Does anyone have any tips for lap time?

Isla&Steve

Isla&Steve

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, so we’ve been doing lap time most days and we have got to the point where both boys eat from our hands, but I feel like every lap time is getting more and more stressful for to boys and therefore stressful for us too because we feel like we’re upsetting them, does anyone have any tips for how to make lap time a nicer experience for all? I heard that I should do lap time in a different room to their cage but the only other room we have is the bedroom, would this still work?
 
What is happening to make you think you’re upsetting them?
Once they become more comfortable with you (and taking food from you is a sure sign they trust you now), they will find it easier to tell you what they do or don’t like so it’s important to follow their lead.

My own piggies hate being held, therefore handling is only for health and weight checks as they’re essential. When they first came to me, theyd sit still if I held them for their checks but it was through fear rather than enjoyment. As they settled in, the squirming and screaming started and it quickly became clear they didn’t like it. I sit on the floor in their shed with them and let them potter about around me rather than actually hold them.
 
Give them a blanket or cosy to sit in on your lap while you have laptime and feed little veggie treats. Sometimes they can feel very exposed, covered up they generally feel more relaxed at first. It takes some piggies longer than others to over come their fear of being “exposed”, they are prey animals so don’t take it personally, do everything in small steps, a bit at a time x
 
Isla&Steve said:
Hi, so we’ve been doing lap time most days and we have got to the point where both boys eat from our hands, but I feel like every lap time is getting more and more stressful for to boys and therefore stressful for us too because we feel like we’re upsetting them, does anyone have any tips for how to make lap time a nicer experience for all? I heard that I should do lap time in a different room to their cage but the only other room we have is the bedroom, would this still work?
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Hi!

It is a GOOD sign that your boys are starting to trust you enough to tell you when they don't like something and have stopped playing dead.

Please keep in mind that guinea pigs are prey animals and not naturally born animated toys like the entirely human driven videos on social media suggest and that what you bring home from a pet shop or breeder are babies that have had hardly anything in the way of human interacting in their lives before they are sold into a pet home and expected to function instantly like the piggies in videos that usually have had months or years of socialisation but that are not a reflection of reality. Most piggies don't like being cuddled and held for more than 10-15 minutes if they are allowed to give their opinion - but of course, that doesn't make for videos that get lots of hits...

You may find the information in these guide links below VERY helpful in understanding where your piggies come from and how you can work around their prey animal instincts as well as enjoy them much more than just treating them as a cuddly toy.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
Thank you everyone this is very helpful, I’m glad they they trust us enough to tell us what they want, they do like hiding under the OHs arm so I will definitely give them something to cuddle in if we reintroduce lap time after I’ve work towards understand they’re behaviour and taking their lead from now on :D
 
Maybe build a play pen that you can sit in there with them.

I have 2 snuggle bugs and 2 not so snuggle bugs. Each is individual.
 
We dont have a playpen but I have a large blanket I lay on the floor and they stay on that as if there is an invisible barrier around the blanket 😂 they occasionally run off it but rarely and only for a few seconds. It's very odd. They're skinny pigs so maybe our carpet feels too spiky on them! Ahahaha.
 
I sat on the blanket eating yesterday and they ran right onto my lap for "their share". They weren't impressed that I would only give them the salad from making vegan "chicken" salad wraps. 😂
 
ThatPurpleB said:
We dont have a playpen but I have a large blanket I lay on the floor and they stay on that as if there is an invisible barrier around the blanket 😂 they occasionally run off it but rarely and only for a few seconds. It's very odd. They're skinny pigs so maybe our carpet feels too spiky on them! Ahahaha.
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Haha bless them. Maybe it's just uncharted territory. Soon they'll be zooming everywhere
 
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