How to tame a hamster to your hands, to a drinking bowl, to a wheel, so that the Djungarian hamster does not run away or bite


What a wonderful moment: you brought a little fluffy ball from the pet store - a cute hamster.
You want to take him in your arms, but he protests. This is a completely natural reaction, since first of all you need to learn how to accustom a hamster to handling and only then carry the baby in your palm. It is very important not to scare the baby with your obsession, because if he gets scared, he can bite painfully. To win the baby’s favor, you need to treat him kindly, act systematically and consistently. The easiest way to tame a hamster is to put a treat in your hand and invite the baby to climb onto your palm for the treat. After this, you don’t need to quickly grab the hamster and start squeezing it; the baby will be scared and will think next time whether it’s worth going into your arms.

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.

We begin to tame

No pet will love its owner from the first day of meeting him just because he bought it. All animals go through periods of adaptation, taming and education, and such a funny little furry as a pet hamster is no exception. The general rules for taming animals fully apply to hamsters: patience, calmness, slowness, perseverance, kindness, affection, trust.

If the pet has become a little accustomed to its new home and no longer hides in the house when it sees you, you can gradually begin to get closer to each other. Based on your observations, you already know what food he eats especially willingly, when he is most active, and when it is better not to touch him. You should not wake him up during daytime sleep - this will cause severe irritation of the animal, nervousness, anxiety and even aggression.

Continue to actively accustom your hamster to the sounds of your voice, and in order not to get tired of the monotonous phrases of your vocabulary, you can quietly read an interesting book out loud every day in an even, calm voice, sitting in a comfortable chair not far from the cage. If your pet once again hides from you in the house, under no circumstances force him out of there, be patient. Gradually, he will stop running into the house when you approach and will calmly start eating . The hamster will understand that the sounds of an already familiar voice are not dangerous.

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.

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.

Taming a pet

How to tame a Djungarian hamster if it squeaks? Squeaking is a protective reaction of the body. The baby shows that he is unpleasant about the owner's intrusion into the cage; he tries to defend himself, scaring the stranger with a desperate squeak.

What to do in this case? Of course, you cannot grab the baby in your arms against his will. You should do this:

A treat is placed on the palm, and the hand is carefully lowered to the bottom of the cage. As soon as the rodent becomes interested and approaches, you should not immediately cover it with your second hand

You need to give the pet time to get acquainted with the owner's palm. Dzungarik will sniff the hand and maybe taste it. You need to be prepared for this and try not to pull your fingers away at the most inopportune moment. If you're worried about getting hurt by your pet, consider a glove. After the baby sniffs the hand, he will take a treat from it. This is a small victory for the owner. And even if the hamster does not immediately climb into the palm of your hand, he will begin to get used to it - the owner’s hand will no longer frighten the baby.

Let's figure out how to tame a hamster. This is a simple process, which, however, requires patience on the part of the owner and a certain amount of time. The entire process of taming a miniature rodent can be roughly divided into several stages:

First, the pet is given time to settle in

At the same time, it is important to stay near the cage for 30-40 minutes. During this time you can do some reading or handicrafts.

There is no need to look closely at the rodent. This will most likely scare him. After the pet begins to boldly leave the house, despite the outside presence, you can move on to the next stage. After the pet has become more courageous, they begin to talk to him: they talk about how the day went, about plans for tomorrow, and sing the tune of their favorite song. It is important that he knows the voice and is not afraid of it. At this stage, the hamster needs to be coaxed. This can be done through treats. You should not immediately try to feed the rodent from your palm. First, he is given goodies through the mesh bars. These can be dried fruits or seeds. Then they begin to feed the pet through the slightly open door. However, you cannot put your hands in the cage. As soon as the small rodent runs for sweets without fear, it is allowed to stick your hand into the cage while feeding. There is no need to rush to pet the hamster: he should touch your palm first and get used to its smell. Now you can start feeding your pet from the palm of your hand. The treat is placed on an open palm in such a way that the rodent cannot reach it without stepping on the palm with one or two paws. At first he will approach you with caution. There is no need to try to speed up the process by moving your palm towards the rodent. Patience is required at this stage. At the last stage of taming the hamster, treats are given to him in such a way that he can get them only by fully climbing into the palm. As soon as the rodent climbs onto your palm without fear, you can try to lift it off the floor. Most likely, the first attempt will end in failure, and the pet will jump from the palm and hide in the house. However, after 4 or 5 times he will become more trusting and understand that the person does not pose a danger to him.

