Your hamster will be handled quite a bit before you bring them home, and it's important to continue that once they are set up in their enclosure. They'll know my voice and smell, but not yours. Unlike a chain pet store hamster, your hamster can start the taming process immediately. In fact I encourage it. Even if you simply start with watching them and talking to them, this helps them learn your smell and voice. Offering a "treat" (a small vegetable or seed is great for this) from your hand is a great way to get them to trust you and associate your presence with something positive.
Some hamsters are naturally tame and receptive to human interaction immediately, but many are not, and will need time and patience to get comfortable with you. Keep in mind that they are prey animals; it's nothing personal! They're just naturally wired to be very cautious. Hamsters have a very keen sense of smell and will recognize you by your smell. When you first bring your hamster home, it's wise to put some tissue or toilet paper in your waistband for a few hours or simply rub some tissue in your palms, and then place that tissue throughout their enclosure. A hamster's habitat is their safe space, so getting to know your smell in their environment can create a positive relation to it.
A popular method for taming involves using a Playpen or Bathtub. While your hamster is still a little nervous around you, you can use a mug or container of some kind to transport them to a playpen or a bathtub This is a safer way to transport them versus trying to pick them up and carry them before they're comfortable with you. Hamsters (especially babies!) are very spring-loaded and can jump from your hands unexpectedly. If you're using a bathtub, make sure the drain is closed, the tub is cleaned of any soap residue, and a fleece or similar style blanket is laid out on the bottom. You'll also want to put tunnels, hides, and possibly even a wheel or sand box in the play area. The sand is helpful in case they need to go potty. I also like to bring in either their water bottle or a water dish.Â
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Sitting inside of the play area and allowing them to crawl on you, without picking them up, is a good start to the trust process. I also bring treats into this area and put them in my open hand. This will encourage them to climb onto your hand and see that it's safe. The reason this works better in a play area vs their enclosure is because they're very protective of their "home", The play area is a neutral space that they don't feel they need to defend. Once they're comfortable climbing into your hand, you can try to gently pet them (be sure you let them see your hand before you pet them so that you don't startle them). Eventually you can move onto trying to scoop them up with both hands underneath and only lift them a few inches off the floor in case they jump, and then place them back down. Over time you can hold them longer/higher if they're comfortable. The more you practice these steps, the more they'll learn that your hands and your presence are a positive thing. I've used this process with all of my hamsters and had success every time, even with rescues that were extremely frightened of me at first.
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Keep in mind that not all hamsters will reach the stage of full trust, and some may take several weeks. Learn from their cues and go at their pace. There's nothing more rewarding than them peeking their little head out of the burrow or hide when they hear your voice, or allowing you to handle them without fear. 🩵
The Bathtub Method
Some key things to remember:
1-Always approach your hamster slowly. Sudden movements will scare them.
2- Let them see a hand in front of them before picking them up or petting them when they're not expecting it.
3-Try not to be "fearful". Animals can sense fear. Be confident!
4-Make sure your hands are clean. If your hamster smells food, they might want to nibble, and they've got very sharp teeth!
5-Always follow their lead. Some hamsters are comfortable with their human quicker than others, but not pushing them too far too fast is very important.