. I love his markings.😍
 
Norbert is super cute. Looks like he's settling in well, he seems relaxed to me, listening to your voice and getting used to your scent within his home. 🙂👍
 
He’s listening to you :-). He seems very sweet and accepted being stroked, didn’t run away or bite! I think he accepts you. It’s real progress considering it’s in his territory. They sometimes will only accept hands when they are out of the cage. They can behave completely differently out of the cage.
 
Thanks everyone 💜 I think he is feeling quite safe, especially being allowed to be in control of the pace. I never ',force', unless health or medical care demands it. Then what the animal wants , or thinks it wants are of no consequence to me 🤣 they usually forgive eventually. Unless it's a seagull. They never forgive 🤣🤣🤣
 
I am sure he trusts you already. None of ours have ever liked my hand being in the cage - their territory. With Syrians, they will accept it but might follow your hand anxiously to see what you're messing with! If spot cleaning - or go in the other direction! With our first Syrian he was very shy/lazy and wouldn't even come out of his house if you opened the cage door. In fact he didn't want to come out of his cage at all! So I used to have to tempt him into a tube - the tube was just in front of his house door with a bit of cucumber at the other end or another smelly treat. He'd walk into the tube to get the cucumber and I'd put my hands over the end and lift him out that way. Once he was out of the cage he was completely different! Much more active and energetic and once tame he would actually go to sleep on my knee - but only if there was a blanket on my knee to crawl under. He would happily sit next to you on the sofa too. Not for long - he'd be wanting to explore things after a while.

Hamsters vary so much in personality! But they tend to have a different personality out of the cage than in it. So all our taming was done out of the cage with the first one (in the dry bathtub initially!). Only then would he accept my hand in the cage and would still get a bit fussy about it! So you're doing really well if Norbert accepts a hand in the cage!

I'm sure your experience with other animals helps him trust you as well - they really do respond to tone of voice I think.
 
He is so cute by the way!
 
He is so sweet. It's almost like he wants to make contact with you and keeps looking for you but isn't sure yet.
 
He is so sweet. It's almost like he wants to make contact with you and keeps looking for you but isn't sure yet.
Yes, I think so too! He's definitely warming up though isn't he! His pace will suit me, I waited 7 months to earn the trust of my rabbit 💜 (I'll pop his trust story in other pets section) To be honest, I'm not convinced Norbert is that young?? I'm wondering if he may have been the father of the dumped babies. Certainly not an elder hammy, but a baby??? Hmmmm 🤔
 
It's hard to tell sometimes. Babies can still be quite big. Is it his behaviour makes you think he might be older? He could still be quite young even if he's the Father.
 
It's hard to tell sometimes. Babies can still be quite big. Is it his behaviour makes you think he might be older? He could still be quite young even if he's the Father.
I'm not sure really Maz, but to me, he seems to have that little bit of wisdom in his face, if that makes sense? And his behaviour seems to say "I know EXACTLY what I want" rather than the cautious curiosity that so many very young animals display. (If he is possibly Daddy Hammy, he might be thinking "I was having the time of my life before you came along and made me a bachelor" 🤣😜)
Oh, I've not forgotten about the wheel photo, he leaps off every time I point my phone 🤦🏻‍♀️ He is a camera hogger any other time, awkward little fuzz butt 🤣
 
I see what you mean - maybe not quite as buzzy as a baby hamster or innocent eyed. They do vary in personality as well. Sometimes we never know how old they are until they start ageing! I don't think he's as old as a year old though somehow. I may be wrong. They have a very confident air about them at about a year old (middle aged) - but then he's still settling in as well I guess.
 
Just watched your video again - I think he still has quite a young looking face :) And a skirt - he is definitely a long haired syrian! I thought he looked really fluffy!
 
Last edited:
His skirt could give an indication of his age actually - it grows at a certain rate or looks a certain way at a certain age. I am not an expert on long haired hamsters but someone else might be!
 
It's not a hard and fast thing, as skirt length can vary anyway but if you look at these photos he looks more like a 3 month long haired male than an 8 month long haired male, just by the length of his coat. Three months old is not quite baby any more but not grown up either. Maybe like an 11 year old child!

 
You might need a little comb or brush at some point!
 
I find it funny how they just have long hair on their bottoms. Hehe.
 
Just watched your video again - I think he still has quite a young looking face :) And a skirt - he is definitely a long haired syrian! I thought he looked really fluffy!
He's certainly got a gorgeous bumbazina 😃 Main thing is, if he is healthy and happy for the rest of his little hamster life then I'll be happy too, regardless of time ❤️
 
You might need a little comb or brush at some point!
Yes I'm sure I will! In fact I have a baby toothbrush in my cupboard, probably be a good idea to start getting him used to the feeling of being groomed, even if it's just one stroke with brush at a time.. then I can hopefully introduce a little doll brush or comb as his trust grows. I'd never forgive myself if got matted up, and in a mess.
 
His skirt could give an indication of his age actually - it grows at a certain rate or looks a certain way at a certain age. I am not an expert on long haired hamsters but someone else might be!
Ooh, I'll do a bit of research on that! I do love the wealth of ideas and wisdom on here, thank you Maz 💜
 
Back
Top