Let's get to know each other better

The pet has gotten used to its new home, it’s time to get used to its owners. The time for getting to know each other must be considered, taking into account the daily activity of the animal. Djungarian and Syrian hamsters are crepuscular animals. Don't bother the fluffies during the day, it will only scare them

What can you do to prevent your hamster from being afraid of its owner? There are several points worth paying attention to

Master's voice

At the first stage of acquaintance, you should establish verbal contact with the hamster. He must remember the sound of your voice and get used to it. Talk to the homa calmly and affectionately. Choose a beautiful name and repeat it often

It is especially important to talk to a funny animal while feeding. Then he will begin to associate your voice with the pleasure he receives from goodies.

Tactile contact

Touch is very important in the friendship between owners and pets. Before you think about how to tame a dzhungarika, you need to establish basic body contact. This rule also applies to rodents of other breeds (Syrian, Caucasian, Angora). Hamsters are mistrustful animals; they won’t let just anyone pet them. You need to make sure that the animal trusts you.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

  1. You can start by simply placing your hand in the cage. Khoma remembers that these hands usually bring him goodies, so he may become interested and come up to sniff. Let the animal walk around your hand and examine it. At this stage, he may even be tempted to lick his finger - this will be your small victory!
  2. After some time, you can begin to move your hand in the cage. Bend, straighten your fingers, and turn your hand slowly and smoothly. This way the hamster will understand that you do not want to scare him or cause harm.
  3. Once your furry dog ​​has become accustomed to feeling safe in your presence, try lightly petting the rodent with one finger. If the animal doesn’t mind, you can touch its nose. But you shouldn’t fiddle with your ears!

Tactile contact has been established, it’s time to think about how to tame a Djungarian or Syrian hamster.

How to train a Djungarian hamster

It is not easy to teach commands to such a restless animal. The intelligence of these rodents is so high that they are able to understand their owner at a glance. But the Dzungarians are so cowardly that training will require remarkable patience. And if the owner has enough strength, attention and patience, the hamster will amaze with its success.

There are both simple and complex commands for animals. You should start with the basic ones. As you achieve certain successes, you can move on to more complex tricks.

A command word during training helps to develop a conditioned reflex in the animal. Pieces of treats will help speed up the learning process. With them the effect will be more obvious. Reproducing the team in the future will not be difficult for Djungarik.

First, some simple tricks:

  1. Knowing your own nickname. You need to repeat your pet's name clearly and dispassionately. At the same time, you should give him treats in small pieces. The animal should be called by its nickname during any close contact with it, and success should be fueled with treats. Over time, the dwarf will begin to respond to its name and quickly run for its favorite food.
  2. Stand at attention". The baby needs to be seated on a flat surface and the treat raised a little higher than his head. At this time, say the command “stand.” It will take several days for the hamster to get up at this command without any treat. But from time to time it is better to encourage him.
  3. Running in circles. The hamster should be placed on a surface with small sides and interested in a treat. As soon as he reaches for food, you need to clearly and loudly say the command “in a circle” and at the same time begin to move your hand with the tasty morsel in a circle. Dzungarik will give chase, and when he stops, he will receive a treat. Repeat the lesson from time to time until the hamster can instantly reproduce what you have learned.
  4. Somersault. This task is more difficult. The animal should be placed on a flat surface, and the treat should be placed on its back. He will be able to get the desired treat only if he turns over. Once it has returned to its original position, the experiment can be repeated, but do not forget to repeat the command.

Now you can try a trick of increased difficulty. For example, teach your pet to climb onto your shoulder. To do this, you will need to wear a long-sleeved shirt and place the animal in your palm.

The hamster should see a treat that was placed on his shoulder before his eyes and at the same time a command was given. Several times the dzhungarik will climb up the sleeve onto the shoulder to eat a delicacy - this is how he will learn.

