Step-by-step instructions on how to accustom a Djungarian or Syrian hamster to your hands

All hamsters are naturally cowardly. Domestic rodents are afraid of people and everything unfamiliar: new surroundings, sounds, smells. At first they are afraid of their owners. What to do if the fluffy runs into the house as soon as he senses the approach of a person? How to establish contact with a funny animal? We have collected useful recommendations for you, from which you will learn how to tame a hamster and become his friend.

What does domesticating a rodent look like?

Taming a hamster at home takes place in several stages. The most important of them is creating comfortable conditions for the animal. The main thing is not to rush, so as not to traumatize the animal’s psyche.

Creating comfortable living conditions for your pet

To gain your hamster's trust and increase its lifespan, you need to give it a spacious, clean cage. The floor is covered with a special underlay, which is updated daily. Additionally, they buy toys for the rodent.

It is important to provide your hamster with access to fresh water and good quality feeding.

The animal only needs 20 g of food per day (vegetables, meat, grain) - this amount is divided into 2 servings. Sometimes the pet is pampered with treats. It is also necessary to ensure that no one disturbs the animal during daytime sleep.

The period of adaptation to a new home

For adaptation to be effective, you need to place the cage in a quiet place. However, it should not be completely isolated - the animal needs to hear the owner’s voice in order to get used to it. It will take your hamster about a week to get comfortable.

The owner is recommended to spend 30-40 minutes a day near the cage - then the animal will be tamed faster.

At this time, you should not make loud noises or try to pull your pet out. Soon he will get used to the owner and will be able to treat him without fear.

Gradually accustoming a hamster to a voice

While near the cage, you need to talk to the hamster. This is done in a gentle tone, preferably during feeding, so that the rodent associates the owner’s voice with the pleasure of eating. Over time, the pet will remember it and will be able to distinguish it from the voices of other people.

Hand feeding with treats

When the owner understands that the pet is accustomed to its new home, you can try to hand feed the hamster. First, treats are given through the bars of the cage, then the palm with the treat is inserted inside, placing the food on the fingertips. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times a day.

When feeding, it is important not to move your hand so as not to scare the animal. If the rodent refuses to leave the hole, you can put sawdust on your palm - this will mask the odors.

If a hamster takes food from your hands, this is the highest degree of trust.

Gentle touches

If the animal runs up to your hand without fear and takes a treat, you can try to gently pet the pet. This should be done carefully and slowly, with one finger. You should not roughly grab the hamster - touches should be light and weightless.

Feeding a hamster outside the cage

While the rodent is walking around the apartment, you should try to feed it outside the cage. To do this, place a treat in the center of the palm and patiently wait for the curious animal to come closer. To eat food, the hamster will have to climb all the way onto your hand.

Attempts to be picked up without food

When the pet stops running away from the owner, you can try to pick it up without using food as bait.

How to tame a hamster:

1. You need to stick your palm inside the cage. There is no need to put treats in your palm.
2. When the animal climbs onto your hand, carefully pull the pet out.

If the animal is afraid, you must immediately return it back to the cage. You can try to calm your pet by bringing it to your chest - when you hear the heartbeat, the rodent will stop being nervous.

First hold the hamster in your hands, and then you can play with it.

What to do while the hamster is not yet tamed

It will take several weeks from the moment of purchase until the pet is completely tamed. At this time, it is necessary to regularly clean his home without significant harm to his emotional state. There are several ways to do this.

• Place a glass jar of hamster food in the cage. When the hamster comes inside at the smell of food, cover the jar and remove it from the cage. This will allow you to easily “clean up the apartment” of the hamster and bring him back without scaring him at all.
• You can use the bathroom to get your pet out of the cage. Close the bathtub drain hole tightly and place a soft bedding on the bottom to avoid accidentally damaging the bathtub cover. Place the cage in the bathtub, open the door, step back and wait quietly. A curious fluffy will come out of the cage, and while he wanders along the bottom of the bath to explore the “surroundings”, you can calmly cope with the cleaning. Place the clean cage in the bathtub and put something tasty inside. The hamster will calmly enter the cage for a treat, all you have to do is quickly close the door.
• There is another way - to cover the animal with a towel or put on gloves to get the hamster out of the cage, but experts do not recommend doing this unless absolutely necessary, for example, if you have problems with the pet’s health, take it to a veterinarian for an examination. Severe fright will lead to additional stress, and the taming process will slow down.

