Next step in taming…?

[Ruth1]

Just wondering if the GP hive mind have any thoughts on the next step for the taming of Zola and Pansy!

So I’ve had them about 8 months now and they are at the stage where, if I have food they will happily sit and let me stroke them while they munch. Nose, behind ears, the side of their wee faces and even my whole hand on their back. It almost feels like I could just scoop them up naturally, without any fuss! I haven’t tried this yet because I can imagine a lot of shreaking and scampering would follow!

Is anyone able to calmly scoop their piggies up? What would be my next step with these wee beauties if my aim was to eventually be able to pick them up. (My hamsters used to just climb onto my sleeve and wait to be lifted out).

Here’s my photo offering for your trouble! Little Lucy in her ‘nighty’

 

[Lorcan]

Blitzen would let you calmly pick him up, and then he'd immediately be like "put me down. put me down. PUT ME DOWN. put me down."

None of the other 6 have been willingly picked up, but have settled without fuss otherwise. It's that movement that triggers the fear reaction.

I've also never had any of them be willingly stroked in the cage but, honestly, it not something I've ever tried. They'll come to me for food and they'll potter around me, but aside from that and handling I've left the interaction at that.

 

[Ruth1]

Blitzen would let you calmly pick him up, and then he'd immediately be like "put me down. put me down. PUT ME DOWN. put me down."

None of the other 6 have been willingly picked up, but have settled without fuss otherwise. It's that movement that triggers the fear reaction.

I've also never had any of them be willingly stroked in the cage but, honestly, it not something I've ever tried. They'll come to me for food and they'll potter around me, but aside from that and handling I've left the interaction at that.

Aye. Maybe it’s just a step too far. Yes they are calm and will eat on my knee once I’ve got them. I’m delighted to be allowed to stroke them in the pen, so if that’s as far as it goes - I’ll consider myself blessed

 

[Betsy]

My current two, Lexi and Thea, WILL NOT be picked up in my hands.. I've trained them to go in a hidey when I need to pick them up and they go in the Snuggle Sack Express when I need to move them from hutch to run and from run to hutch. This took around 6 months to do so it was a loooooong process. When it is weigh and check day, I get them to go in the Snuggle Sack Express and pick them up in there and they don't arf complain and the air is positively blue with piggy swear words but they need their weekly weigh in and weekly check.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My Dexter and Popcorn are the same as Lexi and Thea @Betsy!
They will not be scooped up but will let me hold them to do checks etc. they also do go into a carrier to be picked up. they aren’t keen on being properly stroked either but are fine with a head scratch.
Wilbur and Hugo are a different kettle of fish. They don’t like being scooped unexpectedly up but willing let me pick them up ie provided they can see my hands and ive stroked them first, they are fine with it. Both absolutely love a full on stroke, Wilbur particularly seems to seek me out for a proper stroke! They will both climb into my hands (at around 15 or so weeks - I’ve lost count!) they still fit in a hand and a half so they climb into my hands for transporting!
I was so surprised my Wilbur and Hugo’s willingness for handling right from the first few days of being with me as they are definitely polar opposites to Dex and Pops (who behave much more like other a lot of piggies in tolerating and then complaining about human interaction!)

 

[weepweeps]

I can pick up Pepper and Pebble with out too much difficulty. I use both hands to herd them to a corner. When they are facing you I put my left hand under their front paws and slightly lift them up. Then scoop their bottoms up with my right hand. Once I have them they will sit with me for only a short time. Then they get fidgety.

I love the pic of Lucy

 

[piggieminder]

I've only had two that would let me pick them out of the cage and that was when they were older (over 5). They probably found the effort of running too much trouble! I train mine to step into a bed or cuddle sack before lifting them out, they seem to catch on to this quite quickly. Coming out of the cage always involves food, a treat or in the summer going out onto the grass, that helps I think. For grass time in the summer I carry them outside in cat carriers full of hay which they then have in the runs with them. They remember this every year and are still willing to go in the carrier without too much prompting the first time. I always feel so guilty when they are going to the vets and excitedly get in the carrier so I make sure there is a pile of grass inside for them.