Stages of taming a hamster

Knowing the basic rules, you can begin the taming process. To do this, you need to gradually go through several stages. The main thing is not only not to rush things, but also not to linger at each stage longer than necessary.

To establish contact and have the hamster climb into your hands, you need to train it to:

  1. to the voice;
  2. to the smell;
  3. to your hands.

It is important to follow this sequence. You should stick your hands into your hamster's cage after he has gotten used to your presence.

So, the first week has passed since you got a furry pet. During this time, it is already necessary to come up with a suitable nickname for him. Names for hamsters are chosen depending on gender, species, behavior, and character. Girls are often given tender and romantic nicknames, Nusya, Milka, Dixie. For boys, they usually choose funny and sonorous names, Chris, Zhorik, Krokha, Pixel.

Now you can start communicating. Hamsters have excellent hearing and are able to remember your voice. The first thing you need to do is address him by name. If you repeat the name daily, the hamster will begin to respond to it.

You need to talk to your hamster every day. The voice should be gentle and calm. During the taming process, you should not make noise or make loud sounds. If you don't know what to say to your hamster, take a book and read it out loud next to the cage. The result is a double benefit: it will benefit you, and the hamster will get used to your voice.

In addition to hearing, hamsters have an excellent sense of smell. If you are often near the cage, the hamster will remember your smell and get used to it. During communication, you should not use cosmetics and care products with strong odors or perfume.

It is important that the hamster remembers your natural scent

How to properly handle a hamster

Before you start training your hamster to handle your hands, you need to prepare, be sure to wash your hands with soap

It is important that the soap is fragrance-free. Also, your hands should not smell like food.

Otherwise, the hamster may bite, mistaking your hand for a treat.

Place your hand near the bars of the cage and let the hamster sniff it. By this time, the hamster already knows your smell and should not be scared and hide. Take a treat in your hand and feed it to the hamster through the bars of the cage. If the hamster takes the treat from your hands without fear, you can safely move on to the next stage. Offer the treat to the hamster inside the cage. The treat should be placed in the palm of your hand and handed to the rodent. If the hamster does not fit, you should not insist and chase him around the cage. After some time, you need to repeat attempts until the hamster takes the food from your hands. Try petting the hamster inside the cage

It is important that the hamster sees you and your hand. Don't sneak up and try to grab him unnoticed.

It may bite you in surprise. Take the hamster in your hands. Don't open the cage and grab him right away. If you pick up a hamster from behind, it will perceive you as a predator and will be forced to defend itself. You need to extend your hand, palm up. The hamster must climb onto your hand on its own. Then you can take him out of the cage.

You should hold the hamster in your hands carefully; you should hold it on top with your other hand. Most often, hamsters get injured when falling from a height.

Nimble rodents often try to escape from hands. Until you know how your pet will behave in your arms, it is necessary to conduct training over a sofa or chair.

Tips for hand training

You should not make noise or make sudden movements during training. The hamster may get scared and break out.

If the hamster does not come into your hands, and you need to clean the cage, you can lure it into a wide-necked jar, after putting a treat in it. As soon as your pet enters the jar and takes the treat, turn the jar over slightly so that he cannot get out.

In order for the hamster to experience only positive emotions when communicating and quickly stop being afraid of you, he needs to create comfortable conditions. You should follow simple rules for keeping hamsters. You need a spacious cage in which you need to install a ball, labyrinths, a running wheel, and leave toys for the hamster inside.

It is also important to feed your hamster properly to keep him healthy and active. The basis of the diet is a grain mixture

Vegetables, fruits, branches of bushes and trees are offered as food for the hamster.

If the hamster behaves aggressively and tries to bite, you should not approach him and insist on communication. If a hamster squeaks, it means he is scared and angry. Try again the next day. Use treats to gain trust.

It is necessary to tame a hamster. Periodic examination is necessary, since symptoms of the disease do not always appear immediately. You can notice the manifestations of the disease by external signs.

Possible problems

Training a hamster is a rather delicate and unpredictable process, so owners of such a pet often face many problems when taming a rodent. There can be many reasons for this, but in most cases it is a consequence of the animal’s timid nature, but this is its natural behavioral reaction.

