On harder to "accept you" gp, figure out which vegetable they LOVE (lettuce works great and is one of the first things they'll eat w/o questioning when young, though have to moderate it as some might get the runs) and have it set aside. Put the gp on your lap or chest if almost laying flat, then say whatever "phrase" you use when giving "treats" and ONLY that phrase (no "I love you" or anything else it might associate with
other events if you say them routinely; keep it simple and focused). If no phrase/word, quickly invent one.
Wait until it calms (NO teeth chatter or vocal whining as you don't want that reinforced) which is
ideally when they actually lay down on you vs. standing up. Say the word/phrase, then give it the lettuce. WHILE it's eating the lettuce, REPEAT the phrase/word, THEN pet it's head/nose only. As time goes on (talking days/weeks, depending on the pig) you can try petting more areas. I avoid this on friendly pigs as I don't want to have them rely on being given something, but harder to tame pigs this works with getting their acceptance going and guard down. Once the lettuce is gone, can say something like "Wanna go back?" then w/o saying
ANYTHING ELSE put them back in the cage. This teaches them being handled is OK, and being put back
is viewed as another reward at the end of it.
Also, pay attention to anything "odd" the pig does. Example: My Griffinia when being asked "Do you want to go back to your cage?" she'll ALWAYS put her right paw forward. It was a bit of luck and timing that this first happened, and was reinforced by me. I then noticed after putting her on my lap, after a minute or two, she'd start doing the thing with her paw w/o my asking it. So she's
clearly conveying a message but it's very subltle. I'll ignore it though
UNTIL I actually ask the magic phrase of going back.
After the phrase, when the paw goes forward, she gets to go back. Do not give a veggie during this portion of the going back as it'll confuse them. The actual reward IS going back
All of this can happen quickly or take time. Helps if the gp "licks you" a lot as they are comfortable enough to do so, and are deviating in the sense they are actually engaging
with you, which can mean looking AT you vs. frozen and staring straight ahead. I've been able to get 3 of my sows to lick me on the cheek while being held near my face and close to their cage whenever asked "Do you want to go back" by exploiting their licking desire for example.
So, get it used to a veggie (the more it loves that veggie, the better) being a reward for being on your lap or even handled, reinforce the reward with a word/phrase, then view "return to the cage" as a
bonus reward and try and find something the pig eventually does and use that as a conditional "return" to the cage requirement. Can try holding the pig near your cheek and keep repeating "want to go back?". If it turns it's head/nose towards you, immediately put it back as the condition was met. As time goes on, it might switch it up and lick while turning it's head towards you. That's OK, and the condition to "go back" can then be modified to "need to lick cheek" before placing back.
On some occasions, might need to repeat the phrase, but it should do the conditional request if it's been taught. IF the pig always does nothing, wait until it's used to hearing the "go back" phrase, then try repeating it but do NOT put it back in. Just say the phrase clearly and slow enough each word is separately spaced. If the pig all of a sudden looks up at you, licks you, etc., put it back as you just created a condition to going back, and since it WANTS to go back, it should gladly meet the condition. You HAVE to be consistent though and do it all the time. Also, NEVER reward a nibble on a finger, EVER. Boars nibble a lot, sows seem to lick more though not 100% always either way. Nibbling can turn to harder biting or constant nibbling, which you do NOT want under any circumstance. If it nibbles a finger, hold it backwards so it's mouth is over your palm instead. Their whiskers feel a flat surface and they seem to avoid nibbling on it.
May seem like a lot, but it takes a few seconds once learned, and it conveys a message of being rewarded for being handled, and being rewarded for going back, and if lucky, it teaches THEM they can
communicate with you much like they'd do with each other. It'll also tame them more and give them a sense of what's going on, what your intentions are, etc..
