Improving my relationship with my hammy

[Aimeeeee]

I've had my syrian for about 2 months now and was just wondering how well tamed he should be by this point? He doesn't mind me picking him up once he gets a good sniff of me first and doesn't bite me (he sometimes does others though, which I shouldn't feel smug about but I kinda do ) but when it comes to coming out of his house to see me he won't unless I give his treat box a good shake first, and even then he's hesitant unless he can see the treat ... So when I come on here I get jealous when I see people writing about how their hammys come see them when they hear their voice
What I'm wondering is what can I do to improve our relationship? Or is it one of those things where that's just his temperament and personality?

Thank you 😊

[Skeever]

Good question, and for the record, if Ziggy DIDN'T bite a stranger I would feel cut to the quick....

While it is no doubt true that some hammies will always avoid too much contact and not be into cuddling and petting, I think that in small increments the taming is ongoing.

Today was the first day in my picking him up for going on three months that he actually sat in my cupped hands while I gave him a petting, but then actually relaxed and adjusted his feet so that he was sitting quite comfortably instead of looking for a moment to escape the petting and run.

He's been very good accepting petting till now, and even being held, but he's impatient and petting is not on his schedule. Today was more or less as if he said....hand is good, hand not bad....hand is cozy. Good please to catch my breath before OFF I GO AGAIN!!!!

It was just a total shift in his demeanor when being held. Settling in as it were, and looking at me. As opposed to the hammy thing of even when held he always prefers to look away and out at the world he is being deprived of exploring? Kinda suprising to me.

Taming seems to be like that though, and some are slower than others. It doesn't ever seem to be the same constant though....I imagine as he ages a bit all the running around might be less interesting than treats and petting...? or not......

Till now, when he hears me, I still assume its to get out and play, and he wouldn't care who let him out. Since I live alone, I can't tell how he would respond to strangers yet....I think it takes them a lot to want to deal with huge giant creatures that stink bearing gifts....

[DrKMcK]

Time and lots of patience, Aimeeeee. Most folks on here know my Ted E, Bear. he's a mush and my heartham. Ted E. has a big set up and he tends to wait for me up at the upper part of one of his tanks. When I go to the front of his setup and call him, Ted E. will fly from the tank topper to the tubes, down the tubes to his center cage and to the front door, waiting for me to open it. He comes right out to me. But he wasn't always like that. Ted E. Bear is actually my hardest to tame hammy...ever. It took months before he would come out of the cage. he would glare at me if I opened the door and called him. But I found the secret. Ted E. loves his roll about ball. Once he realized that my calling him meant "ball time" Ted E. started running to the cage door when he heard me. After he was comfortable with that...about 3 weeks, I started tub taming him and Ted E. and I get along great ever since. I knew he was scared and I never forced him to come out. When a hammie thinks it's all his own idea, it goes much easier and he isn't so scared. Time and Patience.

[Aimeeeee]

Thank you for the great advice guys I tried the tub taming when I initially got him to get him used to my hands but I think I'll go back to it just to keep up the consistency of him getting used to being close to me.
And also thank you for the reassurance, I thought I was doing something wrong because we hadn't bonded instantly but I guess it's just a process ��
And DrKMcK, I will try to find my boy's "secret" I know he must have one!