How To Train a Dwarf Hamster to Recognize Its Name
Dwarf hamsters are easy to care for and make great pets.Once they get used to you and their new home, they love to play, exercise and explore.Once you have trained your dwarf hamster to respond to its own name, it will be smart enough to do so.
Step 1: It's best to give your hamster a few days to adjust.
Don't be surprised if your dwarf hamster hides for the first few days after leaving the pet store.When your hamster begins to come out on its own, perform your daily activities normally, even if you are near its cage.You should only tame it when it doesn't try to hide in the room.It's a good idea to make the trip from the store to your home as smooth as possible.If you anticipate the ride will be bumpy, cushion the cage with towels or pillows to minimize the impact on your hamster.There is a quiet part of your home where you can put your hamster cage.It's not going to help the adjustment process if you put the cage near the washing machine.
Step 2: The hamster cage should be set up correctly.
It will adjust well to its new home if it does that.Purchase plant-based materials that your hamster can use to build a nest, as well as wooden toys that it can play with and gnaw on.Provide your hamster with pellet-based food at regular intervals and set up a water dispenser if you don't already.Your hamster cage needs to be big enough so that it can run around and get exercise.You should buy a cage that is at least 24 in by 12 in.If you put more hamsters in the cage, the size should be increased by 50 percent.It's important to buy a plastic hamster wheel.If your hamster falls, the plastic composition of the wheel will help it avoid injury.
Step 3: Listen to the sound of your voice on your hamster.
During the first few days of your hamster's life, don't try to handle it, but instead spend some time at the cage talking to your pet in a slow and steady voice.It will be more comfortable around you when you are ready to pick it up.It is possible to say your hamster's name while you are talking to it.It's a good idea to have other people in your household talk to your hamster so that it gets used to the sounds of their voices as well.
Step 4: Wait for your hamster to relax before starting to train it.
A calm hamster that is playing, grooming itself, or ambling about is ready to be trained.If your hamster is showing its teeth or growling, this is a sign that it is nervous, anxious, or frightened.This is not a good time to deal with it.Don't wake your hamster up until you have brought it from the store.This will make your pet less likely to trust you and will distress your hamster.
Step 5: Use soap to wash your hands.
If your hamster becomes anxious or prone to bite, make sure that your hands are free of any scent that may disturb or irritate it.If your hamster ingests small objects, you should wash your hands and nails.Gloves are required for handling your hamster if your hands are bandaged.The hamster will not be able to chew on the bandage or be irritated by it.
Step 6: To reinforce the lesson, prepare a treat.
You should cut up a vegetable or fruit to use.A bit of bread or a hard-boiled egg can be used as a treat.Either way, make sure you cut the fruit or vegetable into small pieces.Since fruit contains a lot of sugar, opt for vegetables and bread more often.
Step 7: Your hamster will be released into an enclosed space with you.
There is an empty bathtub or a corner of a room with hamster fencing.There should be at least a few feet between you and your pet.You should sit in the space next to your hamster.Make sure there are no gaps in the fencing you use to keep your hamster penned in when you place it on the floor.If you are not careful, dwarf hamsters can get loose.
Step 8: Hold out your hand and say your hamster's name.
Slowly and clearly, say its name.If your hamster doesn't show up immediately, call it again and move your hand so that the treat is more visible.As your hamster approaches, repeat its name.Give your hamster a treat to reinforce the positive association between it and the treat.You might confuse it if you say anything other than your hamster's name.Don't worry if your hamster scurries away when you hold it out.Next day, try again.
Step 9: For a week, do it once or twice a day.
Continue saying your hamster's name and giving him a treat until he crawls into your hand.If you want to associate its name with the treat, make sure to call it first.If you accidentally over feed your hamster, don't do this more than a few times a day.These things take a long time.When training your hamster to recognize your name, keep your toys around.You want it to have a positive association with its name.After you call its name a few times, let it take a break.It may take a few days or a couple of weeks to build an association between you and your hamster.For as long as it takes, be patient.Don't offer your hamster treats during other parts of the day in order to undermine your own efforts.
Step 10: You can call your hamster's name after a week if you hold an empty hand.
If your hamster doesn't crawl into your hand immediately, try calling its name at least two or three times.If your hamster doesn't show up, put it in its cage, and try again the next day with a treat in hand.Try again without a treat after another day or two.You will know your hamster knows its name when it crawls into your hand without a treat.The training should be varied.Your hamster may be bored and slow to respond.Try different kinds of treats or training your hamster in different parts of the house.It may be possible to teach it something completely different.
Step 11: Call your hamster frequently.
When you enter the room where you keep the hamster, say his name.When you need to clean its cage, call its name.You can use every opportunity to say its name.Don't call your hamster by another name.During the training period, you don't want to confuse your hamster by calling it more than one name.It is not a good idea to call it a shortened version of its name.You can reinforce your training by having other people call your hamster's name.If they want your hamster to come to them when they call, they will need to go through the steps above to do that.
Step 12: Reward your hamster with a clicker if it recognizes its name.
When your hamster responds to its name, click a clicker and give it a treat as a reward.When your hamster responds to its name, repeat this.Your hamster will associate recognition with getting a reward.Once your hamster is used to the clicker, you can use it to teach other behaviors.You can buy a training clicker in a pet supply store.
Step 13: Use your hamster's name to train it.
You can train your hamster to perform certain tasks on command once you get it to respond to its name.Use its name with a command to train it to complete a simple task.After washing your hands with soap, place a small wooden block in its cage and a treat on top of it.If you say "Climb," your hamster may climb the block to get the treat.Place the block inside the cage without the treat, then repeat for several days.When your hamster climbs on the bare block, it is associated with its name and the word climb.It strengthens its association with its own name if you teach it tricks with commands.
Step 14: Over time, train your hamster to perform more complicated tricks.
You can teach your hamster to run, stand on its hind legs, or even jump through hoops by training it with the promise of a treat.Your hamster will appreciate the stimulation and the treat, and it will identify its own name to a greater degree.When you call it, you could teach your hamster to come to you.Try and get the hamster to come with a treat.When the hamster comes over to you, click the clicker and offer the treat.If you repeat this many times, your hamster will associate the word come with being rewarded.