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Old 09-04-2015, 08:40 PM   #1
StitchedEgo
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 71
Default Tips on bonding/playing with my hammy?

So i've had my hammy for a good 2 weeks now and while I do make good to give her adequate attention (without being invasive) and let her out to run in the open living room, both in her ball and out of it. I'm hoping not to become stale or boring to her when it comes to playtime and bonding.

Do you guys have any suggestions on ways i can play and form more of a bond with my little hammy?

I was already considering building her a play area out of palstic bottles and cardboard boxes, but i'd also like to hear some ideas
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Old 09-05-2015, 02:21 PM   #2
StitchedEgo
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Posts: 71
Default Re: Tips on bonding/playing with my hammy?

Bumping...
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Old 09-05-2015, 09:37 PM   #3
Jeir
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 237
Default Re: Tips on bonding/playing with my hammy?

Physical contact is good for bonding. For most of my hamsters, I would be handling them after a day or three after bringing them home. Pretty much just getting them out of their cages, sitting down somewhere, and letting them explore me. I believe a lot of people place a towel in their bath tub and sit on it, and just let their hammy explore them that way.

It gets the hamster used to your smell, and to being handled, and helps them become more confident with you. Even less friendly hamsters (cage aggressive dwarfs, for example) benefit from this, as they get used to how you remove them from their cage (cardboard tube is my preferred way) and then they associate your smell and touches for something good (out-of-cage time).

So, erm, get your hammy out for cuddles rather than play time? =D
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Old 09-05-2015, 11:46 PM   #4
Lexieshamster
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Join Date: May 2015
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Default Re: Tips on bonding/playing with my hammy?

It's great you're letting your hammy free range! I think this is the best thing you can do for a hamster. I agree with Jeir that physical contact is great for bonding. Once I had tamed my hamster enough that he was comfortable with me picking him up I started off letting him free range in a small area (I used the sofa and the stairs alternately as theses were both areas I could sit close by and watch over him) so he got used to my presence in a non invasive way like you say. I'd sit still and talk to him gently and stroke him when he came close to me. I always hold him and talk to him for a few minutes first when I get him out and before I put him back. Now I let him free range in my bedroom for an hour or even two or three and sit on a cushion on the floor with my kindle, or computer or something. That way I can give him attention when he comes by to visit me. I put different toys on the floor around where I'm sitting. I also like to play classical music as we both love it. It takes time but gradually you'll build a closer and closer bond with your hamster this way. Put some food and a water bottle nearby (I just hold / offer Neville the water bottle by hand and he drinks from it but you could get or make a holder). Neville gets all excited at playtime, as soon as he hears my voice he stops what he's doing and sniffs the air to check its me then starts running around the cage then I tell him to come up to the door and he runs up his tunnel to the door. Sometimes he sits by the door waiting for me. During playtime he crawls onto my lap, up my body and sits on my shoulder. He's a pet shop hamster and very jumpy when I first got him.
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