Rehomed reclusive piggies

[Dippyemmy]

Hi there,

We rehomed two three year old girl piggies on Sunday. They are our first piggies and they have been looked after. However they came to us because we ahve more time for them. The problem is they appear to have got used to not haivng play and cuddles time. Can anyone recommend how we can get them used to us and how to introduce cuddles and play without stressing them out?

 

[crazygal330]

I am by no means an expert but I am fairly new to piggies after lurking here for a while so i'll try and advise. With our trio we have been hand feeding them veg at the door to get them used to hands coming into the cage, though we are not even yet at a stage where hands can come into the cage without them all hiding really, but there is slowly progress. When we get them out for play time/cuddles I try and lure them into a tunnel or solid based house so I can lift that without having to scare them too much by picking them up. Then we just let them run about on the sofa with us(with towels for the inevitable poops and wees!) and generally just sit and let them get used to us, they then get picked up by big scary hands and put back in the cage at the end of playtime- my theory is that they might learn that hands mean they are getting put back home where their dinner is waiting, so hands = good things coming. Possibly.
I hope that helps a little bit.

 

[Dandelion&Burdock]

Hi

I'm new too to piggie ways but I'd agree patience is the only way. We have lovely snug warm towels, and lots of parsley for play times. Watch out for teeth chattering, I've found this means 'I'm fed up, put me back' or 'I need to pee!' little and often with cuddle time at first.

Keep it up!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Please give your piggies time to settle in. Patience and persisitence will get you further in the long run. Not all piggies will actually love being cuddled for long spells, but all can come round to getting used to being handled.

Here are tips: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

 

[Silly]

I have found to tame them which works for me is to sit them on your lap on a really comfy fleece, the same one everytime, and have a little treat to hand feed them.

They will soon get to know that when you get them out means strokes and a treat and nothing nasty.