Confidence outside his cage!

[Tommies Mam]

I could really do with some advice please, my little boy is only eight weeks and though he's happy sitting on my knee I like to give him lots of runs in the hallway. He really seems to enjoy been out and gets excited however, he quickly gets nervous and gets back in his cage.

I know that he is bound to lack confidence for some while yet but, how do I build his confidence up? If I shut his cage he becomes very distressed and literally hngs off his bars to get back in and that feels terribly cruel to such a tiny defenceless animal but, at the same time I really want to encourage him to spend time out of his cage to stretch his legs and to gain a bit more confidence.

Thanks

P.S he's an indoor pig

 

[Jane]

You need to put out interesting things for him Who'd want to run round an empty room? ;D

Put out houses, cardboard boxes, tubes etc for him to hide in and run through and it should make him more confident in being out

 

[Tommies Mam]

Thanks Jane I am trying to do that for him and I have made him a little bolt hole under the telephome table

 

[summerleaze]

This just takes time, remember he is listening to what his instincts tell him at this age and that is " I am vunerable, I may get eaten at any moment, hide, feed, survive"

It will only be his experience that will tell him eventually that he is safe. Too much room will freak him out so I would limit the area to a reasonable size, as has been said before put loads of hidey things in and interest and then get down on the floor with him and tempt him with bits of food from your hand.

Good luck