Owwie!!!

Question
Whenever i try to pick up my albino dwarf hamster, she bites me! it really hurts, and sometimes bleeds. What should i do?

Answer
Hi Nina

Some of the dwarf hamsters are known to be biters - especially Campbells.  It is almost in their nature for some reason.  The main thing is not to give them any reason/opportunity to bite.  Before you handle her, rub your hands in her wood chippings so her scent is on you.  Scoop her up with a hand either side, rather than from the top so she doesn't think she's being attacked.  In the wild, these little creatures get eaten by birds etc, so to them an aggressor comes from above.

Some hamsters don't like walking on human skin - so for a while, wear long sleeves and let her walk over your clothing so that the only skin that touches her are your hands. When she walks over your hands, keep your hands moving so that she walks from one to the other and isn't able to stop.  It seems that when they stop and have a sniff around or are restrained they especially like to bite.

Don't hold her tightly, let her feel that she can move around, and if you need to bring her back to you scoop her up again.  Talk to her a lot - especially when you see her out and about in her cage, so that when you handle her she will recognise your voice.  

I hope this is of some help to you.

Regards