The end result - taming a pet - can take a month or more, or it can take 2-3 weeks. This depends on the breed of the hamster, its age and individual characteristics, and also to a large extent on the abilities of the owner himself, his endurance, perseverance and simple human kindness, leniency and generosity towards a weak living creature.

By consistently following these not so complicated recommendations, you will certainly be able to accustom your pet to your hands and enjoy positive communication with this cute animal.

To learn how to accustom a hamster to your hands, see the following video.

How to properly pick up a rodent

Before paying attention to your pet, you need to wash your hands with soap to eliminate extraneous odors. Considering the small size of the pet, you should handle it carefully, otherwise you may harm the animal.

How to tame a hamster:

1. Bring your palm to the cage and let it smell.
2. Pet the rodent. If he doesn’t get scared and doesn’t run away, you need to stretch out your hand and wait for the pet to climb on it. If you try to grab the animal from the back, it may bite.
3. Pull the animal out of the cage, holding it with your other hand. Hamsters often get injured when falling from heights, so it is important to prevent this from happening.

Basic rules for training a hamster

Physical condition of the animal

You should not start training if your pet has health problems that cause him discomfort. Also, do not disturb the rodent during estrus, mating, or pregnancy. During such periods, hamsters will not be able to exercise to their full potential, and any training will end in failure.

Times of Day

The most suitable time for training is evening. Closer to night, hamsters are at the peak of their activity; they are more resistant to perceiving new information and working through exercises. As soon as your pet gets out of its house after a nap, you can safely start working with it.

Satiety

Train your pet on a moderately full stomach; when hungry, the pet will be distracted by extraneous odors, and the training will fail. Your hands should also be clean and free of food odor.

Confidence

Before a long training process, you need to build a trusting relationship with the rodent, you need to educate it and accustom it to your presence. A strong bond can be established through hand feeding. This way the pet will understand who its owner is and will get used to your smell.

Age

Training a hamster should begin at the right age - from 2 weeks from birth to 2.5 months of conscious life. This period is the most optimal period for training a hamster; at this time, he best perceives information and shows curiosity about the outside world.

How long does it take for hamsters to form attachments?

The adaptation period lasts from 4 to 8 days, and the formation of attachment to the owner can take from a couple of weeks to several months. You cannot force events - the animal must learn to trust the owner.

If the animal is fussing and nervous, this indicates that it is afraid of humans.

It is believed that males are easier to train and tame. Girls are more obstinate and timid, and boys are calm and affectionate.

The hamster must be handled voluntarily and should not be grabbed roughly.

Prohibited actions during taming

When accustoming your hamster to your hands, you should not do the following:

• lift the animal by the scruff of the neck;
• approach the pet from behind or from the side and immediately grab it. The pet must see that the owner is nearby;
• forcibly restrain the hamster if it breaks free and wants to escape;
• wake the animal when it is fast asleep;
• do training in the first half of the day, when the pet is lethargic and sleepy. It is better to do this in the evening when the hamster is active;
• pet your pet on the head;
• make sudden movements, scream and otherwise frighten the rodent;
• scold the hamster, punish, for example, deprive him of treats.

Note! The easiest way to train a hamster to be handled is at an early age. It is better to adopt a pet before it is 2 months old. Already matured animals have difficulty adapting and are difficult to handle. More problems occur with them, and training is significantly delayed.

More often, pet lovers are interested in how to accustom a dwarf to being handled. These miniature pets with a dark stripe on their back are very popular. They are friendly, active, and easy to care for. With caring owners, Djungarian hamsters can live 4 years or even more, whereas in the natural environment they die after 2.5-3 years.

Satisfied adult hamster, trained to be handled

It is known that boys get used to people faster, girls are much more difficult to tame. It is also recommended to take this into account when choosing an animal.

You need to tame the hamster gradually, do not rush the pet, do not put pressure on it. In his natural environment, he encounters a large number of enemies and constantly runs away from them. It is not surprising that the animal is wary of new owners. They must earn his trust and prove that they want to take care of him and do everything to make the pet feel comfortable.

Features of accustoming different species to hands

When buying a hamster, you should pay attention to its breed, since the duration of hand training depends on this.

Dzungarian

“Dzhungariki” are considered the calmest and friendliest, so they easily make contact and quickly get used to the owner. They are more intelligent and intelligent than other species, which makes the training process easier.

