by Jill Mullen

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: October 25, 2010

To learn how to stop your pet gerbil or hamster biting, you need to know why they do it! Its simply that they are afraid. Gerbils and hamsters are prey animals, which means they are expecting to get eaten by a predator and thousands of years of genetic programming teaches them to defend themselves by biting! If your pet isn't well socialised it will mistake you for a predator and try to bite you.

Teaching them to accept you as a friend starts immediately. If you have bought from a 'family home' there is a chance that the breeder will have already started some basic handling. Plus the baby hamster or gerbil learns from their parents that humans aren't always a threat. Try to take some of the bedding used by the breeder so that a familiar smell will help your pet to settle in. It is important to provide a safe hiding place or covered bed-box for your pet or it will never be able to relax feeling safe.

Food treats are essential for training your hamster or gerbil to trust you. Make sure you move slowly and calmly. letting them become confidant to take a food treat from your fingers before you even think about trying to pick them up. If you offer foods treats often in the first few days you'll make quick progress. Make sure you talk constantly but softly while offering them treats so they will learn its you when you approach their cage. Saving some used, but not soiled, bedding from their nest box and rubbing it in your hands before you offer the treats will cover your strange smell with their own scent and be reassuring. Once they willingly come to take the food treat, move it further and further onto your hand so that the gerbil or hamster must commit to walking on your hand before they can take the treat. You're nearly there now!

You have taught them to recognize your voice. You have taught them it is safe and rewarding to stand on your hand. You should now teach then it is safe to sit on your hand even if its moving by lifting them gradually in your open hand, making sure they won't fall far if they become startled. Once you are both confidant with this you should be able to gently lift and stroke your hamster or gerbil without them being frightened.

And if they are not frightened they will not bite!

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