Help!

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Emma85

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We took our new guinea pig out of the cage to try to gander him. Elliot gripped his claws to the carpet and we were unable to lift him. He then an to the corner of the room and began jumping up at the wall.

He is now back in his cage. This is the 2nd failed attempt at nursing him. I'm worried that we're going to frighten him out of ever bit gutted handed at all.

What do we do from here?
 
What does "gander him" mean?

Guinea pigs are prey animals so their natural instinct is to be flee.

If he's new you need to give him time to settle into his surroundings. Interact with him when he's in his cage. Start by talking when you come into the room so he knows you're there. Then talk to him.

You need to talk things slowly.

One of my boys is fine with me when he's in his cage but doesn't like being out on his own. He'll go and hide somewhere. He'll only move around when his cage mate comes out too.
 
Haha, no worries :D

Take things slow and steady. Talk to him when he's in his cage, it takes a while for some pigs to get used to us.

When he is out give him a bolt hole, have a towel on your lap so he can hide in it. If you have him out on the floor give him a hidey to go into or a bit of fleece hanging over the corner or a table or something so he can hide behind.

It can feel disheartening when they just want to be as far away as possible from you, but it's also the best feeling ever when you finally gain their trust.

It always makes me so happy when I can reach into my cage and stroke Podricks head. He was so scared of us at first, I didn't see him for weeks when he first arrived, he was always hiding from me.
 
He isn't hiding much since. He's been out and had a feed. My son fed him a small slice of apple, he gobbled it up pretty quick! He's nibbled lots of hay too.

Just holding him is proving difficult.

I've asked my friend who is an experienced guinea pig owner to come over and show us the best way to pick him up. I'm now questioning whether this is a good idea. Wouldn't want to upset him.
 
It's a good idea. You'll need to pick him up sometime, like to weigh him or check him over.

It'll make him feel more comfortable if you're holding him in a way that he feels safe.
 
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