Rambunctious Piggie

[AutumnThePig]

Hi!

Recently, I just "adopted" a new guinea pig from my niece's friend, who cannot take care of her anymore due to limited time. The friend that I adopted her from, says that he has always had a hard time holding her. He has a hard time because the piggie always tries to squirm out of arms or hands to the point where it almost makes you lose grip of her. I have held the piggie a few times to brush her hair and she has been doing the same to me. When I take her out of the cage to brush her hair, I'm always afraid I'm going to drop her because she squirms quite quickly and strongly. I know this is normal behavior because piggies are prey animals and it might be because she's not used to her new home yet. However, when I hold Autumn, she is still in my arms. The only thing I worry about is the new piggie falling to the floor because she doesn't like being held too much. The bond between myself and the new piggie have gotten better - when I walk in the room, she comes over to the edge of the cage and puts her hands on the C&C bars to climb up for a treat. If it wasn't for her medium-length hair that needed to be groomed, I wouldn't try to hold her as much because she doesn't like it.

Is there anything I can do to calm down the piggie when she is being held? Or does anyone have good advice to calm down a new piggie?

Thank you

 

[Leafy Lou]

How old is the piggy..I have one who doesn't like being handled at all at the moment, I don't brush her hair..it falls off naturally with a shake and a shimmy..we do check her once a week to make sure all is well on the bottom half..not an easy task..if going out we entice her into a guinea pig snuggly home, that can be folded shut then take her outside. She is quite happy with this arrangement we will try more training once she has a new companion..We will need the nails done, so we will see how this goes..I don't like handling her as she hates it tbf..she will go in and out of her enclosure so it is not a problem when I need to all of of a sudden go out if she is out..I call "Rozrozrozzle"

 

[Siikibam]

Maybe try and pick her up using a snuggle cup or bag as @Leafy Lou does. And also covering her with something when she’s on your lap. Do you have Autumn out at the same time?

Just bear in mind not all piggies like lap time and not all will like being picked up. Some will always retain that prey instinct and just flee when you go to pick them up, no matter how much they trust you.

 

[AutumnThePig]

Maybe try and pick her up using a snuggle cup or bag as @Leafy Lou does. And also covering her with something when she’s on your lap. Do you have Autumn out at the same time?

Just bear in mind not all piggies like lap time and not all will like being picked up. Some will always retain that prey instinct and just flee when you go to pick them up, no matter how much they trust you.

I don't have Autumn out at the same time - that is a really good idea though. I'll try it next time I groom her. I wouldn't try holding the piggie if she didn't have medium-length hair that needs to be matted out. Her hair gets longer towards her belly, which is why I have to groom her... I tried holding her in the cuddle sack today. I managed to brush the top of her body. A pinch full of old hair that was stuck to her fur fell out. I can tell she hasn't been groomed in a long time. The cuddle sack did help a lot, she still tries to run out of the sack. I just have to cover the side opening (the area that she tries to climb out of) with my hand when she tries to escape. I'm just worried about her hurting herself when she's trying to be groomed. Maybe I could have someone else hold the sack while I try to groom her. I noticed she likes to have her head covered - like my Chihuahua when she gets her nails clipped at the vet's.

 

[AutumnThePig]

How old is the piggy..I have one who doesn't like being handled at all at the moment, I don't brush her hair..it falls off naturally with a shake and a shimmy..we do check her once a week to make sure all is well on the bottom half..not an easy task..if going out we entice her into a guinea pig snuggly home, that can be folded shut then take her outside. She is quite happy with this arrangement we will try more training once she has a new companion..We will need the nails done, so we will see how this goes..I don't like handling her as she hates it tbf..she will go in and out of her enclosure so it is not a problem when I need to all of of a sudden go out if she is out..I call "Rozrozrozzle"

The new piggie is 4yrs and Autumn is 10m. I only had the new piggie for a few days, but I've had Autumn since she was a baby. I have to brush the new guinea pig's fur because it's medium-length on her body, then down her belly it's long. The longer part gets matted easily. I do have a carrier that I use to bring Autumn to the vet to get her nails clipped. I could try putting the new piggie in there and try brushing her. Thanks for the idea