New owner of a rescue - Mr Sociable, but Nippy!

[DesignerDani]

Hi all - this is Bluey. Beyond adorable. We got him 3 weeks ago from a reputable rescue - he is 1 and described as handle-able. All we know about his past is that he was housed in an unsuitably small enclosure - but he has a nice rescue-approved one now!

He has been pretty sociable from the word go, not in the least bit shy, but he's nippy. He comes out, sits up on his back feet, front paws up - head up "begging" and will take food happily from fingers and isn't scared to do so at all, but he'll have a nip at the fingers given the opportunity. He'll also take pumpkin seeds and mealworms from a bare or gloved palm but again, multiple nips on the palm and fingers of the glove both before and after acquiring the treat, getting progressively harder each time!

He will sit in a gloved palm - haven't dared a bare one yet (still nipping it) and will tolerate 6 or 7 strokes of his back (not the head) with bare fingers whilst eating something but its how to stop the biting that's the problem!

He's only ever handled by my daughter - for bonding consistency, with clean hands in thick gloves which she also sleeps with so they bear her scent and he also has tissues she's slept with to add to his nests, but still the nipping goes on - even the gloves are a target. Its not enough to break the skin but it is sore, and more so to a child.

Most interaction takes place in his playpen as we're minded that he might be territorial in his enclosure. Makes no difference where he is - inquisitive but nippy in enclosure, carrier and playpen alike. She tried the bath taming too but he bit her feet through her slippers and any part of her he could get to. She's 10 and getting tearful as convinced he hates her and is desperate to touch and hold him with bare hands but not sure this is ever going to happen if the nipping continues. Is he a grumpy middle-aged man who is unlikely to change?

Does anyone have any ideas, reassurance or tips please? New to hamster ownership!

 

[Maz]

Hello. He is gorgeous and I am so sorry he is biting. It must be very hard for your daughter. Did you say he was middle aged? It can be difficult when we don’t know their history and this might have become a habit if he’s had bad experiences with humans in the past. However some dwarf hamsters do this. How long have you had him now?

It must be so disheartening for your daughter and I can imagine as I only had a nippy hamster once before and also began to think he didn’t like me! Even while knowing that wasn’t true logically - and that it was just an instinctive reaction maybe out if fear. He was also a rescue hamster. He was a Syrian though and it’s more unusual for Syrians to nip. I did eventually tame him out if it but it took about 3 to 4 months. He never did like being handled but would accept it without nipping. Not until he was much older and then he would actually sit for a stroke.

So you could maybe give it some time and try a few other things but he may just be a nippy dwarf hamster.

You could maybe try the out of cage taming time with a kind of psychology - have some food in the palm of the gloved hand and when he goes to nip you say “no” firmly but not angrily - in a sort of tone that is a kind but firm no - and at the same time, remove your hand with the food on it. Give it a couple of minutes and try again - if he does the same again - repeat. The idea being he will start to associate having food taken away if he nips and associate it with the word no.

It’s such a shame if your daughter can’t enjoy him. And I really hope it improves. It is one reason why I think a Syrian hamster is often a best first hamster for a child as they are silly and don’t nip - not unless you poke them when they’re asleep anyway! They are generally quite gentle,

If this turns out not to be working out, he may be a “watch only” pet. And then you could possibly think about having a second Syrian hanster as well if you have space? It would help regain confidence about hamsters to avoid being scared of them biting.

He sounds to have a wonderful home and it’s good that he was rescued and found a good home. But I think sometimes, for a first hamster - it can be easier to have them from babyhood so the taming and familiarity starts early.

I don’t think I’ve been much help there!

Other reasons they can bite is if there is some pain or hidden condition or out of fear - but some dwarf hamsters just do this anyway. Some might be just genetic - dwarf hamsters are usually hybrids of two species and all hamsters have different personalities. Not all of them bite - but a combination of their previous history and genetics might be to do with it.

Did the people you got him from say anything about him biting? It could just be a time thing if he has had a familiar home and had a big change and now having to get used to new owners.

