How to Teach a Hamster to Roll Over

The life of a hamster is solitary and brief, with most living no more than three years under the best of circumstances. Why not make the most of their short lives by teaching them a few tricks to impress your friends and family? Teaching a hamster to roll over is surprisingly easy.

Things You'll Need

  • Sunflower seeds
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get your hamster comfortable with being handled by placing your hand in its cage palm up, with a sunflower seed in the middle of your palm. Let your hamster take the seed from your hand without touching the hamster any further. Repeat this several times.

    • 2

      Repeat Step 1, but now gently pet the hamster as it takes the seed from your hand.

    • 3

      Repeat step two, but now take the hamster out of its cage and hold it tenderly for a few minutes before replacing it.

    • 4

      Now place your hand in the cage without the sunflower seed. The hamster will come to you. Place the seed on the hamster's back and tell it to roll over. The hamster will roll over to reach the seed. Repeat this several times.

    • 5

      Place your hand in the cage to summon the hamster. Once it comes, tell it to roll over but don't put a sunflower seed on its back. If you did Step 4 enough times, the hamster will roll over on its own. Reward the hamster with a sunflower seed.