How do impatient people deal with pigs?

[hayleyface]

I love my Ginny and Henwin to bits, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I question my boyfriends' choice of pet for me. I am an extremely impatient and somewhat short-tempered person and I feel so frustrated at times and have shouted at my babies before now :0 always very quickly followed by a tear and a massive pile of beans to apologize but I shouldn't lose my temper at all - they can't help being the way they are!

It has gotten to the point where I barely get them out of their cage now because I cannot handle putting them through that stress - Ginny in particular will not settle down or stop whining until she is back home again. They have a pretty large cage and I'm always swapping their toys around but I feel terribly guilty and a tad lonely to be honest - all I want is a snuggle.

I need to know that I am not the only one that gets frustrated time to time and want to know if you think my pigs are now set in their ways (have had them since February this year) or if I still have a chance to bring them round and be more friendly and relaxed at playtime with increased handling.

Apologies for posting this in the wrong place - I just wasn't sure where it'd fit.

Thank you for reading,

Hayley x

 

[sport_billy]

Awww Hayley, we've all been there.

Some piggies never really settle on laps or some others it can take a year or so.

Find a way to catch them that doesn't stress them out - herd them into a cosy or a tunnel and carefully picked them up in that. Once on your lap establish a routine involving food once you piggie has had a few minutes give the ma treat off nice veg. Remember the way to a pigs heart is through 'The Belly' Build up slowly 3 minutes at first for a few weeks then 5 minutes.

There is always time to develop them into lap piggies if it is in their nature.. Putt took 4 years but became a piggie who would stay on our lap for hours. Treacle was very restless for the first year but got used to it and used to love lying on our lap towards the end of her time with us, Cookie her sister used to like lap time but lately isn't interested she is very inquisitive so likes to wander rolleyes
Some piggies like Vimto are stressed by it so we enjoy her in the cage she will take food and has just started letting us touch her occasionally but hates lap time and will actively bite me So we respect her wishes and just handle her occasionally to get her used to vet visits etc...

There is always time to develop bonding with them.

 

[AbiS]

I'm totally with you Hayley - Barney makes me sad sometimes.

He has never been a cuddly pig, unlike his brother Toby who will sit for cuddles for hours on end. Barney used to settle for a short while but then changed his mind so I would sit at one end of the sofa and he would sit at the other. He would keep running on to my knee for a couple of minutes and then run off. Since we have given them free-range floor time he doesn't even want to sit on the sofa - he just wants to be on the floor. Now he will get on my knee but just so he can climb down my leg to freedom. He is the biggest of the 2 and I really want to give him lots of squeezes but he just doesn't want to know. He will cope with me stopping him from escaping for so long and then he gets cross and sinks his teeth in.

These days MrS and I have Toby on alternate nights to get some good cuddling in and whoever has Barney keeps him on their knee long enough to get some carrot into him and then he runs free. I get fake-cuddles with him in the morning when I give him his veg - I put it in his bowl on my knee and he will then jump onto my knee to eat it. If he is in his run he is happy for strokes so long as he has a face-full of veg.

I think sometimes you just have to accept them the way they are and find their other characteristics that make you smile. I never fail to giggle at the sight of Barney's bum bobbing up and down as he runs!

 

[theoretikos]

Hi Hayley. I have been frustrated too. Quinn will only let me handle him for around five minutes at a time and every second day. Kasper isn't so bad but he does whine to go back on the floor. I have found that feeding them on my knee like Abi is helpful. You may also be able to train them a little to stand on their back legs for a treat which will give you a little more interaction with them xx

 

[madguinealady]

I have 4 that hate being held and nail cutting is traumatic but I have 2 snuggle bunnies.They will sense your annoyance.It has took 6 months for the quartet to eat out,of my hand.They may never be lap pigs

 

[Goth Mummy]

Hmm. I have to say that I dont get frustrated or annoyed with my guinea pigs (I'm not saying that to make you feel bad though!) but I do certainly miss my old placid girls who would be scooped up easily from their cage and would sit on my lap for hours, and come wheeking to the front of the cage for food. My trio of boars are more like jumping beans than guinea pigs! But they very sweet and young, and there is lots of time for them to settle down I would persist with yours, but you may have to accept that they are not cuddly pigs at all...

 

[MyGuineaPigPals]

i used to feel the same i go really stressed out by my pigs with bar chewing and the hair shedding and the fleece! I too shouted a couple of times at them but felt hideous for it and eventually found a solution. I changed from fleece bedding to newspaper and hay! carpets and carpets of hay! no more hair everywhere! it all just goes in the bin! I have designated clothes I wear when handling them and more lint rollers than tesco! (although gaffa tape is cheaper really for me) and as for the bar chewing well they still do it but its tolerable for me if they are up and being a pain in the bum I know they seem healthy if they are quiet (like one of them has been today) then i panic. All this also means that i have bonded with my mos troublesome one as well now too! hes fab! i had him on my lap for 2 hours without intention and he ust settled and since then hes been the most keep to be with me! I really hope you find your way with your piggies they are so rewarding once you get there, i so want more now just dont have the room!

 

[vitka123]

Don't get mad with yourself, it is normal for some pigs to be like that.
I used to have a female and she was my little snuggle bunny
Now I have 2 boys. None of them is especially cuddly, grayham reacts to his name and will sit with me for ages without winging, where tini is in his own world and just wants to hide. It takes LOADS of time for some piggies to get used to people. Veggies are very good to convince them to you

 

[hayleyface]

Find a way to catch them that doesn't stress them out - herd them into a cosy or a tunnel and carefully picked them up in that. Once on your lap establish a routine involving food once you piggie has had a few minutes give the ma treat off nice veg. Remember the way to a pigs heart is through 'The Belly' Build up slowly 3 minutes at first for a few weeks then 5 minutes. There is always time to develop them into lap piggies if it is in their nature..

I didn't have as much of a problem catching them before I extended the cage and gave them a loft, but now I am teaching them "upstairs" to dam them off in the loft and "playtime" just before I pick them up. These commands are both followed by treats. I'm also trying to teach them "bed" so I can pick them up in that instead. Ginny will whinge the entire time she is out of her cage unless she is stuffing her face xD I will try having them out for less time, just for veggies, then popping them back home and see if that helps.

These days Mrs and I have Toby on alternate nights to get some good cuddling in and whoever has Barney keeps him on their knee long enough to get some carrot into him and then he runs free. If he is in his run he is happy for strokes so long as he has a face-full of veg.

Haha, my boyfriend and I are exactly the same, although he seems to favour Ginny even with all the whinging and struggling. I think she likes him better to be honest so it's a win/win :p

I have found that feeding them on my knee like Abi is helpful. You may also be able to train them a little to stand on their back legs for a treat which will give you a little more interaction with them xx

I have trained my girls to beg for treats and spin in circles which is absolutely adorable! They'll only ever do it if I pop the treat right in front of their face though haha. I'll have to remember to try the knees next time I get them out. They like to snuggle on my chest quite a bit too.


Thank you everyone for your stories and advice so far - it's nice to know I'm not alone and although I realise piggies are all unique, it can get a little disheartening at times when you put your best efforts in and they just couldn't give a damn. The vet says they are really healthy and well-looked after so even if they don't appreciate it, I know I'm doing right by them! Hopefully I can persist and maybe if I'm lucky, Ginny will calm down and be willing for cuddles and Henwin won't be terrified of her own shadow :L

Hayley x