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Old 07-19-2017, 09:17 PM   #1
Budder
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 17
Unhappy Destroyed bond :(

Hey guys! So today I was doing my daily taming with my hanster and doing basic interactions with it. I was giving it treats and letting him eat from my hands (all with gloves on because he LIKES BITING). After about 3 treats i realized that was enough for him and just let him hangout. I was watching him play as I set my hand into his cage to see if he would crawl on it. After like 15 minutes of my hand in his cage not moving or anything he would just keep his distance and stay away. I was inpatient and approached him with my hand and he ran away into a corner. I scooped him up with my hand and just let him sit there. (I shouldn't have forced him). He was sitting there and would get off and run. I kept doing this about 6 or 7 times until I wanted to actually HANDLE him. So I grabbed him (scoop method) and started letting him walk from hand to hand,( near the ground so if he jumps he wont hurt himself) like how the youtubers show in the videos. After a while I let him go because he was biting relentlessly and I realized he wasnt having it. I put him back in his cage and let him just be. Again I tried putting my finger next to him and immediately HE WOULD ATTACK ME AND BITE FULL FORCE. Ofc it didn't hurt that bad because I had garden gloves on (clean) and I realized he REALLY DIDNT LIKE ME. I was confused and really worries our bond that I have build had been broken and that he sees handling as a stressful and terrible thing. I messed up and shouldn't have forced him to do anything and I'm just very worried that I will bond has been destroyed and that he will always see me as a threat it is scary thing. I regret everything I did and because of what I did he might not like to be handled anymore or ever, because again he might see it as a stressful and scary thing. Please help I want to know what I can do to rebuild our bond that was broken and make me trust me I know that when they bite is because they are angry or scared and I am pretty sure he was both those. Thank you for all the great information the past and I hope to hear from someone soon because I want to start to include our bond as soon as possibl I know that when they bite is because they are angry or scared and I am pretty sure he was both those. Thank you for all the great information the past and I hope to hear from someone soon because I want to start to rebuild our bond as soon as possible. I've always wanted a hamster to be able to handle them and have them trust me, now im pretty sure none of those will happen thanks
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Old 07-19-2017, 10:03 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

It does sound as though he got a bit stressed out, give taming a bit of a break for a few days, just talk to him quietly, offer him a treat or just leave one or two for him while you talk to him but don't put your hand in the cage any more than you need to until he's settled down a bit.
You may just need to go back to the beginning & start over but don't worry, it does sometimes happen & set backs aren't unusual, they get over it with a little time & patience.
Some really don't like hands in the cage so it might be better to take him out, let him climb into something, a ball, tube, cup, jar, whatever he's comfortable with to transport him to a safe (escape proof) play area, a play pen or large plastic box or you can use the bath (plug in towel in the bottom) with toys for him to explore & try to gradually let him get used to your hand there.
At first that may just mean him running over your hands & not sitting still but go slow & don't rush him.
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Old 07-19-2017, 10:53 PM   #3
Budder
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
It does sound as though he got a bit stressed out, give taming a bit of a break for a few days, just talk to him quietly, offer him a treat or just leave one or two for him while you talk to him but don't put your hand in the cage any more than you need to until he's settled down a bit.
You may just need to go back to the beginning & start over but don't worry, it does sometimes happen & set backs aren't unusual, they get over it with a little time & patience.
Some really don't like hands in the cage so it might be better to take him out, let him climb into something, a ball, tube, cup, jar, whatever he's comfortable with to transport him to a safe (escape proof) play area, a play pen or large plastic box or you can use the bath (plug in towel in the bottom) with toys for him to explore & try to gradually let him get used to your hand there.
At first that may just mean him running over your hands & not sitting still but go slow & don't rush him.
Thanks for the info! can u pease go through the taming process with me and tell me how to do it?
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Old 07-19-2017, 10:59 PM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

Everyone has their own method & to some extent you have to let your ham lead you as they respond in their own way too but basically step one is just to do the tissue trick, putting some plain white toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then shredding it & putting it into the cage, repeat daily for a while, this is just to get them used to your scent & it's never too late to do it especially if you've used gloves & he hasn't really had a chance to smell your hands for a while.
I always begin by just talking to them a lot, quietly chatting when I'm by the cage even if they hide away so they get used to your presence & your voice.
Next step is to offer treats, with a barred cage it may be best to just do this through the bars for a day or two depending on how confident the ham is.
I only have dwarf hams & find they are better getting used to my hand in the cage but syrians can be different & you may do better to take your ham out as I suggested above, just for short periods to begin with, even 5 -10 minutes once or twice a day may be enough.
Let your ham run around in a safe place & introduce your hands, let your ham run over your hands, if he sits still try gently stroking his back & gradually he should get more used to your hands & gain confidence, only then would I try picking him up or scooping him up, you may find he wants to run up your arm which is fine they often enjoy doing that & climbing over their humans!
Try to let him lead you & find things he enjoys doing, it should be fun for both of you
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Old 07-19-2017, 11:19 PM   #5
Ruth Edwards
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

A treat that mine find irresistible that is easy to put through the bars is a dandelion leaf. I have to get them from the back garden cos the front ones had weedkiller on them. I don't give more than one at a time - I think it makes them wee more.
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Old 07-19-2017, 11:46 PM   #6
AprilPearl
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

Hey, it's ok. Don't beat yourself up. Most hamsters will not bite like that, so you did nothing wrong by doing what that you did - it would not have resulted in such a reaction with the vast majority of hams. You had no way of knowing that yours would be different. Sounds as though he is simply an especially nervy little lad, but that's ok! With time, he will get used to you and calm down. I think the key with taming sessions is to keep them very short. Perhaps for your boy, only 5 minutes max at a time. I'd definitely leave him alone to calm down for a while and then only go back to basics after that. It could also be that he is cage territorial, so you might find it better to use a taming box (a smallish storage bin). As Cypher says, putting tissue with your scent on it into his cage will help him get accustomed to your scent. One treat which has always been able to persuade a new ham to sit on my hands is broccoli! So, I'd recommend trying that too.
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Old 07-20-2017, 07:13 AM   #7
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

All hamsters are different when it comes to taming, so don't worry, if you feel anxious your hammy will sense it, go at his speed, be sure to talk to him and encourage him and when he makes progress be sure to praise him.
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Old 07-20-2017, 03:32 PM   #8
Budder
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

Thank you all soo much I will definitely take these tips into account! He seems to be much better today!
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Old 07-20-2017, 07:31 PM   #9
LauraLee
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Default Re: Destroyed bond :(

You have to go very slow and on his terms develop a bond when he is ready.
I now have my 4th Syrian hamster. Each one of my hamsters became very tame and I was never bitten. The importance is don't rush and don't force.
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Old 07-21-2017, 07:35 PM   #10
Budder
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Question Re: Destroyed bond :(

Ive been following the steps you told me to do cypher but whenever I get to the introduce your hands part he BITES! EVRYDANG TIME, and it hurts which kinda makes me jerk back and scare him. Any suggestions
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