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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/19/2009 11:19:05 PM
Posts: 10,
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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!
Don't pinch the cheeks, it hurts!! 
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/16/2008 2:31:23 PM
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| 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.
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SmallAnimalChannel.com Moderator
Group: Administrators
Last Login: 5/15/2009 6:03:20 PM
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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
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/28/2008 8:26:13 PM
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| 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.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/12/2009 10:30:21 PM
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| 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!
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/29/2009 12:19:31 PM
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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!
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