Guinea Pig Is Terrified Of Being Picked Up

[binkiexo]

Hello,

We have had Biscuit and Chops for two months now - they are so loving and friendly! They'll sit on us for hours and talk away non stop as long as they're on us. However, Chops hates being picked up. She wriggles and squirms and sometimes cries. I've owned lots of piggies before and none have ever done this. Biscuit is also fine, so I'm not really sure what this could mean or how to help her? As soon as I get all of her feet on me, she runs for my neck and buries as far into my hair as she can and it takes her ages to relax. She also gets funny when we touch her belly for fear of being picked up. What could this be? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

We have had Biscuit and Chops for two months now - they are so loving and friendly! They'll sit on us for hours and talk away non stop as long as they're on us. However, Chops hates being picked up. She wriggles and squirms and sometimes cries. I've owned lots of piggies before and none have ever done this. Biscuit is also fine, so I'm not really sure what this could mean or how to help her? As soon as I get all of her feet on me, she runs for my neck and buries as far into my hair as she can and it takes her ages to relax. She also gets funny when we touch her belly for fear of being picked up. What could this be? Has anyone else experienced this?

Try the tricks in this thread here. Many guinea pigs don't like being picked up; it cuts too close to their prey animal instincts. You can also use this method for weighing etc. Use a little veg or herb treat at the far end to lure them in and praise lavishly. many piggies cotton on that it is a lot less stressful.
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

 

[binkiexo]

Try the tricks in this thread here. Many guinea pigs don't like being picked up; it cuts too close to their prey animal instincts. You can also use this method for weighing etc. Use a little veg or herb treat at the far end to lure them in and praise lavishly. many piggies cotton on that it is a lot less stressful.
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

I have tried a lot of these methods. I read this post before posting here. I've never had a guinea pig that gets like this I feel so bad...

 

[Wiebke]

I have tried a lot of these methods. I read this post before posting here. I've never had a guinea pig that gets like this I feel so bad...

Some piggies can be pretty traumatised when they have been handled roughly and have not had much in the way of human contact.
Be patient and persistent; it may take a few weeks or even months, but you'll know when you have got there, and there is no better feeling than having earned the trust of a piggy the hard way, believe me!

This thread here may explain some things: How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

I am currently working on a sow that is a severely traumatised ex-small child's pet and she REALLY has a thing about hands. It is very slow going, but we will get there eventually...

 

[Winifred]

The one in my pic with the spread legs is just the same. Sometimes she heads for the neck and hair and then other times she's chills completely. Try wrapping up in cuddly fleece blanket to get over the neck hair thing which got mine used to the lap. Pic says it all!

 

[VickiA]

Don't feel bad. It's natural. They are prey creatures and have to fight their instinct not to run from anything that casts a shadow. Not all piggies enjoy being picked up or cuddled. All of mine have to be chased before being picked up - none volunteers for it. One of our previous piggies used to scream like she was about to be murdered if we tried to pick her up. Our current piggies relax when being held but some previous piggies never truly enjoy being held or cuddled.
I've really found catching and cuddling in a snuggle is helpful as they feel safer and less stressed.
Don't give up on her - she just needs to know she is safe and in time she will grow more used to it.

 

[sport_billy]

We have all been through this or will go through it with a particualr skittish piggy. Ours was Putt, she actually hit her head once in a fright running away. We used the snuggle technique for her, like the one in the video. We cornered off the cage to sort of trap her down one end then herded her in. Once out lots of nice veggie treats to get her happy. It was a long road with Puttt but we got their and she became the only ever piggie really happy on laps at lap time as she got older and would climb up on me.

keep going and try and remain calm it helps them relax as they pick up on our vibes

 

[Freela]

A lot of pigs who enjoy cuddles still don't enjoy being picked up. They are prey animals and have the instincts of prey animals, and in the wild nothing swoops down and grabs you because it wants to cuddle with you! Hadley every now and then will let out a shriek when we pick her up, but because it's intermittent I think she's just being feisty and telling us that she was in the middle of doing something and we are interrupting her, as other times she's fine with it.