Taming Lil diary

[cypher]

I would keep doing as you are, even if she runs off keep gently scooping her up when she does run over your hands, don't try to lift her more than an inch or so for now just give her more time to get used to it, if she's taking food from your fingers then her confidence should continue to increase, it can be slow with some, I think going at their pace & being patient pays off in the long run but I know others prefer to push things a bit more so it's a personal choice really.

[BethandLil]

Thanks for your reassurance, Cypher. Yes, slow and steady seems right to me

[AprilPearl]

Hi there BethandLil. Sounds like you are making good progress with taming, so don't be disheartened.

Just wanted to share my experience which has been gained from taming 8 hamsters (though I appreciate that won't seem like a lot compared to many members here!). By taking the following steps, most hamsters will be very tame within a week, usually less. But, it does require patience and persistence.

First, you will need a medium sized box with no lid. In a large playpen or bath, most hamsters will be much more difficult to catch and more likely to run from you. I'm not saying you shouldn't offer a playpen for exercise, but taming sessions tend to be more successful in a smaller container. The plastic box I use is 56cm X 40cm X 30cm.

It looks like this one (though the dimensions are different):

http://www.officeneedsdirect.co.uk/5...8tLxoCxrrw_wcB

Now, what you want to do is put your hamster into this taming box for about 15 minutes at a time. Put your hands in and stroke her. Herd her into a corner and cup your hands around her. Scoop her into your cupped hands, without letting them leave the floor as she WILL jump. At this stage, do not grab her and try to pick her up all the way off the floor. What you what to do, is to force her to come into contact with your hand, ideally to run over it. At first, she will probably jump over your hand to "freedom" as best she can, but don't be disheartened. Eventually, she will get used to your hands being in there and will walk off them, rather than jumping. Be warned: this may take quite a spree sessions.

The next stage is that she will slow down so you will be able to hold her in your hands a few cenimeters from the floor of the taming box and have her walk from one to the other. With time, she will be so used to you that she will be following your hands around the box, trying to climb your arms to freedom!

If you are having difficulty getting Lil to walk over your hands, lay a cup on its side in the box. When she climbs inside it, pick the cup a few cm off the floor and make a bridge down with your hand, so she has to climb over your hand to get down. Then, repeat repeat repeat. The main aim here is to get her used to being ON your hand, even if only for a second. Once she learns that it is not a scary thing, and you won't hurt her, you will be able to get her to walk on your hands, or even sit in them.

I use the taming box twice a day. Once in the morning, once in the evening (though I appreciate you may not want to get up that early just to be around when Lil is, so once a day is fine too). It will not seem like you are making any progress at first, but within a few days she should start to calm down and you will see a big change.

You can transport Lil to and from the taming box in a cup or a hamster ball, if you have one.

[BethandLil]

AprilPearl, I cannot thank you enough!

It was such a simple suggestion to restrict the area she's in that I feel silly I didn't think of it already
But it worked really well instantly! She was awake after I read your message so I transferred her into a wooden box I had to hand (approx 30x30x30cm) and put my hands in there.
She let me pet her, which she doesn't usually unless she is eating, and she climbed onto my hands loads, often sitting for a moment.

She didn't seem comfortable with me trying to scoop her from a corner yet but she seemed really comfortable the rest of the time.

I'm so pleased with the progress we made today and you're to thank

[CMB]

Maybe you could let her climb into a box or something. Then lift the box, before offering your hand for her to come back out of the box.

My hamster has been reluctant to climb onto my hand sometimes (other times she is eager). I offer my hand and if she won't climb on, I then offer the box. She will get into the box straight away.

Food in the box maybe required to start with.

[AprilPearl]

That’s wonderful. Glad it worked so well for you I think when they are in a big playpen they tend to be excited by the space and want to go off and explore. It’s like trying to give a kid a cuddle in a playground - it’s not that they don’t love you but they’d rather be playing on that interesting see saw over there! In a smaller area with less to do, it’s just you and her, with fewer distractions. She won’t be comfortable with the scooping up instantly - that’s to be expected. But, if you keep trying, eventually she will come round to it. It’s just a case of getting her used to it. Obviously, you don’t want to keep trying to scoop her up constantly. But, a few times per session with time in between and that is enough.The good old taming box has never failed me yet!

[BethandLil]

Haha that's a good analogy and makes perfect sense!

I won't push the scooping but handling her properly now feels in sight which is so reassuring

[AprilPearl]

I'm sure you will, too. It's also worth remembering that if you have only recently got her, she's still going to be young. Younger hams are more active and thus more interested in running around than sitting still on your hand (though that's not to say they won't be happy to be held and petted for shorter periods). Hamsters do slow down as they get older and that's when you get more cuddles!

[BethandLil]

Yeah good point.

Love her youthful energy but also looking forward to her getting more cuddly

[CMB]

I'm the same with Willow. Although she will sit still a bit longer than she used to.