Cuddles

[Hoggle*&*Ludo]

How do you know if your piggies are enjoying their cuddles?

I cuddle my piggies together and they just lay on my chest hardly moving then when I put them back, they are dying to get away.

I stroke them around their ears to make them feel relaxed and show them I mean no harm but I don't like holding them for too long in case I really am frightening them. They don't shake but I can usually feel their little hearts going fast like they are scared.

What can I do during cuddles to relax them? Are they best being held separately?

 

[Lucky]

I always used to handle mine separately, mainly because they wriggled! but if they are ok being held together then thats fine.

When you cuddle your piggie, although they may be used to you by now, their natural instinct is to protect themselves so they are on standby just in case danger comes near. if theyre not shaking, i wouldnt have thought they are terribly frightened.

do you talk random chatter to them? the soothing noise of your voice can help to calm them and let them know they are safe with you. i always used to find that it helped for me to have a little bit of their favourite food handy, they'll only dig in when they feel comfortable!

 

[Lucky]

as for them dying to get away, i think thats just a natural part of their behaviour - theyre dying to get back into their recognised, homely habitat and burrow into all that hay!

 

[Wiebke]

They will relax with time, once they realise that nothing bad will happen!

You may make the experience that they go from a "dead piggy" to a "wiggly piggy" phase and eventually will relax enough to enjoy it.

 

[Hoggle*&*Ludo]

Thank you both!

I will try doing it separately tonight, although Hoggle is much easier to handle, I may have to spend a bit longer with Ludo.

It is funny when I do it separately, once I put either back in, they run to the other squeaking like "oh my god, I can't believe I have just been kidnapped, can I hide behind you?!" |)

I do talk to them, just things like don't be scared, I am your mummy and I love you loads. I will give you some yummy veg in a bit! That goes in one ear and out of the other, it is only the chopping board they take notice of! :<>

 

[Lucky]

Thank you both!

I will try doing it separately tonight, although Hoggle is much easier to handle, I may have to spend a bit longer with Ludo.

It is funny when I do it separately, once I put either back in, they run to the other squeaking like "oh my god, I can't believe I have just been kidnapped, can I hide behind you?!" |)

I do talk to them, just things like don't be scared, I am your mummy and I love you loads. I will give you some yummy veg in a bit! That goes in one ear and out of the other, it is only the chopping board they take notice of! :<>

hehe, as you probably know yourself, actions speak louder than words!

if you speak to them lots, they will recognise your voice and will learn that it is nothing to be afraid of, so keep chatting any old tatter!

 

[Hoggle*&*Ludo]

I might read them a bedtime story each night! Will have to get some guinea pig stories to read to them! :<>

If me and my boyfriend are sat in the kitchen talking, they are fine, as soon as you are within a metre of a cage, they scarper so I think us spending more time in there talking will also help.

I just feel like I am torturing them everytime I open their cage! :0

 

[Lucky]

I might read them a bedtime story each night! Will have to get some guinea pig stories to read to them! :<>

If me and my boyfriend are sat in the kitchen talking, they are fine, as soon as you are within a metre of a cage, they scarper so I think us spending more time in there talking will also help.

I just feel like I am torturing them everytime I open their cage! :0

I seem to remember they're quite young? When Lucky was little she used to scarper all the time! She still does just not so much in the cage (we allow our guinea pigs to have a free run on the grass in the summer as there's nowhere to escape to... but when its time to come in she can be so difficult to catch!)
but shes around 5 years old now... and tends just to sit there looking at you intently!

little uns have a lot of energy and are generally more energetic and timid than older piggies. once they get a little bit older and a little bit more used to you and your movements, i'm sure you will notice this less and less!

 

[Hoggle*&*Ludo]

Yes they are only 6 weeks old, 7 on Saturday! |)

They have a massive new cage now so I hope they are happy little boys!

 

[Hoggle*&*Ludo]

I had lap time before!

They seemed much more settled on my lap, I had a good 5 minutes each and they seemed ok. I am so happy, I had them in another room on my knee and they didn't run off! I did them separately though.

They did their usual scared squeak when they got back in their cage but they seemed to be ok with the cuddles.