Dzungarik in your warm palm shows curiosity about surrounding objects.

Syrian

Syrian hamsters are slow and large in size. The taming process takes longer, but with a good attitude, the pet will willingly go into your arms.

Other types

Campbell's and Roborovsky's hamsters, unlike the "Djungarians" and "Syrians", have a difficult temperament and can be aggressive. You will have to be patient with them, as they are difficult to tame.

What to do if the animal bites

If your pet is aggressive, you need to find out the reasons for this behavior. There may be several of them.

1. Hamsters see poorly, trust their sense of smell more and try everything by heart. For them, the finger is a new food, they need to try it. This usually affects young animals. This will pass after getting to know each other better.
2. Sometimes your hands smell like food or something else that the rodent thinks is edible. For example, the fruity smell of soap or hand cream.
3. If the hamster is not given in hand, he fears for his life and bites in self-defense.
4. The reason may simply be excessive anxiety. Something could have scared the baby. If he bites, this is not a sign of aggression. Maybe he’s just playing and biting lightly “out of excess feelings.”
5. The female may become aggressive during pregnancy. This is completely natural behavior, since she is already preparing to protect future offspring. Try not to worry or bother her again. All activities and hand training will have to be stopped for a while.

Should a small child be trusted with a hamster?

If handled carelessly, it is easy for a pet to be injured and mutilated, so it is important to explain to children how to properly interact with a pet:

1. Do not pick up when adults are not present.
2. You cannot wave your arms, shout, or hit the animal.
3. Do not punish the animal for wrongdoing.
4. If a rodent goes into your palm, you need to hold it carefully so as not to crush it.

Small children can only play with animals under the supervision of their parents. If a child is already an adult and wants to take care of a pet on his own, you need to make sure that he is able to do this.

It is better not to leave small children alone with a hamster.

Care

Keeping animals such as hamsters at home requires some attention and time. First of all, this means frequent replacement of bedding and removal of all uneaten food debris. In addition, you need to wash all the dishes every day, as well as do a general wet cleaning. It is best to place the cage away from the bedroom. In addition, it should not be exposed to sunlight, and there should be no drafts anywhere so that your beloved pet does not catch a cold.

When cleaning the cage, your beloved pet must be transplanted to another place, for example, in a box or jar, since he does not like strangers in his home at all. There is no need to throw away all uneaten food; you should only remove food that will spoil very quickly.

General cleaning needs to be done daily. This is necessary so that the smell of the hamster is not heard throughout the apartment. But it is correct to change the toilet once a week. However, there is no need to completely remove the filler, otherwise the dzhungarik will immediately lose its orientation.

You also need to take care of the hamster itself. They need to be looked after with special diligence. To do this, you need to place a deep container with clean and sifted sand in the cage. He can tumble around in it with pleasure. You should not bathe the hamsters themselves in water, as this will be a real shock for the animal. They can clean themselves.

It must be remembered that Djungarians are loners by nature. Therefore, if you decide to move them into a roommate of any gender, you first need to think carefully about everything. After all, this can lead to aggression or even a small skirmish. In addition, the hamster can become depressed and even die from this. P

When can you start training your hamster?

If the rodent completely trusts the owner, you can begin training. Young individuals are more receptive to learning, and hamsters older than 3 months have already formed character and habits.

Workout

Classes are held in the evening - at this time the animal demonstrates the greatest activity. It is important that your pet is slightly hungry, otherwise he may ignore treats that are used as rewards.

Before class, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and make sure that the animal is ready to play. You cannot train a lethargic, sleepy or frightened animal.

Tricks

You should start with simple tricks, for example, teaching your pet the “run” command. To do this, you need to take a treat and bring it to the hamster’s nose, clearly say “run” and move your hand along a random path.

When the rodent runs 1 or 2 laps, it is fed a treat and the process is repeated. With regular training, the hamster will soon remember the trick and will perform it without treats. In the same way, you can teach the animal other commands.

Common commands for rodents

Drawing figures

This is a funny trick when a fluffy dog ​​runs after its owner's hand. In order for the animal to freely execute the command:

1. Use your rodent's favorite treat.
2. Train your hamster to run after your fingers that hold a treat.
3. After some time, use your hand without food.
4. After your pet has worked hard, give him a treat (for example, a nut).