However I would suggest having a break from taming for a couple of weeks and just talking to him through the cage or it will keep upsetting your daughter. And then maybe try again. Also try and avoid anything that might stress him - ie don’t clean out too often or mess with his hoards Which I’m sure you don’t anyway! There is a cage cleaning tips article on the home page about that.

 

[DesignerDani]

Hi Maz, thank you so much for your really thoughtful and detailed reply, its so much appreciated. He was described as "handleable" by the rescue which is why we chose him but maybe he's still not settled here yet. It'll be 3 weeks tomorrow.

To be honest, we were wondering about trying to train him by withholding treats if he nips and giving more if he doesn't. At present he just gets showered with treats in his playpen in a pathetically desperate bid to make him like us so has no incentive to change his behaviour! Not sure if I'm imbuing him with a more humanlike intelligence that he's capable of though!

I think we had false expectations of a dwarf's behaviour - my daughter has a friend with an identical looking hamster who's as docile as anything - gets handled by anyone visiting and has never shown any sign of aggression. It was from a pet-shop though - so in her childlike way, she expected Bluey to be the same despite my warnings that they are all little individuals.... Mummy rarely gets listened to though.

Well, we shall soldier on and attempt some training - and hopefully be able to report back in a few weeks with some more positive developments. Thank you so much again for taking the time to write such a useful message

One final thought - my other half thinks that because he's scatter fed (and very food driven when out) could he be hungry? He was apparently a little overweight when we got him, and I was told to scatter feed 1 teaspoon a night (Bunny Dreams Expert) and then supplement with treats and mealworms - but as its scattered we've no idea if he's getting enough and this behaviour is because he's hangry!

 

[Maz]

Three weeks really isn't very long It usually takes them at least two weeks to fully adjust to a new cage. In fact I usually suggest not attempting any taming for at least 2 weeks - maybe even longer. So maybe it is just a time thing So usual thing is - no clean out or changing anything in the cage for the first two weeks and mainly start by talking to them during that time so they get familiar with your voice and presence.

So it may just be a bit of fear and stress at the moment, and protecting himself and his territory. Don't give up yet!

Yes little girls do sometimes want the same as their friends! So - a teaspoonful of food a day is about right for a dwarf hamster and usually recommended. To be honest I used to give a level dessertspoonful. It would all get pouched and hoarded - but obviously it doesn't all get eaten and the hoard just gets bigger! But it keeps them happy. I also didn't scatter feed it (although I know that is current thought) and used to put half in a bowl and scatter the other half. Latterly, rather than a bowl, I had a large ceramic hide with a dip in the top and used to use that as a food dish.

So I would try giving a bit more and half and half it - half in a bowl and scatter feed the other half. Their hoards tend to stay clean and dry for a long time.

My usual thing is - half in a dish, scatter the other half, "hide" a couple of treats daily (in the same place - maybe one on a platform and one somewhere else) - so they know to look for them each day. And a piece of veg daily, no bigger than their ear-ish and I put that on a separate dish on its own as well. They then get into food routines and look forward to things being where they expect (I think!). By treats I mean a couple of pumpkin seeds or a safe hamster treat, or a pine nut or half a walnut - sometimes a fresh treat like a bit of chopped boiled egg. Which helps boost the protein level of the Bunny Dream mix as well They absolutely love any fresh human food.

 

[DesignerDani]

Hi Maz, that is fabulous advice - thank you so much - I'll try all of that! Feeling VERY reassured that 3 weeks is still early days! We will get those cuddles one day!!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Lil Guy's Henry is a dwarfie, and although they have a close relationship, Henry isn't keen on being stroked. Most of their interaction involves Henry going out by taxi to the play pen, but he does hugely enjoy treats, including sour cream all and often gives whiskers kisses. It may be a predatory reflex as hamsters can probably sense the pulse in our fingers and may give them a bite on the off chance they're some sort of edible insect. It's tricky. How to interact with your dwarfie without being nipped. They are intense little animals. Perhaps after he has eaten several treats he might be less reactive. He is very cute and charming and healthy