Advice On Training Piggies To Be Picked Up

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Chukkin

Chukkin

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Hi,

I have had my piggies for 6 months now and still find the daily task of picking them up for cuddle time to be a struggle. I have heard that some people have managed to get their piggies to go into a cuddle cup (or similar) and to pick them up in that. I would love to be able to have both my piggies out at the same time (I live alone so only have one pair of hands!).
Is there any way I can get them to understand that when I want/need to pick them up, they need to go into the cuddle cup? I don't usually have the cup inside the cage, they sit in it during cuddle time.

Please help!
 
Most guinea pigs don't like to be picked up, even if they are happy once settled on your lap, it is there instinct to run away from your big hands!

Out of 10 piggies, I've had one that will be picked up without running away!

I usually just grab them firmly, but gently. If they are in a hidey or tunnel it's easier. I would then put that one down on the sofa and pick the other one up. They us usually just hide under a cushion until I'm back!
 
I take away all their hideys first then put a cat carrier with hay and veg inside cage.
 
I usually always allow them to climb inside something first ie snuggle sack, tube or the seagrass baskets that they love to hide in. That way they are not so frightened of you grabbing hold of them and taking them from their comfort zone.
 
One of my piggies, Ebony (in my profile pic), will happily be picked up if she realises that there's no other option and will sit still until I have picked her up. My other piggy, Ivory, will do everything (scratch, kick, squeal, run) to get away from me and it's so stressful for both of us!
My piggies live in my living room and are used to me being around a lot. I will admit that I stopped floor-time. I tried taking them into the bathroom and spare bedroom (both piggy-safe) and tried extending the c&c cage for periods of floor-time so that they would have their own things and smells. But after weeks of trying, they just wouldn't come out of their hideys until I had put them back. No amount of tempting with veggies, completely ignoring them, reading to them, or leaving the room would get them to emerge.
I just want them to be happy and enjoy rather than put up with my repeated attempts to have cuddles...
 
I think all piggies are different and most are very nervous. As others have said, it's in their nature as they are prey animals.

I have a double sized snuggle sack that I use to carry our two boys from their hutch to their outdoor run. When I open the hutch they run away every time but I lay the snuggle sack down in the doorway and just wait. Curiosity always seems to help them get over the nerves eventually and they both go to investigate inside. When they are in, I just lift it up with them inside.
I do think most piggies, whilst they will always be on their guard, can learn that a particular thing seems to be safe and associate it with good things happening. I'd try following exactly the same routine at roughly the same time each day and then, whenever they do get in it, taking them to something they do like (lawn time, plate of veg on the floor - whatever they like). You will have to keep doing it a lot. Maybe even 2 months or more consistently. Hopefully by then they may usually come and get in the sack when you lay it down for them.

In case it helps, I don't keep this snuggle sack in their hutch or run with them so it is "new" every time it appears.
 
i usually offer the carrier to mine. ches would go straight in. maisie would go in, or into her cosy bed and be picked up from there, and eddie goes in the carrier with some persuasion :)) i don't keep picking them up if they don't like it, or are scared. maisie used to be really scared so i started offering the carrier instead and she much preferred that. :)
 
Like said above, my pigs are the same.

They love head rubs and will take veggies from me happily, but don't enjoy being picked up. With Bubble (and Squeak before I lost him) I would put their beds infront of them and they would jump in, like he knows (and Squeak knew) it is laptime!

Once laptime was over I would put the bed infront of them once again and they will jump in to go home!

I like this way, because it gives the option too the pigs! if they want laptime, they jump in, if not, they don't! Then it's not stressful on the pigs :D
 
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