Petting/chin Rubs

Piggielover333

Piggielover333

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have had my pigs since August and I was just wondering if there is a period that they will not enjoy chin rubs. Obviously not all of them are guaranteed to want them.. but are they just scared right now and don’t want to relax that much? They are starting to all come up to me when I reach in their cage and three of the four allow for occasional cage petting. They get quite regular lap time and I always sit with them during floor time. I also hand feed them a lot of things. Sometimes they seem super relaxed and sometimes they are quite tense. Any suggestions on how to make them more comfortable or how to get them to enjoy chin rubs and scratches without panicking after a few seconds would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to ask anymore necessary questions also.

Thank you!
 
Piggies like different amounts of fuss. Some love fuss and some tolerate it and some hate it.... We have had all types over the years.

Of those that like fuss they is no guarantee that any of them will like chin rubs. Different pigs like different fuss

Sarsaparilla loved chin rubs and would push her chin into your finger but hated having anywhere else stoked
Widget loves and I mean loves head rubd but will run off if you touch her chin
Chickpea hates all human fuss, she will let me stroke her on my lap but avoids chin touching and under no circumstances can I touch her in the cage if my hand is near she runs.....

Keep going with lap time and use food as a treat, sounds like you are doing very well, remember piggies are prey animals and are fighting that instinct all the time so you obviously have a special bond with them already :)
 
totally agree with @sport_billy ! Ive 14 piggies and had a few of them for years now and they still dont like any fuss!
Ive a group of 4 that have lived together for years and out of that group only Suzie loves to be held, cuddled and petted! The others still scarper out of the way when they know I'm picking them up! They will then relax enough to have a quick cuddle but I can almost feel their relief when I put them down again!
 
sport_billy said:
Piggies like different amounts of fuss. Some love fuss and some tolerate it and some hate it.... We have had all types over the years.

Of those that like fuss they is no guarantee that any of them will like chin rubs. Different pigs like different fuss

Sarsaparilla loved chin rubs and would push her chin into your finger but hated having anywhere else stoked
Widget loves and I mean loves head rubd but will run off if you touch her chin
Chickpea hates all human fuss, she will let me stroke her on my lap but avoids chin touching and under no circumstances can I touch her in the cage if my hand is near she runs.....

Keep going with lap time and use food as a treat, sounds like you are doing very well, remember piggies are prey animals and are fighting that instinct all the time so you obviously have a special bond with them already :)
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Thank you for your reply! They are quite outgoing, I just want to make them as happy and comfortable as possible!
 
Janice C said:
totally agree with @sport_billy ! Ive 14 piggies and had a few of them for years now and they still dont like any fuss!
Ive a group of 4 that have lived together for years and out of that group only Suzie loves to be held, cuddled and petted! The others still scarper out of the way when they know I'm picking them up! They will then relax enough to have a quick cuddle but I can almost feel their relief when I put them down again!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help! I will remember this
 
Some of my pigs have liked chin rubs and others have not. Eventually you'll figure out what they enjoy by their sounds and body language. Most of mine liked gentle patting on their upper body and nose, in the direction where their fur lies (they didn't like being 'ruffled.') Most didn't like having their hind ends touched. Leela actually seems to like belly rubs if she flops with her feet to the side. Linney loved chin rubs, no one else really seems to. My abby really only liked being patted on her nose and right behind her ears.
 
Betsy likes being gently stroked under her right eye NEVER her left when she has a season and only then. It calms her down. She goes from demon piggy to her lovely gorgeous normal self then!
 
Freela said:
Some of my pigs have liked chin rubs and others have not. Eventually you'll figure out what they enjoy by their sounds and body language. Most of mine liked gentle patting on their upper body and nose, in the direction where their fur lies (they didn't like being 'ruffled.') Most didn't like having their hind ends touched. Leela actually seems to like belly rubs if she flops with her feet to the side. Linney loved chin rubs, no one else really seems to. My abby really only liked being patted on her nose and right behind her ears.
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Thank you!
 
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