does your piggy like to be picked up

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heyheypetal

i only got my piggy two days ago and she doesnt like been picked up, shes fine once i have her in my hands and sit her on my lap its just picking her up out of the cage she doesnt like she runs about to make it hard for me to catch her, i dont want to scare her is there anything i can do make her relax when i put my hands in to pick her up?, shes perfectly relaxed once ive managed to pick her up. also how do your guinea pigs react to been picked up out of the cage?
 
Most of my girls (who all live inside) don't try to run away when I pick them up and some will even run to me for a cuddle and like to have a nap on me, but it does take time and patience to get them that way... 2 days is very early days indeed!

I read a really good post yesterday about approaching and picking guineas up but can't find it now... maybe someone else will be able to. Basically it went something like... avoid chasing her round and round and calmly slowly approach her with the back of your hand giving her a little stroke on her shoulder before slowly but firmly lifting her from the cage (hopefully that’s about the gist of it).

Plus food is a great way of making friends with a piggy, preferably something REALLY yummy like a little bit of cucumber or curly kale.
 
thank you i'll try the back of hand and shouldr stroke tomorrow when i attempt to get her out for out cuddle, I'm just nervous that if i dont pick her up enough she wont get used to me but then i dont want to scare her picking her up either, i guess its just gona take patience but knowing other people went through the same thing when they first got their piggys is reasuring to know. i cant wait for the day shes runs to the front of the cage for me too pick her up :)
 
I got my piggie Alfonso (the bigger one in my avatar) from a rescue about 4 months ago now. He was frozen to the spot for 3 whole days and didn't even attempt to move when I picked him up, but would quiver and shake. The poor boy was soooo very frightened. After a week, he began to come round. Each time I picked him up, I gave him a small piece of carrot. Initially he was too frightened to eat it, but it got the better of him eventually! He now runs over to me, wheeks at my feet, climbs on my lap, barges me out of his way when I'm cleaning their cage. Time for lots of cuddles and works wonders. He gets braver by the day.

Some piggies are always naturally skittish as they are programmed to run away when under threat but try talking to your piggy as you approach her (with a small treat) and she'll gradually come to see you as something to look forward to! How about taking her out in a towel or a pigloo so she feels secure? Quite a few members have done this.

Don't worry about picking her up- the more she's handled, the more she'll get used to it. x
 
the first time i tried to pick her up was a nightmare, but today i got down to her level and was speaking to her for about 20mins or so but was a little skittish when i went to pick her up but not half as much as the first time i tried to pick her up, I'm going to go buy her a cucumber tomorrow before trying to pick her up and I'm try showing her the back of my hand and stroking her with the back of my fingers in cage, what ive read about on here sumwhere. I just like to know that I'm not the only one who has gone through this as i was a bit upset when i first got her thinking she would never feel comfortable when i try to pick her up, so i can only thank you for your responses they fill me with confidence which i think is just what i need :)
 
^ haha i've just been looking at those!

*is totally not tempted to go out and buy a long-haired pig now*

you're very lucky to own such beautiful boys <3
i had a pig called pedro, but she was a girl and her real name was matilda :))
 
gracie said:
i had a pig called pedro, but she was a girl and her real name was matilda :))
Click to expand...

haha thats like me with patrick, shes a girl but i picked the name first lol

yeh I'm sure within time i'll get more confident n so will patrick but thank you all for your advice and stuff it means alot
 
I'm going through the same thing at the moment with mine. They just run around trying to get away from me but I'm sure the more I handle them the more they will get used to it and wont run so much ;)
 
It may help if you have a certain phrase with a melody, so she knows what you are about. I always say "May I have a cuddle with you?" to Llewelyn who is still rather skittish, and will probably always be, due to his background.

As soon as a piggy figures out that you are not chasing it randomly, you've won!
 
thats a good idea i'll try that, saying a certain phase before picking her up. I'm waiting until my boyfriend gets home before attempting to pick her *** her cage needs cleaning out. I'm pleased to see her water bottle has gone down alot and also half of the carrot i gave her has been eaten so i think shes starting to settle in more now :D
 
Hiya i have just joined the forum so i dont have pictures yet of my piggies,
but in regards to your piggie running away i think as she settles in more the more she will get used to you and her new home. one thing i have noticed that one of my piggies Lola 9 time out of 10 she will let me pick her up the other times she will follow her sister Bella (who is hard to catch) around the cage. I think like humans even once she settles in sometimes she just might not want out or held, but dont be disheartend by her running away because iam sure she loves you allready and try and hold her a few times aday and let her run around a secure area for a while for exercise. Talking to her and petting her befor you lift her may help and make sure she can see you going to lift her as she may get a little fright. I have only had lola and Bella for two weeks now and bella is getting a little easyer to catch.
sorry for the essay hope you find it usefull xashx
 
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* = you by the way. i didnt know i wouldnt let my type text style sorry x
 
i had her out earlier and shes definatly getting braver since i had her cage open n sat speaking to her for about half an hour she even walked **** up me, she got a little skittish again when actually trying to pick her up but nothing compared to my first day with her :)
 
I know what you mean. I got both my boys in February and they were like that at first but now they recognise the sounds of my steps and come out wheeking hoping for a treat.. - they still dash in their little bedroom if I move too quickly but once they get used to you everyday brings another little bit of confidance.. one of my boys Reilly has just started to lie right down on his side and sleep zzz if he is snuggled in my dressing gown and will stay like that for ages .. (I think he likes the peace and quiet from his cage mate!) I read somewhere that Piggys will always be a bit skittish as is thier nature as a Prey animal and their only defence to run and hide... so don't lose heart I'm sure they love you as much as you love them x)
 
Hi, I find that if I approach my girls from the front they are much less likely to run around in panic. I put my hand into their run/hutch in fron of their face so they know they are going to be caught, I then bring my other hand around the back and place it on their tummy so that I can bring the hand from the front around to pick them up.

I think that they prefer it as they know its me and where I'm coming from rather than having a hand trying to grab them from behind. I also talk to them as I approach the run/hutch so they are prepared for me coming to get them.

Practice makes perfect and the more you handle them the easier it will get.
 
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