Standing at attention

To teach this technique, all you need is your patience and the code word “Stop!” To make the animal stand on its hind legs, do the following:

1. Place the hamster on a table or chair.
2. Take a treat and place it 1-2 cm above your pet's head.
3. Repeat the code word several times, and soon your pet will stand up on its hind legs in an attempt to get the sweetness.
4. A few days later, repeat this exercise with the animal without bait: just raise your palm without food over its head and say the code word. When he makes a stand, give him a prize in the form of a treat.

Somersault

To teach your hamster to roll over, you will need aromatic seeds or half a peanut:

1. Place the fluffy on a flat surface.
2. Let him smell the treat and place it on the animal's back.
3. The animal, in an attempt to get food, will soon roll over onto its back and then back onto its paws.
4. This exercise must be repeated over a long period of time.

Does your rodent know its name? Is it being responded to?

Exit from the cage

To teach a hamster to get out of its house on its own, you need a cage with a side door. All training is divided into two stages:

Stage 1.

1. Place ladders near the outside and inside of the cage.
2. Place a treat outside at the bottom of the stairs and say, “Go for a walk!”
3. Repeat this command until the hamster begins to climb the ladder towards the food.

Stage 2.

1. This time, do not place food at the bottom of the ladder.
2. Open the cage door and say: “Go for a walk!”
3. The animal will run out of the house, but will not find the treat.
4. Be sure to give your fluffy a well-deserved treat!

Running in circles

This exercise is similar to “drawing shapes”, only your task is to lead the animal in a circle:

1. Squeeze a treat between your fingers.
2. Walk your hamster around with your hand.
3. Soon you are leading the animal with you without food in your hand.
4. At the end of the exercise, give your pet a treat.

Remembering your nickname

In order for your pet to quickly learn its name, you need to choose a simple nickname for it. It should be short and clear. To make the animal quickly remember it, do the following:

• Whenever you address your furry, pronounce his name clearly.
• Give him a treat every time.

After some time, the pet will begin to run out to you as soon as it hears its name.

Unpleasant moments of taming hamsters

During the taming process, the hamster may become aggressive, bite the owner, or get sick. You need to be prepared for difficulties and know how to cope with them.

The rodent constantly bites

If an animal attacks its owner, the reasons for this behavior are:

• curiosity;
• foreign and pungent odors;
• defensive reaction.

You need to pay attention to the nature of the bites. Affectionate and gentle indicate the animal's readiness to play. Strong and aggressive signals about the pet's fear. Pregnant and lactating females can also show aggression - in this case, it is necessary to interrupt physical contact with the animal.

Doesn't eat or drink

If a rodent refuses water and food, this is a sign of severe stress or illness. It is necessary to show your pet to a veterinarian to exclude the possibility of developing the disease. If there are no health problems, you should leave the animal alone so that it can calm down and adapt to its environment.

The hamster is very afraid of humans

Strong fear can be caused by sudden movements, physical violence, or attempts to pull the animal out of the house. It is necessary to identify the cause of fear and eliminate it. Frequent feeding with treats and providing a calm and comfortable environment will help restore your pet's trust.

Possible problems

Taming an animal is always challenging, but it's important to know what to expect and how to handle it.

Taming a hamster is not an easy task. It will require a lot of time and patience, but in the end the pupil will be easier to train and delight the owner and family members with tricks.

The main thing is not to rush and understand that the animal’s mental and physical health depends on its comfort.

Creating comfortable conditions for the hamster

Buy a cage that already has a labyrinth that the hamster uses as a burrow or house. Manufacturers take care of the animals' entertainment and equip the enclosure with a running wheel. The cage should have a feeder and drinker.

Be sure to read:
Eye diseases in a hamster: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Buy a walking ball, toys, and a tray for your pet. The room should not be hot or cold, dark or too light. Place your hamster's cage where he will not be disturbed by children or cats.

Complex cases

The character of an animal has a great influence on its taming. Sometimes the hamster does not want to be handled even after a month, biting or running away.

Pet bites

A small animal can bite for various reasons:

1. He is constantly in a state of fear. This is usually due to the fact that his cage is in an unfortunate, too noisy place.
2. Your hands smell like food. In this case, the pet, whose sense of smell is well developed, does not understand that fingers cannot be eaten; for him they become food.
3. You put your hands into the animal's nest, and the hamster is a territorial animal. He may perceive this as a threat to his life.
4. Khoma is offended by you. If you wake him up or climb into the nest, the baby may be upset about this and harbor a grudge.

