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Old 10-21-2019, 03:17 PM   #1
Felixle
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: England
Posts: 11
Default Three months and he’s still terrified?

I’ve now had my Russian, Bandit for three months. He is still so scared of me and I don’t know what to do. I try to hold him every day, but he’s just so scared that mostly all I can mange is to hold his little house with him in it and let him sniff me. This more scared than my other two were when I held them for the first time and I just don’t know how to make him more comfortable. When I do hold him I hold him in his cage, he’s a good jumper, or else I take him to an empty room that has no escape routes or hidey holes. I’m just worried that he’s never going to like me and that he’ll be living in constant terror whenever I’m in the room
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Old 10-22-2019, 04:44 AM   #2
Shannonmcn
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Posts: 3,192
Default Re: Three months and he’s still terrified?

If he's too scared to hold, you shouldn't be trying to hold him at all. Lifting his whole house must be terrifying for him too, he's telling you he is scared and you are not respecting that at all? If you want him to eventually not be frightened of you, and come to you by choice then you have to actually give him a choice.

Take a step back. A big step back. Will he take food from your flat hands? Do that until he will step onto your hands to get the food. When he is completely comfortable doing that, THEN think about lifting him. I would start by leaving him completely alone for a few days though. Food and water only, then start gaining his trust properly from the beginning.
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Old 10-23-2019, 02:20 PM   #3
JI54
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 20
Default Re: Three months and he’s still terrified?

What shannon said, start out by offering him food held between your fingers (sunflower seeds works best for me with my dwarf and syrian). once he takes it from your fingers offer it from the center of your palm. Basically the idea is to make him think your hand is the bringer of tasty treats. With enough time and patience he'll associate your hand with yummy food.

Hamsters are highly motivated by food and safety.
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