MichelleM
Junior Guinea Pig
So I've said before Ganon isn't super eager to get out of his cage for floor time while I clean it, but lately he's been more cooperative getting into the upturned pigloo so I can move him.
While he and Dibbler are on the floor, I've been trying to get them more accustomed to me so they can be lap piggies. I open up the side of the playpen and sit crossed-legged so they can climb up on me freely, but can't squeeze out and get loose. They get a treat every time they're in my lap, so Dibbler at least is all over me a lot.
My problem, though, is with Ganon. Usually during floor time he'll sit in his hidey log and munch on hay, coming out occasionally for treats and to watch me clean the cage, but he mostly sits in the hidey until it's time to go back. He's climbed into my lap quite a few times for treats, and has even stretched out and made himself comfy in my lap before (which I obviously loved!). But the past two times I've had them on the floor, he's climbed into my lap, and after eating his treat he's tried to make a break for it by trying to climb over my leg behind me. He hasn't been quick enough, and I've always been able to nab him and set him back down in the pen, but why is he so eager to bolt all of a sudden?
From what I can tell he's happy in the cage. He popcorns and wheeks and comes out of his cave to interact with me and look around the room. In the past he's been curious about what's outside his playpen, sitting on his hind legs and sniffing out over the sides, but suddenly he's trying to break loose.
My question is this: Is he just trying to go explore? Is he maybe just trying to get at the food bag (which is always on the floor behind me at playtime)? What can I do to give Ganon more freedom without him getting hurt? I'd love to arrange a way for him to free roam a bit, but unfortunately I live in a very small apartment. The other 2 rooms are occupied by my roommates, barring the living room (which can't be pig-proofed) and my bedroom where the cage is. There's too many places for them to get stuck, like the bed, closet, desks, etc, and we have too many wires about that could be chewed on, so there really isn't any easy/guaranteed way to make it safe for them to roam.
Sorry this is so long, I'm just not sure if Ganon's unhappy, or if he's just curious. Thanks in advance!
While he and Dibbler are on the floor, I've been trying to get them more accustomed to me so they can be lap piggies. I open up the side of the playpen and sit crossed-legged so they can climb up on me freely, but can't squeeze out and get loose. They get a treat every time they're in my lap, so Dibbler at least is all over me a lot.
My problem, though, is with Ganon. Usually during floor time he'll sit in his hidey log and munch on hay, coming out occasionally for treats and to watch me clean the cage, but he mostly sits in the hidey until it's time to go back. He's climbed into my lap quite a few times for treats, and has even stretched out and made himself comfy in my lap before (which I obviously loved!). But the past two times I've had them on the floor, he's climbed into my lap, and after eating his treat he's tried to make a break for it by trying to climb over my leg behind me. He hasn't been quick enough, and I've always been able to nab him and set him back down in the pen, but why is he so eager to bolt all of a sudden?
From what I can tell he's happy in the cage. He popcorns and wheeks and comes out of his cave to interact with me and look around the room. In the past he's been curious about what's outside his playpen, sitting on his hind legs and sniffing out over the sides, but suddenly he's trying to break loose.
My question is this: Is he just trying to go explore? Is he maybe just trying to get at the food bag (which is always on the floor behind me at playtime)? What can I do to give Ganon more freedom without him getting hurt? I'd love to arrange a way for him to free roam a bit, but unfortunately I live in a very small apartment. The other 2 rooms are occupied by my roommates, barring the living room (which can't be pig-proofed) and my bedroom where the cage is. There's too many places for them to get stuck, like the bed, closet, desks, etc, and we have too many wires about that could be chewed on, so there really isn't any easy/guaranteed way to make it safe for them to roam.
Sorry this is so long, I'm just not sure if Ganon's unhappy, or if he's just curious. Thanks in advance!