Bites

A bite is a natural reaction of any animal to danger: in this way it defends itself or tries to prevent possible harm to itself. However, dzhungarikas often bite only in exceptional cases.

There may be several reasons for this:

  • strong or unfamiliar odors;
  • pain caused by human touch;
  • irritability;
  • prolonged stress;
  • an attempt to protect one's territory from unauthorized entry.


The first thing to do if you are bitten by a pet is to identify the cause and eliminate it. Next, it is imperative to eradicate any attempts to harm a person. To do this, it is necessary:

  • The first contacts with the pet should be carried out exclusively with protective gloves or while walking;
  • pick up your pet only after feeding;
  • avoid squeezing, damaging, or frightening the animal;
  • gradually increase the duration of direct contacts from several minutes to several tens of minutes.

Learn how to make a labyrinth, aquarium, house, carrier, wheel, leash for a hamster.

Runs away

Like a bite, an attempt to hide is a genetically determined norm that helps the animal avoid the fate of being eaten by a predator.

Fear is often caused by:

  • new living conditions;
  • natural cowardice in the face of larger objects;
  • unfamiliar sounds, smells and objects.


In order to win over your pet, you should:

  • Place the cage in a quieter place, away from loud noises. At the same time, the hamster should not be restricted from the outside world - he must see and hear his owners every day;
  • When in direct contact with an animal, thoroughly wash your hands to remove foreign odors. Strong aromas are one of the main causes of excessive stress for a timid animal;
  • avoid raising your voice and making sudden movements when communicating with the dwarf;
  • at each open contact, reinforce communication with a small piece of treat;
  • get rid of the method of excessive pressure - the animal will show itself as soon as it gets used to the new conditions.

Find out what to do if your hamster is obese.

The Djungarian hamster is a fairly smart and quick-witted animal, which is why it can be easily not only tamed, but also successfully taught even complex commands. Today this is not only a whim of some owners, but also a necessary norm that helps turn a wild rodent into an affectionate and good-natured animal. However, in order to properly train a Djungarian, you will need not only perseverance and great desire, but also quite a long time and tolerance.

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

Nutrition

What to feed a baby Djungarian? The basis of the diet is dry food for hamsters. An addition to it may be the following:

  • Fruits and vegetables: cucumbers, radishes, carrots, beets, apples, pears, apricots, peaches, dried fruits.
  • Meat component: skinless chicken and turkey, lean beef, horse meat.
  • Dairy products and eggs: boiled chicken egg, quail egg, low-fat cottage cheese and kefir.
  • Greens: dill, parsley, dandelion leaves.
  • Special treats for rodents: sticks and balls for hamsters, chips for hamsters.

Milk and meat should be given no more than twice a week.

Subtleties of the process of raising a dzhungarik and unpleasant moments

What to do if the hamster is not yet accustomed to being handled - where to start?

Training a hamster takes time and patience. Don't rush or skip any stages of getting to know your pet. The most important thing is to earn the animal’s trust and not give it reasons to be afraid of you.

If you need to pick up an untrained rodent, for example, to clean the cage, then you can use a bowl or pipe, closed on one side, which is placed in front of the hamster and the animal is driven into it. Out of curiosity, he may climb into it himself.

If this method does not work or your hamster bites very hard, use gloves or a towel.

It is necessary to act very carefully, since this method can cause severe stress in the rodent and make it difficult to further accustom it

What to do if the animal bites

There are several reasons why a hamster might bite you:

  1. Excessive curiosity. The rodent simply explores everything around and tastes it, and your fingers can also be studied in a similar way.
  2. Foreign odors coming from hands. If your fingers smell like dried apricots or nuts, your pet can easily confuse them with a treat.
  3. Perception of you as an aggressor. If you force him out of the cage and chase him with your hand, the hamster will be afraid of you, and biting will be his defensive reaction.

Djungarian hamsters are small in size and have poor eyesight and rely mainly on smells and your voice. That is why before interacting with your pet, you must thoroughly wash your hands with soap to get rid of excess odors. Otherwise, the hamster may bite you by mistake.