Solving these problems is not difficult: do not shout at the animal, wash your hands thoroughly after contact with food, move the cage to a more comfortable place. If the breed has developed territoriality, then contact the hamster on neutral territory, away from the cage.

Hamster runs away

It is not uncommon for rodents to escape as soon as the cage is left open or they are pulled out of it. This is due to the fact that life in a cozy and dark hole is embedded in their head. As soon as the animal is free in bright light, it tends to hide in a secluded corner. Your folded palms may well replace such a hole for the animal, but for this, the homa must first get used to them.

Let the hamster move

The best way to pick up a hamster is to place it in your palm and cover it with your other hand.

It is best to start by lifting your hamster off your lap or some other soft surface, such as a sofa, in case the animal falls or jumps.

As your hamster gets comfortable, allow him to crawl from one hand to the other or across your arms.

You can continue to offer treats, although your hamster may not show much interest in the treats when there is something new to see and explore.

Caring for a Syrian hamster at home

“Syrians” become unpretentious animals at home. All they need is a nutritious diet and constant care. Taking care of Syrian animals is quite simple. The main responsibilities of the owner: clean the cage in a timely manner, supply clean drinking water and food once a day. Sometimes an animal can be let out of its house to run around the apartment, but only if it is accustomed to being handled and is not afraid of people. If you follow all the rules, your pet will not cause much trouble.

What to feed a hamster?

Nutrition is the main basis for caring for animals. The diet should be fortified and complete. The Syrian hamster can eat:

• food consisting of grains, pressed grass and a small amount of dried fruits and seeds. It is worth pouring 1-2 tablespoons into a plate every day;
• fresh vegetables and fruits are included in the daily diet, you only need to add a little - 10-20 grams. Syrian hamsters love apples, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, cabbage, grapes and other berries. A large amount of these products can ruin digestion and cause discomfort in the animal;
• Give your pet 1 teaspoon of yogurt or milk daily as a source of calcium and protein.

The owner of the animal should know the list of products that are strictly prohibited from giving to a hamster:

• chocolate and other products with sugar;
• oranges, tangerines, grapefruits;
• melon:
• green leaf salad;
• onion and garlic;
• eggs, meat products;
• fish fat;
• salty foods: chips, snacks and more.

It is important to establish a feeding schedule

How many times a day should I feed?

As a rule, hamsters are nocturnal and sleep during the day. That is why it is better to give all measles in the evening and in the morning. In the evening hours, feed should be given many times more than the morning portion.

In order to decide how many times to fill your animal’s bowl with food and in what quantity, you should adhere to the schedule described above and look at the pet’s behavior. Feeding at regular intervals promotes excellent digestion for the animal. After some time, he will get used to this regime and will look forward to the portion allotted to him.

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Cage or labyrinth?

The Syrian hamster's home should be spacious. There are two options where an animal can live: a cage and a labyrinth. The most common and simple house for rodents is a cage. The minimum acceptable cage size is 30 by 40 cm, but if possible, it is worth taking a larger house. The distance between the rods should be no more than 1 cm, otherwise the pet will run away

For the comfort of the rodent, it is important that the home has at least 2 floors: on the first floor there is a dining room and a playroom, and on the second floor there is a bedroom.

You can also buy a labyrinth for your hamster - a house with a large number of rooms on different floors, connected by pipes. The labyrinth is a bit like a hole, so the animal will definitely like it.

Which house to choose for the animal? Buy according to your capabilities, the main thing is that the hamster feels comfortable and spacious in it.

Cage equipment

In the home of a “Syrian” there must be:

• a sleeping house made of wood or plastic;
• a bowl made of clay or steel so that the pet cannot turn it over;
• the drinking bowl should be in the form of hanging droppers;
• a wheel is necessary if the animal does not have enough space to run;
• small toys.

Advanced maneuvers

Weight lifting

Obviously, rodents should not lift heavy objects. But to create the effect of heaviness, you can make a barbell from foods that hamsters like to chew: carrots, cucumbers, apples, etc. A block is made from an oblong object; salty or sweet sticks can be used as this. Cookies can serve as mini pancakes for your attribute. When the pet sees the “barbell”, he will certainly want to chew on it, to do this he will lift it and a picture of an athlete with a lifted load will be created.

