Doesn’t like to be held?

[Beccalouise]

I have 2 male guinea pigs that I bought around a month ago and they both run from me when I go to pick them up, which can be normal when you first put your hand in but one of them always jumps out of my hands when I finally manage to get my hand under him and if I can pick him up he’s always squirming like he’s trying to get away. When he does that I put him back in because I don’t want to drop him. He lets me pet him in the cage but that’s it. Could he just not trust me yet or does he just not like to be held?

 

[Siikibam]

It may be he doesn’t like being held. If he lets you stroke him in the cage then he trusts you. I would find something to herd them into. You can then use that when you’re doing your weekly health check. There are several members on here who now out in a ‘carrier’ and the pigs walk into it.

 

[lexi468]

I have one boy who really does not like to be picked up or pet in the cage, but doesn’t mind once he’s out. Every pig is different, just keep working on gaining his trust.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Neither of mine like being held - it’s entirely normal. We do not sit and cuddle as they just don’t like it. I do sit in their cage with them and let them wander to me though, theyll take food from my hand etc and that is as much as our physical interaction is.
Both of mine have learnt to walk into a carrier to be moved from hutch to playpen. I literally put the carrier into their cage and they see it and walk in voluntarily.
When I need to pick them up for their health checks, I do the same thing - they walk into their carrier and then pick them up out of their carrier to carry out the checks. They don’t like it though as they don’t like being held so I have to be quick and careful to get things done.

 

[Wiebke]

I have 2 male guinea pigs that I bought around a month ago and they both run from me when I go to pick them up, which can be normal when you first put your hand in but one of them always jumps out of my hands when I finally manage to get my hand under him and if I can pick him up he’s always squirming like he’s trying to get away. When he does that I put him back in because I don’t want to drop him. He lets me pet him in the cage but that’s it. Could he just not trust me yet or does he just not like to be held?

Hi

Unlike what you see in online videos, which run on human concepts of what is cute and not on the reality of ownership (who wants to post videos of their piggies squirming and running way?), guinea pigs are most definitely not naturally born animateed cuddly toys.

You may find these guides here helpful in understanding where your piggies come from and how you can interact with them in ways that they instinctively understand and that they enjoy much more than a human-centric cuddle.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs