Where do hamsters like to be petted? Does yours? :-D

[frodo]

Just a question for fun

- Also please tell me your own experiences with your hammies, I would love to hear your personal hammy stories too!
Do they like to be pet? If so, where, when and how?

[halloumi]

My past hamster Cookie used to love having her tummy tickled through her cage - she'd climb up the sides and not come down until you did it!

My other past hamster Sparky really liked inbetween his ears.

[frodo]

Originally Posted by halloumi

My past hamster Cookie used to love having her tummy tickled through her cage - she'd climb up the sides and not come down until you did it!

My other past hamster Sparky really liked inbetween his ears.

Aww! They sound so trusting of you, were they like this, when they were young too?.

My hammy doesn't seem to care about being petted, I believe it's because he's still a baby, and hasn't matured yet since he would rather explore. (
He'll tolerate being touched everywhere though, just doesn't care hahaha

[Pebbles82]

Newt our Syrian isn't that fussed on being petted but he will sit for a stroke occasionally - he is more interested in food and tunnelling but he is happy to run all over me - up my sleeve etc He has occasionally liked having his tummy stroked.

Nugget our robo likes being stroked behind his ears and having his tummy stroked - I think! Because he didn't object! But he hates being picked up and hides.

Our last Syrian Charlie loved being stroked behind his ears.

[frodo]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Newt our Syrian isn't that fussed on being petted but he will sit for a stroke occasionally - he is more interested in food and tunnelling but he is happy to run all over me - up my sleeve etc He has occasionally liked having his tummy stroked.

Nugget our robo likes being stroked behind his ears and having his tummy stroked - I think! Because he didn't object! But he hates being picked up and hides.

Our last Syrian Charlie loved being stroked behind his ears.

Newt sounds so much like my dwarf Frodo(11 weeks). He'll tolerate being petted and sit still, but I don't actually believe it is because he enjoys it.

I've actually considered getting a Syrian for the first time, they seem to really bond with their owners

[hisnameispip]

Pip likes me to pet him behind and in between his ears he particularly likes climbing all over me but if I start petting him there he will stop what he's doing to enjoy the pet-pets

[frodo]

Originally Posted by hisnameispip

Pip likes me to pet him behind and in between his ears he particularly likes climbing all over me but if I start petting him there he will stop what he's doing to enjoy the pet-pets

Pip sounds so sweet!

After all the answers I'm kinda considering to try petting my dwarf in between his ears hahaha
Someone told me to try and slightly boop his nose, to see if he will boop back. Apparently, if they boop back, it is because they like you back. I've never heard this claim before though

[Ashy]

My Hammy Bear likes to be pet at the side of her belly and next to her ear. And when I just leave my hand down and don’t bother her, she’ll start acting like a dog that wants to be pet and she would nose my hand, rub her head against me and stick her head in between my fingers until I do lol

[frodo]

Originally Posted by Ashy

My Hammy Bear likes to be pet at the side of her belly and next to her ear. And when I just leave my hand down and don’t bother her, she’ll start acting like a dog that wants to be pet and she would nose my hand, rub her head against me and stick her head in between my fingers until I do lol

Is Bear your profile picture? Because omg the FLUFFFFFF!! Bear sounds very affectionate, you're all so lucky with your cuddly hams, geeeez!
Maybe I should try and get a Syrian next haha

[Ashy]

Originally Posted by frodo

Is Bear your profile picture? Because omg the FLUFFFFFF!! Bear sounds very affectionate, you're all so lucky with your cuddly hams, geeeez!
Maybe I should try and get a Syrian next haha

Yes! Shes a fluffy little bear! she looks like one :3 it felt right to name her that <3

Hammy Bear is only 3 months old (I had her for 2!) shes only recently started to get really affectionate and I had to go through a months process of getting her to let me pet her lol... Shes a dwarf hamster so she doesn't like to sit still, AND! shes also a girl (girl hammies are less affectionate and more squirmy lol)

Maybe you can try the way I did?
Wait until they're really playful (Bear will be restless in her cage and will start pacing and will paw at me) and have some treats ready for them.
Don't start out by full on petting them (like you do to dogs and cats. Hamsters are small and scared creatures)...start by putting your hands in the cage so they can smell you and get used to your scent. Then when your hammy is curious of your hands, (If they're not curious you can use treats!) slowly try petting their whiskers so they can get used to your HUGE hands coming for them (try to move towards them from the side where their eyes can see you because moving towards from the top will make them think AH BIRD!) .. They'll be less scared being pet by their whiskers this way because they can feel their whiskers and their eyes are on the side so they'll be able to see AND feel AND smell (I guess lol) you petting their whiskers without actually harming or getting too close to your scared hammy.
When they start to get used to your hand being around them (you'll know when they stop flinching or stop being generally surprised by you touching or getting close to their whiskers) Then you can move on to their side of their head/next to their ear (its the next closest thing to whiskers) when they start letting you do that, you can move on the side of their belly (next closest after the head) and then when your hammy lets you after that you can pet them anywhere now :3

Don't forget to reward your hammy for all the good things they're doing! (letting you touch their whiskers/face/belly/etc,...) They'll start to associate your hands with treats! :3

BTW this is my personal process of having my hammy let me pet her. All hammies are different and might or might not work but also took time so be patient and have fun with your hammy