Pirate and parrot

To create the ambience of a pet sitting on the owner’s shoulder, follow the following instructions:

1. Place your pet in your palm.
2. Bend your elbow slightly and move it away from your body so that the rise is not too steep.
3. Lure your pet to your shoulder with sweets and let your hamster eat it.
4. Practice each step repeatedly with your pet.
5. When the animal understands what the point is, stop luring the hamster with goodies. Instead, just give him a sniff of the food and immediately place the treat on his shoulder.

Soon your little friend will begin to willingly come running on your shoulder even in the absence of sweets.

Jumping through a hoop

If you want to see your animal jump over obstacles, then use a small hoop for this. The diameter of the circle must be at least 7 cm so that the hamster does not get stuck in it.

1. Place the hoop between the animal and a piece of food.
2. Keep the circle not too high above the floor (about 1 cm), otherwise the pet will run under it.
3. Repeat the exercise several times until your pet can do it without a treat.

Barrier!

1. Make a simple design from two disposable cups and toothpicks.
2. Place a treat outside the barrier and say: “Barrier!”
3. To get a tasty morsel, the fluffy will have to overcome an obstacle.
4. After several strengthening of the skill, the animal will be able to jump over the barrier itself after a command.

Rules and features of taming

To tame a Syrian hamster, you will have to make some effort. It is worth taking care of the rodent every day, but without intrusiveness. Adaptation usually takes from 2 to 14 days. Certain rules must be followed.

• Give time to adapt . After purchase, the hamster is placed in a cage and left alone. The pet must get used to and explore the new space. The rodent must settle into the new territory. At first, the animal is stressed and rarely leaves the house. As soon as the Syrian hamster begins to get out of the home more often, you can begin to establish contact.
• Do not touch the hamster while sleeping . When trying to pet or pick up a sleeping animal, the owner risks harming the pet's health. The rodent will wake up, begin to break free and bite.
• It is better to start taming a hamster when it reaches the age of 1-2 months . At an early age, the rodent is more predisposed to contact with humans. An adult has a formed character, which will become a stumbling block during taming. Such a pet is much more difficult to win over and will require more time and effort.
• Consider the hamster's mode . The animal is nocturnal. The best time for taming is evening. During the daytime, the pet goes to bed and rests from the hustle and bustle of the night.
• Offer a treat . To build a trusting relationship, you need to “appease” the Syrian hamster in advance.

Following simple rules will reduce the duration of taming to several days. The Syrian hamster will make contact faster if you do not make sudden movements that could frighten the animal.

Procedure

You need to accustom your hamster gradually. This will require a lot of patience, effort and time, but the result is worth it.

The taming technique consists of the following stages:

1. Let your pet get used to its new place of residence.
2. Try to visit the cage more often, watch the fluffy and communicate with him. In a calm and quiet voice, you can even sing him a song or recite a poem.
3. Offer your rodent a small amount of what he likes through the door or bars. If the little creature is no longer afraid to take a treat, then try reaching all the way into the cage. Do not touch your pet until he takes the first step and begins to study your hand.
4. Hand the animal the treat so that it can reach it by placing its paws on your palm. If the homa refuses to do this, then it’s worth returning to the previous point. Do not try to force your pet to perform any actions by force, because he may get scared, and then you will have to start all over again.
5. Place a treat on your palm so that the animal can get it by climbing onto your hand.
6. Try to slightly lift your palm with the rodent. At first he will jump off, but over and over again he will stay on your hand longer and longer. The baby will stop jumping when he realizes that he is completely safe.

First days in a new house

You brought a small pet in a carrier from the pet store. At home, his home is already ready: the cage is washed and furnished. In this case, you can immediately put the hamster in it, pour in food, pour water and give some greens. A hungry baby after shopping will be very happy if you put a piece of something tasty and filling. Of course, he won’t eat it right away, but after a few hours of being in a new place he will definitely try it.

If you purchased the cage with a hamster, then you need to thoroughly wash it with soap, rinse it with running water, put in sawdust, place the house with nesting material inside, hang a wheel and a water bowl, prepare food and only then start your animal. Having completed all these steps, you can quietly observe the new tenant from the sidelines.

At first, the homa will take a long time to sleep. Also, he may be afraid of everything, scream and hide, but these are natural reactions that help him adapt. Its duration can be from one week to three months.

