Wiggly for health check

Ramia

Ramia

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Chez squeaks in fear and is super wiggly for his health check. I usually only have a split second to check underneath him.

I don't know what I'm going to do if he ever gets sick or needs something.

Today he was squeaking then Stripe was concerned for him and he started squeaking from his cage.

I know he hates being handled so I only do it for health check.

Is there something I can do to make it go better?
 
Could you bribe him? Coriander (Cilantro) is very popular with Misty and Bramble. Thea 🌈 loved the stuff. You could also handle him every day slowly increasing it every week. First of all when I had to health check Bramble (she was a complete nightmare as you can imagine) I gave her a head scritch between the eyes just where you can feel the bones of the eye sockets and that calmed her down. I give her a chin rub every so often and she goes in a complete trance it's like an "earth to Bramble" moment. You can literally see her come back into focus when I stop chinny rubs. If Chez isn't a fan of chinny rubs, try stroking him gently under one eye (I could only stroke The Ever Beautiful Betsy under her left eye - her right eye was a big no no) as that means, in piggy language that you want him to be part of your herd.
 
Yes, doing a bit of handling every day helps. I found using a light plastic comb to comb them during lap time was something they enjoyed. I think you have to be a bit undemocratic and just handle them, gently of course. I think often kids' pets get very tame because they are carted around so much. I'm not saying that that is necessarily a good thing though, but it is an interesting observation ❤️
 
I'll try handling him every day. He likes to be pet on his right cheek but only when he's under the fleece. I'll handle him but only flip him upside down for health check.

He's a wild child.

Stripe has had so many health problems he's totally tame.
 
I'm going to start tomorrow. I'll put him in his container/carrier, remove the snuggle sack and use a carrot piece and a cookie to reward him for letting me touch him.
 
Project Tame Chesney has begun.

I cleaned out his container, put him with his snuggle sack in it. At first he wanted to stay in his snuggle sack and let me pet his cheek and between his eyes. I gave him a cookie.

Then he ventured out so I removed the snuggle sack. I started by petting his back and he would jump, but I gave a cookie.

Then it seemed he was going to make the big escape jump so I put the snuggle sack back in and pet him some more.

Great suggestion, guys! Id like to do it again tomorrow. Id say the session lasted 5 minutes.
 
Today's taming session went well! There has already been some improvement. I focused on petting his back and he didn't jump away like yesterday! But my bathrobe has kimono sleeves and he kept trying to climb up them and bite them.

He didn't want his cookies while he was in there, I'm wondering if he was too scared.

When I pet his cheek he zoned out.
 
Instead of flipping him upside down maybe try checking his undercarriage by leaning his back against you. It will make him feel safer and MIGHT cut down the drama.
 
Chez's taming session was a little rough today.

He loved being pet on his cheek but anywhere else, he'd squeak. That concerned Stripe.

When I removed the snuggle sack I thought he would jump out of his container.

Tomorrow I'll leave the snuggle sack in there.

He did eat his cookies.
 
Ramia said:
Chez's taming session was a little rough today.

He loved being pet on his cheek but anywhere else, he'd squeak. That concerned Stripe.

When I removed the snuggle sack I thought he would jump out of his container.

Tomorrow I'll leave the snuggle sack in there.

He did eat his cookies.
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Hmm, difficult. It'll possibly take a while. I tended to concentrate on the cheeky and stroking the top of the piggy's head. But I think every pig has his or her own preferences ❤️
 
They definitely do! Sir George hates having his head touched but he really likes a hand on his rear end. They are supposed to hate that, especially boars.
Master Boris likes being petted anywhere....if he's in the right mood. If not he does a slow motion show of acting like he will bite. It's hysterical 🤣
 
The taming session was a little short today. He had a couple bites of pepper. He did some head butting.

When he got back in the cage he zoomed. Was he just excited to be back in the cage? Probably.
 
He's eating and didn't go into his hidey, perhaps he doesn't mind contact. It's nice when they zone out and relax. I get lots of head cutting too. I find they are more chilled at dusk after their evening veg. It's quite surprising how different they are at times ❤️
 
Where did Chez come from? I wonder what his early puphood was like 🐾
 
Did you choose him and Stripe from amongst other piggies or were they the only two available?
 
Truffolo said:
Did you choose him and Stripe from amongst other piggies or were they the only two available?
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I chose Chez because he was laying out in the open. I thought he seemed chill.

Stripe was the only available.
 
Chesney had a good taming session today..

He wanted to stay in his snuggle sack but I had to check to see if his bottom was wet. He didn't wiggle when I checked! He did squeak.

Then I let him back in his snuggle sack and I gave him chin rubs for the first time and he lifted his head like he was enjoying it!
 
I think I could give him meds and syringe feed if I put him in his container with his snuggle sack. I was worried I wouldn't be able to treat him.

Cleaning his penis would be wiggly though so I am going to continue the taming sessions.
 
Ramia said:
Chesney had a good taming session today..

He wanted to stay in his snuggle sack but I had to check to see if his bottom was wet. He didn't wiggle when I checked! He did squeak.

Then I let him back in his snuggle sack and I gave him chin rubs for the first time and he lifted his head like he was enjoying it!
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Chin rubs is a big step forward 👍❤️
 
Ramia said:
I chose Chez because he was laying out in the open. I thought he seemed chill.

Stripe was the only available.
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Interesting first impressions. They are both wonderful piggies.
 
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