Strophy And Not Wanting Cuddles

[Roisin75]

Evening, so we have 2 boys (brothers) about 18mths old and adopted a few months back.

Charlie the larger one (black and white) was quite jumpy when we first got him but has calmed down and easier to handle, he doesn't run off when trying to get them to go into their run or for cuddles and will happily sit there and be stroked, fed and cuddled.

Branch on the other hand! the smaller one (brown) he was very quiet and timid when we first got him and was able to have lots of cuddles with him and fed him whilst in our lap, but recently its like he is a stroppy teenager, hates being picked up, always butting our hands out of the way, if he eats he snatches the food and is constantly trying to get away from out, this one is my daughters GP and she is worried about holding him and keeps wanted to pet Charlie as he seems to love it.

We have a small indoor cage that we were using when the weather was rubbish and they needed cleaning out, I used to put them in the cage in the kitchen and they seemed to be more up for cuddles.

I keep trying with him to have more lap time but he really is a stroppy sod! Any advice?

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

My advice would be to put them in a run and sit with them instead. I think as pigs get older they know what they want and it's not usually cuddles

Most my pigs now that they're older aren't fans of cuddling, they do however love to play with me and hop on and off of my lap during their floor time.

It's important that your daughter knows that it's not because he doesn't love her, it's just because he's a boy and wants to explore and have fun! I'm sure they would love her to be a part of that

I find with pigs it's better to do what they want to do, they bond a lot quicker and more firmly. Since I stopped getting the pigs out for cuddles every day they seem to trust me more and I think they're more fond of me now.

I know it's sad especially for children when they don't understand that animals may not be cuddly but I must say I enjoy being with them while they play and be natural far more than cuddling them now. I didn't think I would but watching their unique cheeky characters is a joy to behold! I bet your boys have a cracking personality each!

 

[Roisin75]

Thank you for your reply, I can see the reasoning behind it, just find the shift extreme but being animals it's not a surprise. I might bring them in again over the next few days and build a little makeshift area for the kids to sit with them, the run in the garden isn't huge so wouldn't be enough room in between all the poo haha.

I don't think she is too upset at the moment more baffled as the other one is happy to have cuddles, and why her brothers one loves cuddles and hers doesn't (my daughter is 5), the weather is on the change again this week so will have them indoors for a few hours this week see if that helps.

They both love eating from us which is a plus.

They are so funny together, charlie tolerates Branch then puts him in his place, I think Charlie is the older out of the two, you often see Branch getting under the log bridge and throwing it about or chewing at the divider in the hutch, whilst Charlie is quite laid back, though not a fan of his brother having a munch on his fur now and then haha