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Old 07-20-2020, 11:49 AM   #11
Maker
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

I think you should react when you are bitten, how is he to know it’s not okay, expecially when he draws blood, this seems very different to testing something with gentle teeth which doesn’t hurt at all. I would definitely jump when bitten even let out a little eeek, make him jump a little, move my hand away, leave him for a while before offering another treat. Personally I think there had to be a negative experience associated with him biting you, I’m not talking about terrifying him, but by allowing him to bite and still offering food you may be reinforcing the biting behaviour??
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Old 07-22-2020, 02:21 AM   #12
Ithuviel
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

My russian hybrid is a biter. I got her as a foster mum in a difficult situation of neglect. Here is the whole story if you want and have time

She has bites all the time, doesn't draw blood but sufficient to really hurt. I got around that and i just sit in a play-pen with her and give her seeds. We are now one month clean with no bite.
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Old 07-22-2020, 09:17 AM   #13
Teals
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

I have the same problem. We adopted him from the section in Pets at Home back in February. We were told he was in the shop too long so he moved to the adoption section but his sign said he was returned. We definitely believe he was returned after fighting with a cage mate as he only has half of one ear so we don't know his age. We don't think his previous owners ever handled him so this has made taming very difficult. If I ever handle him without gloves, he bites, sometimes drawing blood. He lets me stroke him though, so I'm not too fussed about picking him up. He is my first hamster so I have no previous experience so I hope I tried to tame him correctly.
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Old 07-29-2020, 06:57 AM   #14
lilyy_hammy
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Smile Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

hi! it seems like your making progress already! taming a hamster takes a long time, and it’s even harder to tame an old one! try rubbing your hands in the substrate, to help with the biting. before handling, make sure your hands are washed with unscented soap or you aren’t wearing scented lotion or used scented soap. gloves are also a great option to help nibbling. also make sure you are using treats to tame them! just take it step by step and slowly it will be more tame good luck and your doing a great job so far!
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Old 08-23-2020, 03:24 PM   #15
Shadow Cat
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

My syrian is about a year old and I've had her for about 10 months. Picking her up seems to stress her out, although she will take treats from my hands and will come to her cage door to see what's going on when I talk to her. I have to admit I gaev up trying to handle her as I don't want her to be unhappy, but maybe I should try again. She hates her playpen, she's a chewer and just tried to eat her way out. I'm not sure what to do to make progress.
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Old 08-23-2020, 03:48 PM   #16
Ria P
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadow Cat View Post
My syrian is about a year old and I've had her for about 10 months. Picking her up seems to stress her out, although she will take treats from my hands and will come to her cage door to see what's going on when I talk to her. I have to admit I gaev up trying to handle her as I don't want her to be unhappy, but maybe I should try again. She hates her playpen, she's a chewer and just tried to eat her way out. I'm not sure what to do to make progress.
Have you tried letting her walk into a mug with a few seeds in it and take her out of her cage that way? Then sit on the sofa or somewhere safe and let her walk around on your lap. That's how i started taming my Syrians so they get used to me and my scent. Next stage is stroking and then picking up and putting down which i increase gradually, bit like a taming exercise increasing the reps over time until they're comfortable with getting picked up.
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Old 08-23-2020, 05:09 PM   #17
Shadow Cat
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Thanks for your advice. I'll give it a try. Maybe where I'm going wrong is keeping her in the same room as her cage when I try taking her out, like she can smell her cage and just wants to get back?

I will try playing with her on the sofa, but I'm a bit nervous to instance she tries to jump off. Or chews it! It's not my sofa, I live in a rented house, and I don't think my landlord would appreciate it!
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Old 08-23-2020, 11:17 PM   #18
cypher
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

It might just be that she’s a bit uncomfortable being away from her familiar scent, if I have hams out of the cage in a playpen or other play area I take something out of the cage, the wheel or some substrate or something familiar to them with their scent on.
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Old 08-24-2020, 01:41 AM   #19
Ria P
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadow Cat View Post
Thanks for your advice. I'll give it a try. Maybe where I'm going wrong is keeping her in the same room as her cage when I try taking her out, like she can smell her cage and just wants to get back?

I will try playing with her on the sofa, but I'm a bit nervous to instance she tries to jump off. Or chews it! It's not my sofa, I live in a rented house, and I don't think my landlord would appreciate it!
They do try and jump off so i put cushions on the floor or sit on the floor but in a hamster proof room. Maybe you could sit in a playpen with her? I did that with my older Syrian before i hamster proofed a room and put his cage base on the floor as well so he could smell his home closeby.
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