I've had my pigs for about a month now, I know thats not a long time but I feel like I'm going backwards instead of forwards with one of them. He was doing really well and allowing me to pick him relatively easily, sometimes I didnt even need to corner him but suddenly hes decided that he hates it. He shivers his back and kicks his legs at me when I try to get him out for lap or floor time. Any ideas how I can help him feel more comfortable? It's not like he doesnt enjoy himself when hes out, as soon as hes on my lap or the floor hes fine, its just the picking up part of the process. Any ideas would be much appreciated, thanks
Handling
- Thread starter gus and jack
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Hi welcome to the forum 
I think some pigs from what i've read always protest when you pick them up, they never get used to it, but as you say, love the actual lap time. But i'm sure someone else will be along soon to clarify it, there's some real experts on this forum
Bev x x
I think some pigs from what i've read always protest when you pick them up, they never get used to it, but as you say, love the actual lap time. But i'm sure someone else will be along soon to clarify it, there's some real experts on this forum
Bev x x
I'm no expert - but I can speak from piggie experience when I pick Squeak up if it helps?
She has good days and bad days. Sometimes, like yesterday, she lets me pick her straight up, hold her, love her etc etc, and then other days, like this morning, she really cant be bothered with me and runs around! I think they are just like humans sometimes, with their moods. I do find though, especially when you are trying to get a new piggie to enjoy having time with you 'say it with food' ;D When I first started handling Squeak and giving her lap time, I would get her out, and once sat on my lap, give her a nice treat. I do this everytime she comes out, so she knows that its a good thing coming out to play with me...
Don't worry - I'm sure your piggie will come round eventually - they can be moody little things sometimes - that's why I love them!
Trace x
She has good days and bad days. Sometimes, like yesterday, she lets me pick her straight up, hold her, love her etc etc, and then other days, like this morning, she really cant be bothered with me and runs around! I think they are just like humans sometimes, with their moods. I do find though, especially when you are trying to get a new piggie to enjoy having time with you 'say it with food' ;D When I first started handling Squeak and giving her lap time, I would get her out, and once sat on my lap, give her a nice treat. I do this everytime she comes out, so she knows that its a good thing coming out to play with me...
Don't worry - I'm sure your piggie will come round eventually - they can be moody little things sometimes - that's why I love them!
Trace x
Ooh and another thing i've found is that sometimes when the boys have protested about being picked up it's because they've wanted a wee or poo, and if i'd have realised that at the time I could have spared myself wet clothes! My Chester could wee for England LOL, and if I haven't read the signs and put him back in time he looks so mortified after he's done it 
I very rarely had piggies that let me pick them up straight away.
Most of mine are fairly tame - they eat out of my hand, they dont struggle or anything when they are on my lap - but the picking up? eeeeeeeeeeek, big ugly human, leave me be!
I am their foodslave, and thats all they want me to do - give them food. otherwise they would prefer if I didnt try to pet them, pick them up, or anything like that. Eating out of my hand - fine. Because thats my job, giving them food. But otherwise they would prefer if I would just stay away from them. :
They are selfish little sometimes, but I dont mind. I just continue running to the fridge to give them veggies whenever they wheek, even though I know better. They got me trained properly.
By the way, is it just me or do piggies struggle especially when you want to put them back INTO the cage? As if they cant be back in there fast enough? They almost jump off my arm, they are in such a hurry to get back in, alot worse than the struggling to get them OUT... ?
Most of mine are fairly tame - they eat out of my hand, they dont struggle or anything when they are on my lap - but the picking up? eeeeeeeeeeek, big ugly human, leave me be!
I am their foodslave, and thats all they want me to do - give them food. otherwise they would prefer if I didnt try to pet them, pick them up, or anything like that. Eating out of my hand - fine. Because thats my job, giving them food. But otherwise they would prefer if I would just stay away from them. :
They are selfish little sometimes, but I dont mind. I just continue running to the fridge to give them veggies whenever they wheek, even though I know better. They got me trained properly.
By the way, is it just me or do piggies struggle especially when you want to put them back INTO the cage? As if they cant be back in there fast enough? They almost jump off my arm, they are in such a hurry to get back in, alot worse than the struggling to get them OUT... ?
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My lot are like that - all 12 of them!
Sometimes hey don't mind being picked up, other times they just run away from you or squeal if you touch them! LOL
I guess if they are in the right mood or not to be handled is where the difference comes in.
With me, a bit of food, a gentle stroke and then pick them up is the way to go, but saying that, it doesn't work every time!
Sometimes hey don't mind being picked up, other times they just run away from you or squeal if you touch them! LOL
I guess if they are in the right mood or not to be handled is where the difference comes in.
With me, a bit of food, a gentle stroke and then pick them up is the way to go, but saying that, it doesn't work every time!
J
Jillybean
None of mine have ever been that keen on being picked up although some will stay still. Think they're just like that. I bet someone posts to say that all theirs run towards them and stand on their hind legs to be picked up!
Then we'll all feel really jealous.
Then we'll all feel really jealous.
Thanks everyone, this makes me feel much better. I'll just keep plugging away at him, hopefully it's just a phase, makes me feel so mean though. I know what you mean about putting them back as well, although mine go the opposite way around. The guy who's hard to pick up goes back without struggling and the guy who's easy to pick up struggles like mad. I've been trying to train him not to by holding him firmly and only putting him down when he stops struggling. It worked on the older one but little one is just too desperate.
Jillybean said:
;D
I did have a guinea pig like that. She would start squeaking and only stop when you bent down and picked her up. She was ever so sweet
B
Beaney
Mine are not difficult to catch but there initial instinct is to back away when I try to pick them up...
However, my piggy Meeka (now at the bridge :'() did run towards me to be picked up. Not when she was young but when she was older she liked nothing more than to be picked up and cuddled. But then after 7 years, I guess she was so used to me I really was no threat! Even when she went to the vet, they were all amazed about how I just lifted her out of her box and she just sat there!
I think she was one of a kind though!
However, my piggy Meeka (now at the bridge :'() did run towards me to be picked up. Not when she was young but when she was older she liked nothing more than to be picked up and cuddled. But then after 7 years, I guess she was so used to me I really was no threat! Even when she went to the vet, they were all amazed about how I just lifted her out of her box and she just sat there!
I think she was one of a kind though!
J
Jillybean
Abnoba said:Jillybean said:
;D
I did have a guinea pig like that. She would start squeaking and only stop when you bent down and picked her up. She was ever so sweet
Aaahh - that is sweet. Did you have her from a baby?
C
claire
My boys hated been picked up with we first got them, but know they are fine
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