Will my pig get used to being touched?

[gayfurryclown]

Hi hi

I have a question about petting.
One of my pigs, Fen, is very, VERY happy to be pet and enjoys it a lot (she lays down pretty much instantly and lets her little fat body spread out, it’s really cute). But my other pig, Kino, struggles with it.

Every time I even so much as graze the fur on her head, she jerks back. She doesn’t run away or hide, she just moved and avoids it. It used to be that she’d do that no matter the situation, but she’s recently started accepting it while being fed treats, and I can pet her just fine until the treats have been eaten and she runs off. After that, we’re back to square one and she won’t let me touch her anywhere.

My goal is for both of my pigs to be as comfortable with being handled as possible to minimize long-term stress. I don’t wanna have to chase after her to clip her nails or take her to the vet.

Is there a chance that she just needs more time to get used to it, or am I just bothering her to no avail?

Thank you <3

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s not possible to say with any certainty but what you are experiencing is very normal. The majority of piggies don’t like it - some will learn to, others won’t.

I now have three piggies, was four up until a few weeks ago.
My two 6 year olds, one now passed away. The one who passed didn’t mind a head scratch but only on his terms. The other (still with me) hates it and has never liked it and never come round to it in all of the six years.
My two 18 month olds. One is them didn’t used to mine being touched but as he had got older he now doesn’t like it. The other is a proper cuddler! He loves being stroked and made a fuss of.
None of them want to be held just for cuddles but they are handle-able enough that I can do weight checks, nail clipping, medicating etc without too much fuss

 

[PiggyintheMiddle]

One of mine will tolerate it, and shut her eyes when I stroke her as long as she's eating.
The other will jump away, unless she's blocking her sister from getting by. So she doesn't really like it. She used to tell us this by pushing us away with her paw.
It sounds normal, though, and I just do what keeps them happy.