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Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and was wondering if you could help me. My guinea pig, Fluffy, hates being picked up, any advice on what to do?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Fluffy hates to be picked up!
- Thread starter FluffytheGuineaPig
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Hey, welcome to the forum! 
Is it a case of her (I'm assuming you have a she from fluffy hehe!) running away from you and squirming then keep trying. Mine run away from me everytime I try to get them but, as mean as it sounds, if I get them in a corner they let me pick them up.
Once I have them they love a cuddle.
If your's squirms or bites etc I'm not sure I have any advice on that one only to try and build up her confidence around you like try to gte her to eat from your palm etc then very gradually over time she may take to it a little better?
Is she a new piggy? x
Is it a case of her (I'm assuming you have a she from fluffy hehe!) running away from you and squirming then keep trying. Mine run away from me everytime I try to get them but, as mean as it sounds, if I get them in a corner they let me pick them up.
Once I have them they love a cuddle.
If your's squirms or bites etc I'm not sure I have any advice on that one only to try and build up her confidence around you like try to gte her to eat from your palm etc then very gradually over time she may take to it a little better?
Is she a new piggy? x
Picking up cuts too close to their prey animal instinct for many piggies to ever be completely happy about it. Especially new (often previously unhandled) and single piggies find it stressful.
You can try and train her to come into a padded shoebox whose on small end you have cut off. Place a little treat in the back of the box and the box in one corner where you can gently shoo her.
Let her discover and befriend the box first. Gently lift her out only after a day or so and after she's had a litlle nap in the box. Talk to her the whole time and use the same words int he same cadence every time to create a ritual.
You can cuddle her in the shoe box. Piggies do well in enclosed spaces. Praise her generously and don't forget to place a littl treat in the box and one for the way back home, too! Once a piggy realises that this takes the stress out of the pick up, they will usually cooperate quite well.
Here is what I used for my very skittish Llewelyn:
PS: Your little girl would probably be happy to have a friend. Guinea pigs are herd animals and not wired to be on their own. You also miss out on the whole lively interaction that makes guinea pigs so unique and endearing.
You can try and train her to come into a padded shoebox whose on small end you have cut off. Place a little treat in the back of the box and the box in one corner where you can gently shoo her.
Let her discover and befriend the box first. Gently lift her out only after a day or so and after she's had a litlle nap in the box. Talk to her the whole time and use the same words int he same cadence every time to create a ritual.
You can cuddle her in the shoe box. Piggies do well in enclosed spaces. Praise her generously and don't forget to place a littl treat in the box and one for the way back home, too! Once a piggy realises that this takes the stress out of the pick up, they will usually cooperate quite well.
Here is what I used for my very skittish Llewelyn:
PS: Your little girl would probably be happy to have a friend. Guinea pigs are herd animals and not wired to be on their own. You also miss out on the whole lively interaction that makes guinea pigs so unique and endearing.
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Ok, thanks for the help! By the way, Fluffy's a boy. (I didn't pick the name) Fluffy has been with us for about 9 months and is a year old.
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