The first cleaning is carried out after seven days. This will be stressful for the rodent, but you can leave some old sawdust and food after cleaning so that he will smell a familiar smell and not be scared.

Conversations with a hamster

Communication is very important in building a relationship with your new pet. During it, he will get used to your voice and remember you. You can talk to a Homa about anything, because the animal is an excellent listener. You can tell him about how your day went, complain about work-related problems.

This kid will even listen to songs performed by you, but will not criticize, unlike other people. There is only one rule: your voice should be quiet and calm, under no circumstances shout or make any unpleasant sounds.

Use of treats

At first, you shouldn’t even try to treat Khoma; with a high probability he will refuse to take something from your hands.

Subsequently, the animal can be treated from the palm of your hand with various dried fruits and seeds that are allowed to be given to hamsters. This should be done step by step, without rushing, as described above.

Hand contact

Tactile communication is contact between humans and animals through the senses of touch. That is why they begin to tame a hamster by gradually extending their palm to it. After some time, the animal will explore it itself: sniff, touch with its paws, climb. For you, this is a sign that the pet is no longer afraid of you and you can begin to carefully remove it from the cage.

Palm feeding outside the cage

After you have established a connection with the homa, you can carefully remove it from the cage, hold it in your hands and feed it in the palm of your hand outside the home. It is better not to try to stroke the animal’s head; it is very sensitive to this. But you can gently stroke the hamster’s back while he eats some seeds from your palm.

Taming different breeds

An interesting fact is that the domestication of rodents depends not only on their character, but also on the breed. Djungarian and ordinary hamsters behave completely differently.

Djungarian hamsters

It is more difficult to tame a Djungarian hamster than other breeds, since it likes to bite more than others. Some even call Djungarian hamsters the most aggressive. It is believed that it is possible to tame the dzhungarika only at a young age; adult individuals rarely change their lifestyle.

Recommendations from experts on taming these rodents:

1. Before contacting your pet, be sure to wash your hands and rub them with litter from the cage.
2. If the dzhungarik shows pronounced aggression, then you should wear gardening gloves at first.
3. Sometimes the Djungarian hamster gives introductory bites. This is due to the fact that his vision is poorly developed, and he uses smell and touch to make acquaintances.

Syrian hamsters

The Syrian breed is less aggressive than the Dzungarian breed. These rodents need to be given more time to adapt and treated to various treats outside the cage.

Training rules

Training hamsters takes time and to do it right, you need to know a few basic rules. The first and most important rule is to never put a collar or leash on an animal. A few basic rules that must be followed during training are presented below.

1. Rodents hate noise, which is why it must be avoided completely. The learning process itself should be calm and quiet, but sharp sounds will frighten him and then the animal will not want to work with you.
2. Of course, if the hamster does not lend itself to training, but under no circumstances should he be punished. Firstly, you may accidentally harm the rodent, and secondly, it may be very offended and then even a tasty treat will not save the situation.
3. Also, training hamsters requires patience. You can't force an animal if it doesn't want to. When the hamster resists, there is no need to push him or force him to do something. He, just like you, may feel bad, so if an animal says “no” with its behavior, it means no.
4. When you are working with an animal, no one should be around. If you work out with him, then all training and activities should be only one on one. And also, only one person should work with the animal; under no circumstances should the “trainer” change. The only one who can be around is your child, but you must ask him to be quiet.

These are just the basic rules that must be followed. But there are other training recommendations that should also be followed.

Start of preparation

Before you start working with an animal, you must understand that you cannot expect quick results. Therefore, there is no point in demanding great results from the hamster even after several weeks of training. When you teach him, always call him by his name and only that.

When you teach an animal some tricks, you need to say the name of the trick several times. If it’s “give me a paw,” then before teaching the animal you will need to say it 4 times.

It is necessary to speak quietly and gently so that the rodent does not get scared. You need to train every day so that the animal does not forget anything. You only have 6-8 weeks for training, then it will be difficult to teach the animal anything. There should always be a treat and remember that you can’t teach your hamster hard tricks right away, everything should be done gradually, from small to large.

How to teach children

A hamster is accustomed to children when it is already accustomed to one of the adults. Young family members should be explained that a hamster is not a toy, but a living creature that cannot be constantly taken out of its cage. Children need to be shown how to hold the rodent correctly so as not to hurt it, because it is very small. It would be more correct if the contact between children and the animal takes place under the supervision of parents.