Guinea pig won’t let me pick him up

George.pickle_ pumpkin

George.pickle_ pumpkin

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My Guinea pig loves being on my lap and on my bed and he just falls asleep or makes noises but hates/ despises me picking him up out of his cage he will just run and freak out so I sometimes just have to stop as I don’t want him to hurt himself he trusts me with everything until it comes to that so he won’t go into cuddle sacks/blankets if I offer them to him, So I am not sure what other ways I can pick him up.
 
My Stripe gets meds twice a day. He avoids being picked up so I corner him with a snuggle sack. He's too smart to walk right in so I corner him with the sack and use my left hand to pick him up and place him gently in the sack. He's fine once he's on my lap.
 
Have you had your Guinea pig for long? I’ve only had mine 3/4 months and he didn’t do this when I first got him so I’m hoping he will grow out of it
 
I think it's unlikely that he'll grow out of it. Guinea pigs, being prey animals, instinctively don't like being 'caught' even though they trust their owner.
I was constantly having to come up with ways to trick my piggy into letting me pick him up. The 'trauma' of being caught goes away pretty quickly once he started eating treats and puddling. 😂

I found the easiest way to pick him up when he was being really uncooperative, was to let him go into a tunnel then pick the tunnel up.
 
My Mischievous Master Boris LOVES lap time but still makes a huge drama of being picked up. He's quite happy to be petted in the cage so usually he gets a good chin rub first. He's one of those piggies who gets quite hypnotised by it so his reactions are sluggish then. As soon as he's in our arms he's immediately giving snuggles and kisses. He's about to turn two and we've had him about a year and a half.
Hypnotised piggy....IMG_20231124_191315.webp
 
George.pickle_ pumpkin said:
My Guinea pig loves being on my lap and on my bed and he just falls asleep or makes noises but hates/ despises me picking him up out of his cage he will just run and freak out so I sometimes just have to stop as I don’t want him to hurt himself he trusts me with everything until it comes to that so he won’t go into cuddle sacks/blankets if I offer them to him, So I am not sure what other ways I can pick him up.
Click to expand...
Do you have a bed that you keep in their cage you can use to pick him up in? My pigs have these beds with two entrances. I herd them in, then block both entrances with my hands, pick the bed up and slightly tip it so they walk out. Nancy does this fairly willingly now she's been coming out for meds for so long.
 
What you are seeing is very normal behaviour as they are prey animals and being caught is akin to being eaten.
Some like to be held once they have been picked up but others never will. Not one of my four pigs have wanted to be held and certainly never want to be caught.
Guide them into a box and then pick up from there.

Does he have a friend?
Guinea pigs are herd animals and should never be kept alone. Its essential they have the companionship and interaction of another piggy.
Human interaction isn’t enough I’m afraid as there is no mutual communication.

Wiebke

Thread 'Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities'

Introduction
1 When is a 'single' really a single?
- Bought singles
- Fallen-out and aggressive piggies
- Bereaved guinea pigs
- No interest in other guinea pigs
- Disabled and special needs guinea pigs
2 Companionship options (with pros and cons)
- Dating
- De-sexing (neutering or spaying)
- Living alongside
- Buying a baby companion
3 Caring for single guinea...
  • Like
 
George.pickle_ pumpkin said:
My Guinea pig loves being on my lap and on my bed and he just falls asleep or makes noises but hates/ despises me picking him up out of his cage he will just run and freak out so I sometimes just have to stop as I don’t want him to hurt himself he trusts me with everything until it comes to that so he won’t go into cuddle sacks/blankets if I offer them to him, So I am not sure what other ways I can pick him up.
Click to expand...

Hi

Picking up a guinea pig cuts very close to their prey animal instincts, so most don't like it.

Wiebke

Thread 'Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips'

1 Understanding Prey Animal Behaviour
- Unresponsive prey reflex
- Flight reflex
- Fight reflex (defence bites)
2 How to Avoid Predatory Behaviours
- Scent
- Flow of chatter
- Sudden movement and noises
- Looming and staring
- 'I am not seeing you'
3 Piggy Whispering
- 'I want to be friends with you'
- 'I invite you into my herd'
- 'I love/care...
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Here are some tips on how you can train a piggy to come into a tunnel or box for a hands-free pick up; usually a special treat at the far end of a box does help...

sport_billy

Thread 'How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely (videos)'

1 Picking up your guinea pigs without chasing or touching (video and pictures)
2 Weighing (video and pictures)


1 Picking up your guinea pigs without chasing or touching

This video shows you what you can train your guinea pig to do for a stress-free pick up.


Alternatively, you can use a small walk-in cardboard box for pick-up and transport. Please make sure that you cover the opening with your hand! If necessary, please cut finger holes into the cardboard box and face the opening...
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Piggies&buns said:
What you are seeing is very normal behaviour as they are prey animals and being caught is akin to being eaten.
Some like to be held once they have been picked up but others never will. Not one of my four pigs have wanted to be held and certainly never want to be caught.
Guide them into a box and then pick up from there.

Does he have a friend?
Guinea pigs are herd animals and should never be kept alone. Its essential they have the companionship and interaction of another piggy.
Human interaction isn’t enough I’m afraid as there is no mutual communication.

Wiebke

Thread 'Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities'

Introduction
1 When is a 'single' really a single?
- Bought singles
- Fallen-out and aggressive piggies
- Bereaved guinea pigs
- No interest in other guinea pigs
- Disabled and special needs guinea pigs
2 Companionship options (with pros and cons)
- Dating
- De-sexing (neutering or spaying)
- Living alongside
- Buying a baby companion
3 Caring for single guinea...
  • Like
Click to expand...
Yes he has 2 friends he’s a rescue so he might have had a bad past with being picked up!
 
Piggies2023 said:
Do you have a bed that you keep in their cage you can use to pick him up in? My pigs have these beds with two entrances. I herd them in, then block both entrances with my hands, pick the bed up and slightly tip it so they walk out. Nancy does this fairly willingly now she's been coming out for meds for so long.
Click to expand...
He is so used to my hand so when I try to herd him to a hide/tunnel he will just stand there and look at me I have been putting a small blanket over him then picking him up so he doesn’t really know what is happening and he seems to be okay with that!
 
Zorro1 said:
I think it's unlikely that he'll grow out of it. Guinea pigs, being prey animals, instinctively don't like being 'caught' even though they trust their owner.
I was constantly having to come up with ways to trick my piggy into letting me pick him up. The 'trauma' of being caught goes away pretty quickly once he started eating treats and puddling. 😂

I found the easiest way to pick him up when he was being really uncooperative, was to let him go into a tunnel then pick the tunnel up.
Click to expand...
:xd:

Gaia marches into a tunnel and sticks her head out with a glare that says 'SLAVE! BED! NOW!'
 
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