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RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

mackgold — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:45:00 GMT

LOOK DO NEVER GET ANGRY AT YOUR LIL ANGEL CAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IT'S YOU. HAMSTERS DON'T LIKE BEING HELD IT'S THIER LEEST FAVORITE THING TO DO! JUST LEAVE YOUR HAMSTER ALONE AND WASH OFF ALL OF THE DOG SMELL ON YOU BEFORE YOU HOLD YOUR HAMSTER CAUSE THEY CAN THINK YOUR A PREDITOR IF YOU HAVE DOG SMELL ON YOU AND THEY WILL BITE THEN!!!!! HOPE I HELPED

RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

WildArabian — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:30:31 GMT

If your hammy still isn't nice, don't give up! I have had my hamster for a week and two days and she has stopped biting me, but I still can't put my hands around her all the way or pat her on the back without her getting scared. I think you get the point not to push your hamster around, but I gotta tell you one more time: don't push him around or even tap him on the nose!
Here are some tips that may help:
Always wash your hands before touching your hamster. He may smell food on you and try to eat it (this has helped tremendously with my hamster, since she's blind)
Instead of putting your hand down around him, put it flat and let him walk onto it.
Animals don't usually understand the concept of punishment. Instead, they understand rewards. When your hamster is used to your hand and goes 5 seconds or more on it and not biting, give him a treat like spinach. Just make sure you handle him with one hand and feed him with the other! And don't give him too much spinach or any other veggie in one day, he might get diarrhea.
"Train" him when he is awake on his own terms. NEVER wake a hamster up to train it, especially if he is under a hidey-house. He will be grumpy and you won't get anywhere. Depending on what kind he is, the best time to train him would be late evening.
If you decide to train him with treats, rotate what treats you use every day, like broccoli, spinach, lettuce, etc. If he is a dwarf hamster, don't feed him fruit! You can feed him most every veggie except carrots. Always double check on the internet.
Get back to me!

RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

bunnyhammy26 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:30:28 GMT

I'm sorry, but you are doing the wrong thing. Like in other replies above, don't get mad. Maybe your hamster doesn't like being held. In that case, it might like going in your hand better if you coax your hammy on your hand with some treats!

RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

leaveittoweaver — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:19:06 GMT

Never punish an animal for doing something that you see as "wrong." 99% percent of the time YOU are doing the wrong thing and that's why the animal bites or scratches. When you wrap your hands around a hamster, in the hamster's eyes it looks like a bird's claws coming down to grab it like it would in the wild. That's why it's better to approach a hamster from the side and scoop it up from underneath.

RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

critters-moderator — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:56:05 GMT

There is an article on SmallAnimalChannel that has tips on how to get started handling a new hamster.

Here is a link
http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/hamsters/hamster-interaction/handling-hamsters.aspx

Critters Moderator

RE: I don't like to be man handeled!!

Lunaires — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:42:25 GMT

Firstly, NEVER get mad at another animal because they're not doing what you want them to do! The hamster biting you is a sign that it does NOT want to be disturbed and possibly has poor housing conditions. You should leave him alone since hamsters are not cuddly animals that people seem to think. Make sure he has propper feeding, water, bedding, and toys to play with. I hope you learn to take better care and do your research of the animals that you have before you buy them.

I don't like to be man handeled!!

chubbycheeks — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:51:56 GMT

My lil hamster doesn't like us holding it with our fingers around it.He will try to bite and i don't know what to do cuz i'm a dog expert, not a hamster expert!!! He's only bit me once and i started pushing him around cuz i was mad.

Please help cuz he's only 6 months old and i want him to be a good hamster!