Hamster Training

Hamster Training

Before you decide you are going to train your hamster to do tricks and entertain your guests there are a few things you should know first. Regardless of what any book may have told you or what any website claims about being able to train your hamster as easily as you can your dog let me share a few things with you first.

Some hamsters actually very few hamsters can be trained to do “tricks” they are not that intelligent. As much as you may hate to admit to yourself hamsters are in fact rodents. They are indeed a cute, cuddly little rodent but a rodent none the less. This makes hamster training a very difficult adventure to even consider taking on.

At best you will be able to train your hamster to behave and not do things like urinate all over their toys or fight with their cage mates. You can also train them to allow you to hold them without biting you or trying to get free.

You can train your hamster to come you when you call its name. This takes a little time, first for the hamster to learn its name especially if you have more than one hamster in the cage.

Once the hamster(s) have learned their names you can train them to come to you by offering or rewarding them with a special treat. A treat that you only use when they come to you after you have called them. The most important thing to remember is NEVER forget the treat! In all actuality the hamster is coming for the treat and if you do not provide the treat you will have to train the hamster to come when called by name all over again!

When you are training the hamster(s) you should train only one at a time. Hamster(s) do get confused easily and if you call one hamster and two come to you then you have a little problem. Why? Because obviously one does not know their name yet and secondly if you give the hamster you called the treat there may be bloodshed! Yours and theirs! The hamster is not smart enough to understand why you gave a treat to one and not the other.

The best way to train your hamster to come when called is to have a smaller cage that you can use for training one hamster at a time. That will eliminate all the confusion.

Another thing hamster owners need to train their hamsters for is handling. Some hamster(s) can be very temperamental and if you cannot pick up a hamster without getting bit or scratched it is not a very ’fun’ pet to have.

Handling your hamster should be a daily event. Let the hamster get use to your scent first just let him/her smell your hand for a few days. Then pick the hamster up, do not be surprised if they try to get away or bite you the first few times. Imagine yourself being stuck in the fist of King Kong. For the hamster it is really not that different!

Lastly when you are working on hamster training you should really start the training knowing that there is a possibility you will not be able to train the hamster. That will make it much easier on you and the hamster. Do not expect too much and be happy with the accomplishments you do make. That way you will not be too disappointed and the hamster will not be traumatized by the experience either.