Alycat
Junior Guinea Pig
I have both my piggies on my lap each day for some cuddles/strokes. Both do different behaviours/sounds during this time, and I can't tell if they are 'I like this' behaviours or 'I hate this'. Any pointers?
How Can I Tell If They Like Cuddles Or Not?
- Thread starter Alycat
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Over time most piggies will just start to relax more.
When we get ours out they will actually run along the sofa and voluntarily climb onto our laps and lay down.
They will stretch out, and stay quite still while we stroke them.
If they want to get off they will start to wriggle around, squeak, and bit the lap pads (or us if we are slow on the uptake!).
But every pig is different.
Ruby (our dominant sow) always chooses to sit with my eldest daughter. She runs onto her shoulder and will settle there and nip any otehr pig or person who tries to move her. So whilst Ruby loves lap time, she won't sit on my lap.
Lucy will happily settle on anyone who is around, but she likes to be under a blanket or towel at all times. Once she settles on your lap you need to pop a small fleece or muslin over her and she will stay like that for hours.
It is just a matter of working out what they like and what they are comfortable with and this does take time.
When we get ours out they will actually run along the sofa and voluntarily climb onto our laps and lay down.
They will stretch out, and stay quite still while we stroke them.
If they want to get off they will start to wriggle around, squeak, and bit the lap pads (or us if we are slow on the uptake!).
But every pig is different.
Ruby (our dominant sow) always chooses to sit with my eldest daughter. She runs onto her shoulder and will settle there and nip any otehr pig or person who tries to move her. So whilst Ruby loves lap time, she won't sit on my lap.
Lucy will happily settle on anyone who is around, but she likes to be under a blanket or towel at all times. Once she settles on your lap you need to pop a small fleece or muslin over her and she will stay like that for hours.
It is just a matter of working out what they like and what they are comfortable with and this does take time.
Oh and as for noises, Ruby 'chatters' almost the whole time.
I swear that pig is never quiet.
At first we thought she was angry, but then someone on this forum gave me a great pointer and said you need to look at the body language too.
If a pig is voluntarily stretched out on your shoulder and making a continual low chatter, then they are probably happy.
I swear that pig is never quiet.
At first we thought she was angry, but then someone on this forum gave me a great pointer and said you need to look at the body language too.
If a pig is voluntarily stretched out on your shoulder and making a continual low chatter, then they are probably happy.
Roclibrarian
Teenage Guinea Pig
Mine usually sit quite stiff for the first minute or so on my knee, looking round and sniffing the air. After that, they put their head down, and eventually stretch out and "pancake". You can tell how relaxed they are, by the feel of their body when you are stroking them, they eventually feel like they have no bones! Luna stays quiet throughout, but Ginny will make little chattering noises occasionally. I must admit I am never quite sure about the noises, but the body language is very clear. If I stop stroking them, they lift their head up and look round, when I start stroking again, they lie back down!
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