Picking up

[hilly19]

I have had my 2 guinea pigs for a while now. There let me stroke them in the cage. Take some foods out of my hand. Come upto me when I have food. The only thing that I cant do is pick them up out the cage. There start running round the cage and I cant get them. The only way I can do it is get them in there tube and lift them out the cage that way and put them on my lap. There sit still when there on my lap to. Any ideas how I can pick them up straight from there cage please?

 

[flintstones]

If you find the answer let me know... I corner them and lift. They always run, but yet they are so friendly the irony ....

I think Generally piggies run, they are prey animals afterall!

 

[daleksarah]

i think they all run, i know mine all do.picking them up in a tube is a good idea

 

[mart]

i find getting them when they are in a corner as they have no where to run then or i suddenly pick them up before they realise i am trying to catch them- mostly works although some of my girls are mighty runners!

 

[fritsthegirl]

Cornering does work well, I gently muster mine into a corner and they soon know what's coming and prepare themselves for lift off, or if the mood takes them, they do occasionally make another 'run for your life' attempt. I very slowly place my hand over their back, and push down quite firmly, without squashing them too much, but firm enough to not let them escape again. I just hold them there until I can bring the other hand in underneath to lift them out with both hands. Be calm and be assertive, they'll know you mean business.

 

[Craig David]

i let mine both run into their pigloo, then i life the lid off the pigloo and they tend to sit there and i pick them up... when they are running round the living room, well thats a different story haha

 

[Wiebke]

Mine have a big cage to run away...

I prefer to either corner them or train them to come into a box or an upturned pigloo. The tube works as well; as does using a towel. Talk to them and turn it into a ritual with saying the same phrase in the same tone, so it's not random violence anymore and they can brace themselves.

Many piggies just do not like the act of being picked up because it cuts too close to their prey animal instincts. they are completley fine with being held and cuddled, however!