To ensure that your hamster becomes tame and affectionate it is important that you handle it frequently and correctly. Picking up a hamster incorrectly could lead to your hamster being permanently frightened and may lead to it becoming aggressive. Hamsters can often be a little nippy, and this is for a number of reasons:

• Hamsters are nocturnal creatures and like to sleep for the majority of daylight hours. A Hamster aroused from the depths of sleep too quickly may become a little “grouchy” – just as we would under the same circumstances.
• They are also very small prey animals and any handling in the wild would be due to being captured by a predator. Your hand represents a large claw and can be threatening and stressful to the animals. The majority of Hamsters will tolerate being handled, rather than enjoy it.
• It is important to handle your Hamster correctly from an early age. Any rough or incorrect handling can lead to fear later on resulting in aggression – the animal’s response to fear.

Handling your Hamster will help build their confidence in you, and make them more sociable. You need to ensure that they associate handling with something pleasurable for them. Before attempting handling, make sure that your Hamster is awake and alert. Always approach slowly and gently. Place a closed fist in front of your pet, and allow it to approach and sniff. Hamsters rely on olfactory cues (smell) rather than sound and, therefore, it is important so they can detect what is approaching. If your Hamster is confident and appears interested, slowly unclench your fist and offer your palm. It may well crawl on to your hand or you can gently scoop it up. Cup your Hamster in the palms of your two hands to ensure that it is safe and won’t be dropped. Lift slowly – picking up too quickly would be the equivalent of going up the Empire State Building in 3 seconds! To ensure it is safe at all times you should hold it over your lap or close to your chest. Never scruff (pick up by the neck), a Hamster to pick it up, as it can put immense pressure on the head region and could result in serious injury. If your Hamster is difficult to catch or aggressive, use a cup or mug and gently “usher” it in. If your Hamster is prone to nipping you can use a soft toothbrush to stroke it gently prior to handling. Initially it may bite the toothbrush but continue stroking – it will soon understand that, even if it bites, the stroking will continue – and that it doesn’t hurt in any case. Continue with this until it no longer bites the brush and, when ready, replace the brush with your finger. This whole process may take a few weeks, but will be worth it for both of you in the end.