Need help piggie all of a sudden terrified of being handled.

[PercyandAngus]

Hi Everyone,

So I’ve had my 2 boars for nearly 2 months now, the more dominant piggie Angus has gone from absolutely hating being handled to allowing chin and head scratches a few times a day.
However…
My more submissive piggie Percy has gone from slowly relaxing for cuddles and burrowing into my dressing gown, to squeaking and panicking whenever handled.

I’m really concerned, i’m not sure if this is normal or anyone else has experienced this before? Please any suggestions on helping I really don’t want to traumatise my little Percy Pig. The only thing I can think that’s happened is he’s been to the vets recently, taken antibiotics and been groomed.

(p.s attached pictures of my boys eating their veggies. Grey/Brown is Percy - Black is Angus)


Thankyou x

 

[Siikibam]

Your boys are gorgeous! Sometimes, once they settle in, they feel more comfortable telling you what they do and don’t like. I think if he’s like that I wouldn’t handle him unless necessary (weighing and nail clipping etc). Go back to basics of just hand feeding and stroking while he’s in his cage. If he doesn’t like that then you stop and wait a while.

What was he on antibiotics for and is he still taking them?

 

[weepweeps]

Hello. I have a Percy too! When I first got them they would sit nicely and eat veggies on our laps. After a few months they turned into little terrors. Not sitting still and trying to jump off the bed! So now I sit on the bathroom floor with them and let them run around me. They have great fun and are safe. I agree they get to an age where they trust you enough to let you know what they want. Some piggies like cuddles others don’t. Your boys are gorgeous

 

[PercyandAngus]

Your boys are gorgeous! Sometimes, once they settle in, they feel more comfortable telling you what they do and don’t like. I think if he’s like that I wouldn’t handle him unless necessary (weighing and nail clipping etc). Go back to basics of just hand feeding and stroking while he’s in his cage. If he doesn’t like that then you stop and wait a while.

What was he on antibiotics for and is he still taking them?

Aww Thankyou and thanks for your advice. Over the last few weeks he’s really found his own voice, it’s a quiet higher pitched squeak and adorable.
We noticed he had been sneezing a lot and the vets gave him antibiotics as a precaution, they didn’t find anything wrong with him.

 

[PercyandAngus]

Hello. I have a Percy too! When I first got them they would sit nicely and eat veggies on our laps. After a few months they turned into little terrors. Not sitting still and trying to jump off the bed! So now I sit on the bathroom floor with them and let them run around me. They have great fun and are safe. I agree they get to an age where they trust you enough to let you know what they want. Some piggies like cuddles others don’t. Your boys are gorgeous

Percy is a perfect piggie name.
thats a really good idea I might try that next time I get them out of the cage
I absolutely love seeing them develop. When we first got them I was worried they would never bond but Angus now jumps ontop of all the hidies and gives Percy a break in his tube. Percy has found his little squeak as well.
And Thankyou

 

[weepweeps]

Percy is a perfect piggie name.
thats a really good idea I might try that next time I get them out of the cage
I absolutely love seeing them develop. When we first got them I was worried they would never bond but Angus now jumps ontop of all the hidies and gives Percy a break in his tube. Percy has found his little squeak as well.
And Thankyou

Just thought I send a pigture of Percy (brown) and Pepper ( black). And my bathroom set up.



Pepper is hiding with his food .
They have tunnels and hides and a couple of boxes too.

 

[Free Ranger]

This is my first long-haired piggy Louise, before and after a haircut


I was told her previous owner kept piggies for shows so I assumed she would either enjoy or at least be used to brushing and combing. She enjoys laptime but when the brush first appeared her eyes went wide and white - I could see quite quickly that she found the process so terrifying that I decided never to put her through it again. She squeaked and flinched and leapt about so much I could tell it was hurting her... her fur isn't the smooth, silky sort at all. She gets scissored about once a month which she also hates but it's only once a month, not every day. I wonder if it was the grooming that upset little Percy? Maybe he thinks this will happen every time he's picked up now?