Another reason why a rodent may bite concerns pregnant and lactating females. During this period, they experience a hormonal change and begin to protect their offspring. Therefore, it is better to stop physical contact with the female at this time, but at the same time you must constantly talk to her affectionately and calmly.

Pay attention to your hamster's behavior and try to figure out why he is biting. This will allow you to avoid similar situations in the future.

How to properly pick up a dzhungarika?

The Djungarian hamster is very small, so it should be handled with caution. The best way to pick up a hamster is to wrap your palms around it on both sides so that it cannot jump.

This way, you will protect the rodent from possible injury. At first, hold the hamster above a soft surface or not at all high from the floor.

The animal should feel safe while in your hands. Therefore, give him a little shelter by placing him on one arm and covering him slightly with the other. In such a house he will feel calmer.

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.

Method of taming a Djungarian hamster

So, to tame a little fluffy, you need to be patient and stock up on nuts and candied fruits.

Step one

Don't rush to train your hamster. First, let him get used to his new home a little. It’s probably no secret to anyone that any animal experiences stress during transportation to a new location. Not to mention such tiny creatures as Djungarian hamsters, which are already endowed with a rather timid character.

Do not traumatize your pet’s psyche, do not try to tame it in the very first days of its stay in a new house. An overly reverent attitude in the first days after the move can only harm the rodent; it may completely withdraw into itself and all your attempts at training will be unsuccessful.

Step two

As soon as you notice that your pet rodent already feels comfortable in its new home, you can begin to establish contact. Sometimes, you manage to acquire a dwarf that, without outside help, can jump into your palm and take a liking to your head and shoulders.

In this case, the owner of such a specimen is very lucky, since most of the small furry pets need regular training, without which it is extremely difficult to tame them.

It is necessary to start training by “luring” the hamster with some kind of treat. Take a piece of nut or candied fruit and place it on your palm. Let your furry baby enjoy a treat from your hands. If the hamster does not react in any way to the offer of a “yummy treat,” then there is no need to force him, because such actions can discourage your pet from engaging in activities.

Leave the treat in the cage and take a few steps back - let the rodent make sure that the food out of your hands does not pose any danger to it.

Step three

A hamster that already dares to take food from your palm is already completely ready to be tamed.

However, you should not grab him from the very first successful attempts; let the fluffy feel that there is nothing terrible in your hands, that they cannot harm his humble person. Having made sure that the rodent takes food from your hands with complete confidence, you can safely proceed to further actions.

Bring your palm to the hamster without putting a treat in it, and let the baby examine it carefully. The baby will try to get used to the smell, which was previously unfamiliar to him.

Djungarians often “taste” the object offered to it (in this case, the palm), but, as a rule, the bites are not strong, so try not to scare the pet with your wild screams or sudden movements.

Conduct this dating session at least five times. Often, a hamster only needs a few of these familiarization events, after which he confidently climbs onto the palm of your hand and allows himself to be carried from place to place.

And in conclusion, I would like to add that only regular exercises will help tame domestic rodents to close communication with their owners.

We wish you patience and good mood!

First steps

You should not expect that after acquisition a small rodent will immediately fall in love with its new owner. The first few days in a new home the animal will experience stress. It is necessary to leave him this time to adapt.

The cage is placed in a place prepared in advance and no attempt is made to remove the pet from there for several days: let it get used to the new environment.

Conditions of detention

Before taming a hamster, all the necessary conditions are created for him. Small rodents need a spacious cage equipped with a play area. Large cages in pet stores are quite expensive. You can save money by building it yourself. It may look less attractive than a store-bought one, but your pet will feel much more comfortable in it.

It is important to choose the right location for the cage. If you place it in a quiet corner, the rodent will get used to people very slowly. If in the most visible place, he constantly experiences stress. Accordingly, a place that is not in plain sight, but where people often visit, is suitable. If you already have pets at home, at first they should not disturb the small rodent.

The pet should not be woken up: at this time it is most irritable. He should be picked up only when he is awake.

The hamster should be tamed directly 5-7 days after its stay in the house.

How to take care of hamsters

Caring for Djungarian hamsters includes not only arranging the cage and providing adequate nutrition. This concept includes health care, games and communication with the animal.

