How to Train a Pet Hamster

While your pet hamster may be cute, it is incredibly difficult to train. This is a problem innate to hamsters. Hamsters are very territorial, to the point that they can not be safely left alone together after they become adults. Because of this, they have almost no social skills or abilities, and do not take well to being trained. However, hamsters can be taught to be better pets. If you start early in a hamster's life, you can teach it to accept food from your hand, tolerate being handled and generally get along with humans. Follow these instructions, and with consistent effort you will have a well behaved, easy to handle hamster.

Step 1 - Getting Started

Hamsters are not inclined to be friends with anyone. They are solitary animals, not social ones. In the wild, anything bigger than them will probably eat them if given the chance. A hamster has every reason to be scared of you, but if you keep this in mind, you will be more successful.

Before you try picking your hamster up, you should train your hamster to accept food from your hand. Most hamsters who have just come from the pet store or shelter will not even do this, so it is a good place to start.

Wait for your hamster to become active. Hamsters are nocturnal, so you should expect them to get up at around sundown, but individuals  will vary. Choose any non-citrus fruit or vegetable that you have handy. Cut off a piece—smaller than your thumbnail—and bring it to your hamster's cage. When your hamster leaves the nest and starts to wander around, take your piece of food and hold it through the bars of the cage. Because you cut it from a larger piece, it should give off enough of a smell for your hamster to notice it easily.

Your hamster will probably investigate. Wait and see what happens. Your hamster will want the food, but not want to take it from you. Resist the urge to drop the food and leave it in the cage; force your hamster to choose between taking the food from your hand and not getting it (obviously, you should continue to keep your hamster's food bowl full during this process.) Eventually, even the most cowardly of hamsters will take the food from your hand.

Step 2 - Moving Your Hamster

Hamsters don't seek out attention from people, but they do like to explore. Since it is a good idea to let your hamster get out and run around every day, you should take advantage of this. When your hamster is active, open the cage's door and bring the hamster ball to it. Get your hamster into the habit of coming into the ball every day. Gradually make your hamster climb over your hand to get into the ball.

If at any point your hamster escapes or ends up on the floor, don't panic. Bring the ball to where your hamster is, and use your hands to block its movement until it has nowhere to go but back into the ball.

Step 3 - Handling Your Hamster

At this point, it may be possible to pick up your hamster directly. However, this will depend on your actual animal. Some will be happy to sit in your hand, trapped with no place to go. Some will dislike even climbing on you, no matter how long you have them. Experiment, and don't be discouraged. No matter what, accept your hamster's personality, as you are unlikely to change it.