Biting the hand that feeds you...

Petite · 04-09-2020, 03:51 AM

I've had my dwarf hybrid, Freya, for about 3 weeks now. The one thing I would really like to do, though, I am not allowed to do: I can't stroke her. As soon as I touch her back, her head whips round and she's all teeth, snapping at my fingers, and - if she gets one - latching on and biting HARD. She has always been like this; even in the shop where I bought her she was trying to nibble my hand.
I'm sure I am feeding her enough, as she is creating a hoard, yet she always seems to be hungry and is growing quickly. Her one thought seems to be "if in doubt, eat it". The only time I can stroke her is when she's thoroughly absorbed in eating something already. Should I just accept that that is just the kind of hammy she is, or is there something else I can try?

Ria P · 04-09-2020, 05:34 AM

I have a dwarf hybrid like that so you are not alone.

I would take her out of her cage, sit yourself down somewhere safe and put her on your lap. Like your Freya, i can only stroke my Percy when he's occupied with eating which he's very fond of.....unless he's out of his cage and running about on my lap and legs.

It may work with Freya and is certainly worth a try. I do believe that a hamster's behaviout partly depends on their personalities and some become more tame than others.

Another good tip i was given here by Serendipity was to gently stroke the hamster's back with a soft brush to get him used to touch. I did that for a while before i let him loose on my lap. Percy used to jerk round immediately at first but eventually got more used to it.

You can get Freya out by letting her walk into a mug or jug. That's how i get Percy out because he won't let me pick him up.

Petite · 04-09-2020, 11:28 AM

Thanks, Ria P - it's good to know it's not just me! It's a really good idea to stroke her with something else first - preferably something that doesn't screech when she clamps her teeth together! I will try that and she how she responds. Where do you sit with Percy in order to keep him safe?

Ria P · 04-09-2020, 12:14 PM

Haha, yes, a pastry brush is ideal and doesn't screech.

I sit on a futon which is right next to Percy's cage. You could also sit on the floor inside a playpen or a bath tub. I tried the bath tub but Percy didn't like it. Percy was around 5 months old when i adopted him and quite a disturbed and aggressive hamster but has calmed down a lot. You have a far better chance of taming Freya because you got her while young. I also understand why you picked a nippy one and not one that didn't nip you because that's exactly what i did with Percy. I think that he may have had bad experiences with humans and Freya was bullied by her siblings if i remember right. Time will make a big difference and three weeks is still a short time to build up trust. Took my adopted Robo three or four months to trust me enough to sit on my hand.

Petite · 04-10-2020, 03:08 AM

A pastry brush - what a good idea!

Thank you for your feedback and reassurance. Yes, you remember right, Freya did seem to be bullied by her siblings, so perhaps she got used to defending herself with her teeth. Despite being a bit ferocious, she seems to be part of the family already, and I had almost forgotten we've only had her a few weeks. I picked Freya because she didn't seem too nervous and handled well in the shop, but to be honest I've been frightened to even try to pick her up since in the interests of keeping all my fingers intact - necessary for a musician!
I'll fish out the pastry brush and see how she reacts to that this evening - if she condescends to put in an appearance before I've gone to bed.

Ria P · 04-10-2020, 05:39 AM

You could wear gardening gloves to protect your fingers. I did that when i tamed my Syrian who is completely tame.

Dwarf Percy is in a different league though and we still have trust issues. I've never learned to trust him, lol.

Still early days with Freya. Are you doing the tissue trick so she gets used to your scent?

Some hamsters totally object to scented soap and handcream. Two of mine do and one isn't bothered at all and then there's Percy..........

Petite · 04-10-2020, 11:27 AM

Another good idea re the gardening gloves. I'll get some new ones next time I'm in the garden centre - I think it has to stay open as it's a pet store too. I wouldn't like Freya to clamp her jaws round our current gardening gloves (that have been used for gardening) and are covered in all sorts....

Yes, I'm doing the tissue trick.

Percy sounds a real character! Looking forward to reading more about him on his thread.

Ria P · 04-10-2020, 12:30 PM

Do you have a photo of Freya? I bet she looks really cute and innocent. Another thing you could try is offering her a treat on a spoon so she can still get your scent, hear your voice and connect you with something positive.

I'm really looking forward to hear more about Freya because she's young and like i said before, there's a good chance that you will be able to tame her with patience and time.

Petite · 04-11-2020, 03:18 AM

I don't do technology, but I will try (and get offspring) to post a photo. I've been trying to get a good photo of her ever since we got her, but still waiting. There will be one or two - I hope - at some stage.

Thanks for all your help.

Petite · 04-24-2020, 02:03 AM

Early experiments with the pastry brush haven't been noticeably successful. She had a quick nibble of it, then retreated hastily, seeming a bit frightened and regarding it with suspicion. She has also developed a habit of hiding in the most ungettable-at places, so it's hard to get a chance to stroke her with it. I wonder why she's so nervous and skittish.