Help for an uptight piggie

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happycath

happycath

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello all,
I could do with some advise about my six month old boar Rocky.
He and his brother Rufus have lived with us for four months and have generally settled in quite well.
However I'm concerned about Rocky, and if I'm honest, a little frustrated. I feel mean for being frustrated but I feel like I've tried everything. The problem is that he is just terrified of being caught by our hands when he is in his cage or the run, and he gets himself in such a state and a panic trying to get away. I'm worried that he isn't happy... or doesn't like us... But then I consider the fact that he likes cuddles once you manage to get hold of him! We always give him a little treat like a herb or something when he comes out.
I know that it can be all about confidence when catching a quick piggie, which is something I don't have. After attempting to catch him each evening I often resort to the upturned pigloo with a piece of fleece trick as I know he'll walk in and I know he'll be safe while I transport him.
Is there a method for helping him to relax about being caught that I can try? I know these thing take patience - but I have been trying for four months... Maybe giving in and using the pigloo is undoing any progress? I'm very aware of this at the moment as I feel as though time is running out for him to become used to us early enough, people always say to get them used to it at a young age...
I think his reluctance to be caught is more obvious because in contrast Rufus has relaxed into the routine quite well and after a brief minute of dashing about will relent and be lifted out of the cage...
Any advise? I'm happy to put the work in and I know it can take time... I want to make sure I'm doing this right. Or perhaps just using the pigloo is ok? Although I don't think I'd be happy being unable to catch my own piggies confidently.
Sorry about the essay, thanks for reading.
Catherine
 
sometimes i have to corner mine to pick them up
other times the stroke stroke stroke then sudden pick up works
i carry mine around on my arm or shoulder (where they scamper)
i also have a soft basket from P@H where they can sit when out of the cage and its easy to carry them around, usually they will poke their head out and look really cute!
food also helps to entice the guinea pig to the front of the cage, if you give him a large piece of greens/spinach then when he is occupied with eating it then a quick scooping action should be able to pick him up

sometimes when I'm going to put mine into the garden for grass they will squeak to go out, then run away and hide, so i walk away out of their sight and they will come to the front of the cage and stay there to be picked up.

also when i pic my longer haird guinea up from the kitchen sideboard after having her fur trimmed around her bottom she now runs up my left arm which i have taught her to do after she naturally started to stand on my hand. i did this by putting my hand underneath her bottom so that i had control of her back legs and moved her forwards up my arm, now she scampers up happily. i think part of that is due to the fact that she doesnt like her hair being trimmed and wants to get away! :))

funny guinea pigs! :laluot_21:

ps sorry about my essay!
 
i think a lot of pigs are scared of being picked up.have you tried crouching down as you get him so you dont look too much like a big scary giant coming to get him?if hes happy enough when you hold him i wouldnt worry too much
 
some piggies will never like being picked up, and i sure don't like being picked up and it is a matter of being out of control, if an upturned piggieloo works for you then i would use that, also piggies are very intelligent little things, i always say "come on girls" just before i pick them up so they know what is happening and i never tempt them with food and then grab them which means they trust me just to give the food, my oh tempts and then picks them up and as a result they generally hide away when he is trying to tempt them out.
 
mine are the opposite to yours, they always trust me for food because i dont give them food everytime i pick them up, and i dont pick them up every time they get food.
its like training a dog, you dont give a food reward every time, makes it more special when the food does come!
 
AnimalNikki89 said:
sometimes i have to corner mine to pick them up
other times the stroke stroke stroke then sudden pick up works
i carry mine around on my arm or shoulder (where they scamper)
i also have a soft basket from P@H where they can sit when out of the cage and its easy to carry them around, usually they will poke their head out and look really cute!
food also helps to entice the guinea pig to the front of the cage, if you give him a large piece of greens/spinach then when he is occupied with eating it then a quick scooping action should be able to pick him up

sometimes when I'm going to put mine into the garden for grass they will squeak to go out, then run away and hide, so i walk away out of their sight and they will come to the front of the cage and stay there to be picked up.

also when i pic my longer haird guinea up from the kitchen sideboard after having her fur trimmed around her bottom she now runs up my left arm which i have taught her to do after she naturally started to stand on my hand. i did this by putting my hand underneath her bottom so that i had control of her back legs and moved her forwards up my arm, now she scampers up happily. i think part of that is due to the fact that she doesnt like her hair being trimmed and wants to get away! :))

funny guinea pigs! :laluot_21:

ps sorry about my essay!
Click to expand...

I'm interested in this bit about you carrying them round on your arm/shoulder. Don't they fall off? Or wee on your neck? Or am I just being obtuse?:(|)
 
If I don't use the upturned pigloo, I prefer to manoeuvre my piggies in a corner or a hut where it is easier to pick them up. Anything to cut out (or at least down on) the flight reflex!
With some guinea pigs, I have established a pick-up corner, where the guinea pig will go (with a tiny prod in the back, if necessary), if I tell him that it is pick-up time.

Most guinea pigs just don't like the feeling of being picked up. Full stop! they are happy afterwards, but as animals of prey, they just don't like the feeling of our hands closing around them and lifting them up.

Using the pigloo transport works for me - I get five guinea pigs out of the run and back in the cage in as many minutes; and that includes my new piggies, who have caught on fairly quickly, because it is so much more stressfree for everbody concerned.
 
I find that if you gently place a hand on top of their head just before you pick them up they're far less likely to freak out. Heminone is the only skittish piggy I have, if I barely touch her fur when she's out in the open she goes nuts and makes a run for it. It's funny because she likes coming out!
I've found that if I wait until she's in the corner, warn her I'm coming by talking to her, put my hand over her eyes and gently pick her up by sliding my hand underneath her body she's far more relaxed. I don't know if this would work for every piggy but she definitely seems to prefer it this way.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
 
LIke with a covered pigloo - piggies are quieter when they can't see where they are going. A towel does the same trick.

My Taffy is a lot quieter when I can tuck her head into something (my chin, for example) when I carry her around.
 
I don't know of many who "like" being picked up. My oldest boys are over 4 & they still run off when i open their hutch door :)) I have others who don't mind me stroking them whilst in their hutches but go to pick them up & they leg it :)
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one with a skittish pig! Its odd because he likes being out and about - just doesn't enjoy getting there! I can understand the instinct to run away though, we must be terrifyingly huge. I have decided the pigloo lift is not only easiest but also safest method for now - then during cuddle time I am deliberatley picking him up for a few seconds and putting him down so perhaps he'll get used to it :)
I don't lure them with hand feeding then pounce on them, or reward with food everytime they are picked up. So they trust me entirely to take food from my hand. Its just the being caught business they aren't so sure about!
Thanks x
 
your not alone i have 2 boars i have had them 5 months now they are 7 months old and they dont like being picked up from the cage and its a chase round the place to get them and when outside but when they are on you they are laid back and happy so there are quite a few of us out here the same
 
I sit quietly for a bit. Talk to the piggies. Then slowly go to pick them up. When I have finally got them I say 'up' and follow it with picking up. They're more settled now when I pick them up.
 
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