Disease Prevention

Small rodents most often suffer from the following diseases:

  1. Obesity. Excess weight is gained not only due to poor nutrition, but also due to low physical activity. In the wild, hamsters run around a lot. At home, they are in limited space, so a running wheel must be installed in the cage.
  2. Cardiovascular diseases. Problems with the circulatory system also arise due to excess weight.
  3. Eye diseases. Djungarian hamsters often have conjunctivitis. The eyes become inflamed and fester. The reasons are different - debris from the litter, allergies, eyelid injuries. This is very dangerous - if the pet is not treated, it will die. At the slightest sign of inflammation, you need to treat them with Tetracycline ointment.
  4. Abscesses and tumors. If a lump appears on the animal’s body, you should show it to the veterinarian. The abscess must be opened. After the intervention, the hamster needs careful care - disinfection of the wound, good nutrition, rest. If there is a malignant tumor, it is impossible to help the animal.
  5. Injuries. Djungarian hamsters often fall from heights due to the owner’s carelessness. Sometimes the animals break off the second level of the cage and break their paws.

Communication and domestication

The animal is easy to accustom to hands, provided that it is regularly given attention. During the first days of being in the house, it is better not to touch the rodent

He needs time to adapt. When the animal gets used to the new place a little, you can start communicating.

Every day you should approach the cage several times and talk to your pet in a calm voice. In order for him to get used to the smell of his owner’s hands, you need to offer him a treat through the bars of the cage. When the hamster is no longer afraid, you should try to open the door and hold your hand with a treat near it. The pet must come and take it himself. Over time, he will begin to climb right onto your hand and calmly eat on it.

The next stage of taming is to try to gently pat the animal on the back. If he allows, you can take him in your hands

Djungarian hamsters enjoy communicating with children. The main thing is to teach the child the basics of care and the rules of handling a fragile animal.

Active games

The main entertainment of the dzhungarik is the running wheel, but you don’t have to limit yourself to it. Experienced breeders advise letting the rodent out of the cage every day and playing with it. To do this, you will need a spacious box or other container with sides like a basin.

Inside you can build mazes from cubes, install ladders and let your hamster have fun.

Limiting stress factors

A small animal can die from a broken heart after a strong fright - it is so vulnerable. To prevent such a disaster from happening to a pet, the owner should try to protect it from stress factors:

  • loud sharp sounds;
  • temperature changes;
  • contact with a cat or dog;
  • communicating with strangers.

Caring for a Djungarian hamster is not too difficult. Dzungarik needs love and care. The owner of the animal must ensure that the pet has a comfortable home, a sports area, and good nutrition.

It is also important to monitor the health of the animal

First days in a new house

By their nature, these animals are not brave and are often afraid of everyone and everything, especially in a new environment after purchase. The main mistake of many is that, having come home from the pet store with a live purchase, the new owners, to celebrate, begin to forcibly hold it in their hands, try to stroke it and, without stopping, lisp, naively thinking that the animal is delighted with such communication. Having received a well-deserved rebuff from the animal, they are sincerely amazed when the hamster bites painfully. In fact, the animal is under deep stress. He was separated from his usual surroundings, brought to an unknown location, and grabbed by strangers. A natural defensive reaction is triggered, the pet bites and tries with all its might to break free, run away and hide.

Give the hamster complete rest for a while - this is about a week. Make sure there is food in the feeder and clean water in the drinking bowl. Don't stand too close when your hamster is eating.

Talk to him in a friendly manner from afar, call him by name more often, then an association of familiar voice sounds with tasty feeding will form in the furry’s head.

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.

Features of training different types

There are no special recommendations for taming different types of hamsters. For all breeds, the rule is that young individuals master science faster than adults. The more time you spend with the animal, the faster it will get used to you.

And yet it is believed that Djungarian hamsters are more nimble and intelligent, and it is easier to tame a Djungarian than the larger and slower Syrian. In any case, it all depends on the desire and patience of the owner. Any hamster can even be taught to respond to a nickname if you repeat it every time you bring your pet food. This will help bring the rodent back if it runs away.

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