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So now that you have your new teddy bear hamster safe and sound at home. What should you do to start bonding with the little guy? While your first instinct might be to hold him close, this may be the last thing he needs right now.
Think about it … the little teddy bear hamster is only about 4 inches long and you are a gigantic figure in his eyes. Would not anything that large seem potentially dangerous and scary?
The best thing you can do at this point is nothing. That's right! This may seem counter-intuitive, but it really is the best thing for the both of you. What's important is that you exercise some patience and dedication to earn the trust and affection of your new hamster friend. This may be hard to do at first, but once you understand the importance of taking your time, you will reap the rewards of the bonding experience later.
Firstly, remember not to pounce on the poor little creature the moment you bring him home. Believe me, the temptation will be there. But being in a new environment has already made him scared and anxious. So the best thing you can do is to simply set him in a dark room for a few days, even up to a week if necessary. During this time, the only contact you should have with him is to feed him with food and water.
After about a week, try taking a piece of tissue, rub your hands with it and stick it in the cage. Hamsters have a wonderful sense of smell. This is the perfect way to get him to recognize your scent. After about a week, you can slowly and carefully place your hand in his cage for him to smell you, and he will hopefully recognize your scent.
If the little guy bites you, remove your hand immediately and try the "getting-to-know-you" ritual the following day. After a while, he will crawl over your fingers and even around your arm. Then before you know it, you'll be able to take him out of the cage and give him some "out-of-cage" play time. Once this happens, you will be able to play with him anytime because he trusts and knows you.
Once you and your pet hamster have become firm friends, remember to treat him like a member of the family. Do not forget that a teddy bear hamster has feelings too!
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Source by Sarah Bitman
