Lap time without food

sqeakpigs

sqeakpigs

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, not too sure where to put this thread so I hope it's in the right spot.

I have two guineas who are around 2-3 years old. They are friendly and I've done a lot of training to get them to trust me.
I am able to pick both of them up but when I try to sit with them they won't stay unless I have food. I used to pick them up every time I'd feed pellets but they are not as interested and so they no longer stay settled for long.

I'd like them to be able to sit and be settled so i can give them a hug.
They become very frantic when they want to go back to the cage and start climbing over me. I'm not sure how to get them comfortable with just sitting without being stressed.

I know some piggies aren't lap pigs but is there any way I can get them to settle even for just 3-5 mins instead of 15-20 seconds?

Any help is appreciated thanks
 
Do you have any fleece tunnels or cuddle sacks that they could sit inside whilst on your lap? They might make them feel more comfortable.
 
Yes, I think they'd sit in it but would still try to escape. I can try putting them in the sack and giving them little pieces of food overtime.

If I fed them a piece of food then waited 5-10 secs and overtime made the duration longer would they get used to no food overtime?
 
Many guinea pigs never like being held. They are not really cuddly pets.
They are prey animals and their default position is ‘ you’re going to eat me’
Neither of my current pair like lap time so I only hold them for long enough to do the health check.
I agree with @flowerfairy ‘s suggestion of holding them in a fleece tunnel or pouch while on your lap - it may help.
 
We offer our piggies lap time on their terms. We put a fleece pad/blanket on the sofa, with us, add hay & some veggies. Then the piggies are offered a chance to join us for as long as they like- usually until the veg runs out! With a fleece bag to hide in, they sometimes hang out for 15mins.

In reality it’s rare for any pig to decide to sit on our laps.

Here is a photo of Wally, (& my feet)in one of his friendlier moods. He usually acts like he has ants in his pants, once he’s eaten everything.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what I mean.
IMG_3704.webp

We have sat in with the piggies during floor time to & they have enjoyed climbing on to us for veggies.
 
Have you tried a comb ? None of mine apart from one that sadly passed would do lap time . But they will do 10-15 mins if they are combed. Sometimes they groom afterwards.

I keep a clean plastic comb by my chair for this purpose.

Then seem to like a combing and calm down. It's quite therapeutic for us humans too ....
 
Misty and Bramble have cuddles, combs and coriander every morning. Misty is a Sheltie and her daughter Bramble is a ball of fuzzy potato. They both need a thorough groom every day (especially Bramble). They let me know when they have had enough of a cuddle (sometimes less than a minute, sometimes 5 minutes) by biting my piggy apron (it saves my clothes from getting piggy fur all over it). Then they get coriander and put in the run for the day.

Here is Misty
Misty L'Oreal 6.webp

This is Bramble

Bramble Queen of Floof 2.webp

And this is my piggy apron

Piggy Apron.webp
 
I think someone suggested a cuddle sack for them to climb into and I tried that this morning with pip ( white one) and it worked, she seemed relaxed and was happy to sit for a bit. I tried again this evening with both of them and they were both chill. I feel a bit silly not thinking of this before, because it's one of the reasons I bought the cuddle sack in the first place.
thanks for the suggestion
 

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I think another reason for fidgeting and not being comfortable is they are basically incontenet. They wee and poo at will in their cage but not where they don't feel safe.

I get a large box of small puppy training pads which last ages . They get nice and warm on my lap and they wee and poo to their hearts content.

Then I dispose of them after 2 or 3 times Depends..

I tried fleeces but they are a pain to wash .

Someone will say my idea not environmentally friendly but it works for me. Sometimes mine sit for over half an hour on my lap on their pads.
 
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