bonding with your piggies?

[SandraZ]

I've had my two boys for a month and they trust me enough to take treats out of my hand and occasionally greet me with a wheek when they see me, or whistle at me when i have food rolleyes. But when i try to touch them they run away almost immediately and trying to pick them up when it's cage cleaning time is almost impossible, i dont even want to talk about how ridiculous nail cutting was. i understand that it's going to take time for them to get used to me, but does anyone have suggestions or tips on how to bond better with my piggies? should i be picking them up daily or should i do it once in a while? and what's the best way to do so?

 

[PAMELAKT]

Good question, I'm struggling to bond with my new boy. I feel like he hates me!

 

[AbbyGuinea]

Hello

Food is definitely a good way to get their trust and also time |)

Troy is my second piggy but my first since being an adult. I worship him haha and he seems pretty fond of me too. I'm just coming up to having Troy a whole year! He is the only pig I have that I can put my hand in the cage and he will sit there and relax into my hand for some scratching and stroking.
Troy did come out nearly every day and I would feed him his favourite Carrots or Apple whilst he was sat in my arms. I would stoke him whilst doing this and in return he would give me lots of piggy kisses!
But... He hates being picked up! When he is having a nice scratch and feels my hand move to pick him up he runs away! So getting him out pain free I put the pigloo upside down and try and herd him into it. Sometimes he will actually let me pick him up by going to his pick up place... His arm chair (corner toilet that he doesnt like to pee in) but normally its ushering him into the pigloo and getting him that way. But he loves being out and doesnt want to go back in!

With my Peppa and Buddy who I got back in April - They will come up to the cage and Peppa will piggy kiss through the bars and Buddy is following Peppa and is starting to do the same. Again I would feed them some of their favourite fruit or veg whilst in my arms.
When they are out now Peppa loves to have a nice cuddle... Buddy likes to go into my tshirt and fall asleep on my belly. When I say "time to go buddy" he snuggles in further! But both of these Piggies are still abit skittish about being touched in the cage and will run away. When I try to get them out they run into corners of the cage and with both hands I can lift them out. They are smaller than my Troy though! So it's pretty easy with the littler ones.

I also have other piggies in my troop. Who are quite a bit skittish but once out they love it and really dont want to go back in!

They don't all have cuddle time every day as I work 9-5 and I have quite a few piggies. But every day either me or my mother will talk to them and of course answer their Squealing for veg!

This is how I am trying to earn their trust so it may not work for everyone but it's doing okay for me so far!

 

[Subsonica]

Running away when you try to pick them up is a natural response as they are prey animals, mine are a nightmare to catch, especially Amy and Nibbler. Amy is young and very quick, and Nibbler just HATES being held at all so does everything she can to escape it.

When it comes to giving them a fuss whilst they're in the cage, food is definitely the way to go. All piggies will react differently, some will love a good tickle, others will remain timid no matter how long you try to tame them for. Like humans, piggies all have different personalities! You could try keeping hold of their favourite treat in one hand for them to nibble on bit by bit (cucumber works great for this) and slowly bring in your other hand to pet them. Having the food there will help to show them that being petted is associated with something good.

 

[missM]

i have 2 5week old boys....same issue ..but i think the more time you spend with them the better it will get. i take mine out for 30min a day..i block off the kitchen then thats where i let them run around and get to know me...i have boxes for them to play in ..i sit on the floor with treats and thats when they let me pet them. they are getting better and better ..i had them for 2 weeks now..they still run when i try to pick them up but thats just their nature. I will hold them for few min and let them go..they are so hyper that its hard to keep them on my lap. but i think in time they will get better. Good luck !