Teach a Hamster Tricks

Having a hamster can be lots of fun, but it's even more fun to teach it to do tricks and reward it with treats! Plus it gives you something to show off for your friends.

Steps

1. Build a good relationship with your hamster. Teaching a hamster will NOT work if the hamster is scared of you. Get to know your hamster by giving it treats daily from your hand until it will come out of its house and explore your hand for treats when you put your hand down, palm up, into the cage.
2. Know your hamster. Many people say that dwarf hamsters are not smart enough to do tricks and are likely to bite, but despite common beliefs, dwarf hamsters are surprisingly compatible and intelligent. If you hamster is a very grouchy one, you may want to reconsider teaching it tricks as it will probably get impatient and slouch away. If you hamster is very hyper, it will take more patience from you to get it to know what you want it to do.
3. Be ready to have many days of training and patience ahead of you. Training your hamster to do tricks will take lots of patience and plenty of treats. Here's a hint - have a good supply of treats in store before you start to train!
4. Now you're ready for the Circle Trick. This trick is the easiest to do, but will still take a few weeks of training. Simply hold the treat above your hamster so that he/she knows its there. It will stand up and sniff the air, then try to reach for it. Lower the treat so that it's at eye-level with the hamster, but before the hamster can get it, move the treat in a circle, while saying the training word(s), i.e. "Do a circle!" or "Turn around!" Keep it short and simple. The hamster should follow the treat around in a circle. Then give the hamster the treat.
5. Repeat.
6. Repeat again.
7. Repeat for a few days.
8. The next step for the Circle Trick is to hold the treat above the hamster's head and say the training word(s). If the hamster does not turn around, go back to step 4 for a few more days. If it does turn around, give it the treat right away. Do this again until you can hold your finger above the hamster, say the training word(s), and it will turn in a circle. Once you are satisfied with the hamster's abilities, make sure that you reward it with a treat.
9. Another trick is the Hoop trick. This one will take a little longer to do than the Circle, but it is much more impressive as well. Cut out a cardboard or plastic hoop large enough that the hamster can climb or jump through with plenty of room to spare. Hold the hoop in the cage. Hold the treat on the OTHER side that the hamster is on. Most likely, your hamster will trundle around the hoop to get to the treat. When this happens, push the hoop in front of the hamster so that it has no choice but to go through the hoop.
10. It will take a while before your hamster realizes that to get the treat, it has to go THROUGH the hoop, not just struggle until it gets the treat. Be sure that you repeat this trick as many times as you can over the past week, reviewing whatever other tricks you have taught it.
11. Repeat until your hamster is a pro!
12. Another trick that isn't really a trick is the Finger trick. This trick is easy to teach, and very practical when cleaning out a hamster's cage, or getting it back in the cage after the cleaning. The point of the trick is for the hamster to go wherever you tap your finger.
13. Tap your finger in a place wherever you want. It's easiest to start by tapping on a corner of the cage, easily accessible for your hamster to get to. The hamster should run inquisitively over and see what it is. Immediately reward your hamster with the treat that you should be holding in your OTHER hand, so that the hamster doesn't just come over for the treat.
14. Repeat until your are satisfied.
15. So now you know a few basic tricks! Be creative and teach your hamster new ones after you get the hang of the overall training sessions! And don't forget to show off your pet to your friends! ;)

Video

Template:Video:Teach a Hamster Tricks

Tips

• Reward your hamster with a nice bit of apple or carrot after each training session. Make sure it is a different treat that they enjoy before giving it to them.
• Make sure your hamster WANTS the treat before you begin training, and is not just curious.
• Be patient. Teaching your hamster tricks can take up to a month before they have it mastered. Remember that no matter how smart you believe your hamster is, he/she is a HAMSTER.
• Remember to review the tricks each time you start to teach your hamster a new one. It won't do to let your ham forget them as soon as you teach them!
• The maximum of your training time should be only 10 minutes. Anything other than that and your hamster may get impatient and run off.
• Do not give your hamster too many treats, as it may get diarrhea.

Warnings

• Wash your hands before you start to train your hamster so that when the hamster goes for the treat, it won't bite you. If it bites you instead of the treat and you know it was an accident, do not jump or freak out, or the hamster will get scared and run away when you try to teach it the trick again. If you DO happen to jump and/or freak out, try again another day, when your hamster is back to normal.
• Be careful whilst training your hamster. They may bite. If this occurs, take a deep breath, clean up your bite, and then stop training for a day to give it a break. Your hamster may be impatient.

Related Articles

• Choose Good Cages for Hamsters
• Prepare for a Hamster Sitter
• Make a Hamster Mansion
• Find a Lost Hamster

See also

• Train Your Hamster
• Potty Train a Hamster
• Train Your Hamster to Come when You Call