Holding your Guinea pig for how long?

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Scooby Ruby and Garnet

New Born Pup
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Hi guys! I was wondering how long you guys hold your Guinea pig each day. By hold them I mean have then on your lap and pet and brush them. I try to do fifteen minutes per piggie but some days I’m so busy I can only do five minutes or not even hold all of them that day. Just wondering because I want to make sure they are getting enough enrichment time each day and love. Thanks!❤️
 
Timing of this does not matter - spend the time with them that you can.
A lot of piggies will not tolerate any lap time so don’t get any but they are not less fulfilled in their lives so please don’t worry!

I have four piggies and two of them don’t like being held or any lap time. The only time I do handle them is for their weekly weight and health checks.
 
If you’re thinking enrichment - they will probably like more running around time on the floor, rather than on your knee. Mine get brushed and health checked every week to 10 days, but they run about on the floor around every other day or so. Works for my two, unless you are lucky enough to have piggies who like cuddles! Mine are like, “Unhand me! Put me down this instant! Well I’ll sit here, but not for a second longer than necessary!”
 
Mine don’t like being held so they get a weekly cuddle with their health check.
Priscilla usually responds by giving me a lapful of poops!

Priscilla and Micah are happy to be stroked in the cage.
Still getting there with Naomi and Ruth
 
Merab's Slave said:
Mine don’t like being held so they get a weekly cuddle with their health check.
Priscilla usually responds by giving me a lapful of poops!

Priscilla and Micah are happy to be stroked in the cage.
Still getting there with Naomi and Ruth
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How nice! Its nice that you still try to give them strokes in their cage ( Priscilla and Micah) keep trying with Naomi and Ruth. Ruby and Garnet went from wild scared breasts to adventurous, social pettable gals. Thanks for the advice!
 
Ruth1 said:
If you’re thinking enrichment - they will probably like more running around time on the floor, rather than on your knee. Mine get brushed and health checked every week to 10 days, but they run about on the floor around every other day or so. Works for my two, unless you are lucky enough to have piggies who like cuddles! Mine are like, “Unhand me! Put me down this instant! Well I’ll sit here, but not for a second longer than necessary!”
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I will try more floor time, but cuddles and lap time is still a special bonding moment for me and my girls. Garnet is always trying to run, but I know she loves the extra attention and being pet. Ruby and Scooby love to cuddle and are constantly licking my fingers or nose when I hold them. Also, how do you get by with only brushing once a week? My girls would be covered. Even Ruby and garnet who are short hairs. Thanks for the help !
 
Piggies&buns said:
Timing of this does not matter - spend the time with them that you can.
A lot of piggies will not tolerate any lap time so don’t get any but they are not less fulfilled in their lives so please don’t worry!

I have four piggies and two of them don’t like being held or any lap time. The only time I do handle them is for their weekly weight and health checks.
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Thank you! My girls always sit with me during movies. They talk non stop though. I guess they just have an opinion on the characters….
 
Lexi is a "you won't catch me Hooman" piggy and is so very scared of being cuddled that she vibrates so she doesn't get a cuddle except for weight and health check day when the cuddle is for about a minute. Thea, if you catch her on the right day is a little cuddle monster who will enjoy a cuddle for around 5 minutes. They are both happy, confident and sociable girls so if they don't like being held I'm fine with that.
 
Scooby Ruby and Garnet said:
I will try more floor time, but cuddles and lap time is still a special bonding moment for me and my girls. Garnet is always trying to run, but I know she loves the extra attention and being pet. Ruby and Scooby love to cuddle and are constantly licking my fingers or nose when I hold them. Also, how do you get by with only brushing once a week? My girls would be covered. Even Ruby and garnet who are short hairs. Thanks for the help !
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Not sure why they just need a weekly brush one is an semi-long coat and the other has long hair. Never any tats. Sometimes a bit of poop to cut away but not always. Maybe just the type of hair they have…?
 
Hi

I have several 'hands-off' piggies that will only tolerate any necessary weekly weigh-ins, grooming care and illness support and a few that are my cuddle piggies which enjoy human interaction. The rest is fine with short session but I am always careful to put them back in their cages when they signal on my lap that they want to go back home. (Looking in the direction of their care, becoming restless/wiggly, tweaking etc. (the latter two usually mean that they need to pee urgently).

Enrichment activities and interaction which allows them to choose how much they want to do with me give both sides more equal impact and I get a lot more out of them by being drawn into their own fascinating world.
Here is a link with lots of ideas, pictures and videos: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
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