How intelligent are hamsters?

[Eriklover555]

It depends on how you quantify intelligence. For instance, they learn quick - I've clicker trained my hammies to do everything from come when I call to running "obstacle" courses.

Humans have a bad habit of thinking that anything that doesn't communicate easily is stupid. Because, of course humans are paragons of intelligence and aren't swayed by instinct or emotional situations. ;p

[BrainGirl]

LOL! Good answer

[hammy2]

I agree but people also put a lot of human emotions onto their pets which is wrong. I don't think any animal is stupid really because they're only doing what they need to to survive with the exception of humans who in their nature is to sort out and destroy anythig green and pure and start petty wars. If we're setting ourselves as the intellect species we're not doing a very good job

[de4life]

I don't think there's much argument to be had about humans being the most intelligent creatures on the planet. Fully grown humans are completely self-aware, able to improve at incredible speeds, create language, architecture, buildings, technology, etc... there's no animal that comes close to human intelligence.

Human nature is what makes the species by and large use this intelligence immorally, something quite seperate from intelligence. I think there's a valid argument to be made that could suggest greater intelligence leads to a decline in morality.

But then, we only know what morality is because of our intelligence, so...

[kesaiserris]

Originally Posted by Munchalot

I believe hamsters are really quite intelligent. It's something I've noticed with the hammies I have now, the development of trust and knowing who it is they are associating with.

My little Finley is an incredibly shy little ham, probably the most shy hamster I've owned. I am the only person he will allow to pick him up, and he becomes very relaxed when I handle him. When I put my hand into his box, I let him sniff me before I pick him up, and he immediately relaxes when he knows it's me. He had learnt to trust my mum, because she gives him treats when I'm not at home, so although he won't allow her to pick him up, he associates her with treats and is fine with her. Any other person who has tried to touch him has been bitten, because he doesn't know them and he panics.
He has actually taught me some things, and now I apply how I treat him to the untame baby hamsters I have to deal with at work.
I believe he sees me not only as a source of treats, but a source of security and friendship. For such a flighty little creature, he loves his cuddles in bed with mummy. They definitely have the ability to distinguish people, and respond to different people in accordance. They know people for reasons other than 'they get food when this person appears'.

Todd is another matter. I think he is very clever, and I have a very close bond with this little man. He responds to several words, including his name, and when he's out having free range of my room, he will come back to me if I call. Even more interestingly, if I sit on the floor whilst he's running around, every now and again he'll come back to me to 'check on me' so to speak. :L He'll come dashing out and climb up onto my knee, give himself a quick groom, lick my hand (yes, I need grooming too xD) and then he'll dash off again. He does this every 3 - 5 mins or so.
He loves his cuddles with me, and like Fin I think he enjoys a sense of security and sociability when I hold him. He snuggles into my hand and when I stroke his back he'll lick my fingers. We have lovely little cuddles. ^^

I'm going to see what I can teach Todd, because he's so responsive to voice and touch, I think I could teach him quite a lot. He also knows if I scratch the carpet whilst he's running around, I want him to come back to my hand, in case he hasn't heard my voice.

Stella my daughter's hamster also responds to her name when out and about and she does the checking bit and if she is grooming herself she gives me a few licks for good measure. She used to try to wash my daughter's hair but I now have daughter wear her hair back when holding Stella just to be sure that Stella doesn't swallow any hair by accident. One time my daughter was playing with Stella, letting her run free and I came in and daughter says to Stella "Go to Mommy" and Stella ran over to me immediately lol It was probably just a coincidence that she wanted to run to me at that time but still it was very cute and the timing was so spot on. I am not sure how I would rate her intelligence, I think they are different smart then we are but between the two of us I think she'd be better at surviving outdoors with only nature as a resource haha I also don't think they are 100% instinct, I mean humans are extremely instinctual despite vigorous denial but are we only instincts? Probably not. Stella might be governed more by instincts than I am but I do think she has a genuine sense of curiosity and playfulness and that she has feelings/moods as well.

Another cute thing. Stella has a wheel (the saucer kind, which is a good size for her) that she doesn't run in very much. The other day I demonstrated to her how to use it thinking maybe she hadn't grasped it and she watches me very closely during this demo and afterwards gets in the wheel and runs in it perfectly for a bit, then she stops looks at me and starts digging under the wheel again which is what she usually does. I mean she literally showed me I know how to run in a wheel I just don't want to do it lol Whenever we give her a new toys she goes over to it immediately and investigates, even if she was sleeping/in her house. If she happened to be sleeping she will show us she can use it and approves and then go back to sleep again. If the object is edible she takes it with her.

[MattHunt]

Interesting thread.

Pongo, who has been with us for about 6 weeks now is certainly smarter than we expected. He will rearrange his chews and the smaller items in his cage post cleaning and althought Samuel (his owner) is more excitable than me, Pongo seems to tolerate Samuel much more than he does me, I get nipped if I mess up, Samuel does not. Pongo also knows that my wife is good for treats and cuddles and will stand near the cage fron if he hears her.

[hamstermoon]

I have owned several dwarf hamsters and each one is unique. The thing that is amazing is that they grow to appreciate you if you respect them. Some of them get so tame they run up to a certain spot to let me know they want to be held. Then they sleep on my shoulder while I pet them. I had one a few years ago that would run up every morning right before the alarm went off. Then we would get her and put her in bed with us and she would sleep while the alarm snoozed. She was a lot like a dog and would run up to greet us when we got back home. Her little back feet were misshapen like clubs. She didn't run well but had a big heart. The little thing would gently grab our finger in her mouth and pull it into her den then groom our fingers. I don't know what she thought about us, but I believe she loved us as we loved her. Pretty amazing if you ask me!