How much handling?

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Newtopiggies

Newtopiggies

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This may seem like a daft question, but how much do/should you handle guinea pigs? We normally give ours cuddles 2-3 times a day, but would they benefit from being cuddled more? They're kept in an outside hutch and in their run, and they run away like mad if we try to catch them, which is one reason we don't do it too often - we don't want to traumatise the poor things. Although they do love cuddles once we've managed to pick them up. We've only had them for two weeks, but they came from a local city farm, so they were accustomed to being handled quite a bit.
 
I'm pretty sure I don't handle mine enough but I hate to stress them. I usually hold mine once a day but I interact with them all the time. They sit beside me as they are next to the living room sofa and we play through the bars.
 
Mine seem to prefer being left with each other rather than being pulled around by us. They have a short cuddle but don't really want much more than that.
 
My 8 pigs live indoors so are a little more socialized than possibly outdoor pigs. To be honest i we don't handle them all that often (obviously having 4 long-haired pigs i do have to brush them daily) - they probably come out for cuddles once a day. Only 2 of my pigs will relax and go to sleep during cuddle time - the other 6 would much prefer to be running around - hence why i don't 'do' cuddle time all that often.

Interaction wise - i spend a lot of time with my pigs - they are housed in my dining area and so i often get distracted on the way to/from the kitchen. I talk to mine LOADS and am always stroking/petting them in their cages. I think it's because of this that none of mine attempt to run when i go to pick them up.

We made a point of not picking them up every time we approach the cage - this way they don't see our hands as 'pick up' time - if there's one thing i know it's that guinea pigs like all 4 feet to be firmly on the ground!. Personally i like them to be comfortable and by stroking/petting them in their 'home' we are not stressing them out and they are free to walk away when they've had enough :))

I'd love to spend all day kissing and cuddling them - but it brings me more joy to sit and watch them being comfortable in their surroundings :)
 
I dont handle my guinea pigs everyday but it doesnt mean I don't interact them in other ways. Ill speak to them and tickle their noses etc. They do get a cuddle though when I clean them out every other day.
 
Putt who lives on her own in our room gets lap time everynight, she lets us know when she's had enough (by teeth chattering normally) then we pop her back. The girls in the front get laptime normally 2-3 times a week. But we're often in talking, hand fedding and spending time with them...

I think interaction is the important thing - this doesn't always mean cuddles/laptime
 
Sound like your piggies get lots of cuddles :)

My two piggies get about one long cuddle each day (where they fall asleep) but will be picked up for a quick stroke a few times a day. As my piggies are indoor they are very tame and if I want to pick them up Sam will put his two front paws on my hand so I can do this. Dillon is very easy to pick up. Also if I sit on the floor in their room they come over when I call them especially Dillon and then he knows he gets picked up.

Maybe if you spent some time sitting on the floor with them when you have them out? Just let them potter about you and occasionally lift them on to your lap? Also maybe you could use a box/cosy for them to go in when you want to pick them up for cuddle rather than having to chase them about?
 
Some very good answers. I can't always handle mine every day as I have a jealous dog, who starts hyperventilating the moment I go out to them in the morning, he gets so worked up just to hear me chatting to them, this usually leads to a fit. Sometimes I put him in the car and then bring them in for cuddle time. My other dog doesn't mind them at all and sits on the couch next to us. Stroking them in the hutch and talking to them every day is better than nothing.
 
I handle my five every single day. I love to spend time with them and it is so important to make them tame and feel loved. I think you are doing a great job. :)
 
I don't handle my girls everyday, I think it would stress them a bit to much and they like to run around. Their cage is inside though so I will go and stroke them and talk to them whenever I go in the room and they wheek when people come in and like having their chins tickled :)
 
I make sure i handle mine every day, often twice, but only because they dont like to be stroked in there cage. Even after 5 months they run and hide if i come to close! :P They do love cuddles though :)
 
Misty gets loads of interaction being an indoor piggie, esp now she is on her own. She is not keen on being stroked in her cage but will happily hand feed and enjoys you just being there. She likes lap time but on her terms and if you have her out every day it is too much for her and she is looking to go home. She is very much a cuddly pig only on her terms and is a stubborn lady! :))
 
Thanks for all your replies - it's good to know we're not depriving them of affection! They get lots of attention, but mainly from my 2 year-old son, who likes to sit in front of their hutch and sing to them.
 
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