won’t let me pick her up

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DM120421

i’ve had my guinea pig for around 3weeks now. she’s starting to get more confident so i’ve tried to pick her up.
she kept running around the cage, i’ve tried to put the towel down and when she gets onto i tried to gently pick her up like i saw in a few youtube videos but nothings working.
i know that this probably isn’t a big problem, but i really do want to hold her, however i don’t want to stress her out so i would really appreciate some advise .
 
I've found a snuggle sack helpful
snuggle sack.webp
My shy male likes to hide during lap time. All the pigs will try to avoid being picked up but I herd them into this, and then they're happy to sit in it and nibble a bit of veg. Tunnels and tubes I worry about them shooting out the other end! This actual type of sack was not the best choice as the fabric is a bit 'plush' so wee leaves a wet patch rather than wicking through. Once they're on the lap they don't actually worry so much.
 
Free Ranger said:
I've found a snuggle sack helpful
View attachment 172488
My shy male likes to hide during lap time. All the pigs will try to avoid being picked up but I herd them into this, and then they're happy to sit in it and nibble a bit of veg. Tunnels and tubes I worry about them shooting out the other end! This actual type of sack was not the best choice as the fabric is a bit 'plush' so wee leaves a wet patch rather than wicking through. Once they're on the lap they don't actually worry so much.
Click to expand...
yes i’ve purchased a snuggle sack a few days ago and it sadly arrived and it’s way too small, but i will look into getting a bigger one and hopefully that can calm her down a little bit ! thanks for your help
 
Sounds perfectly normal we have had our boys over a year and they still love to give us the run around at times! I agree with the above we often pick them up in a hidey or cuddle sack it does really help!
We also try to give them some strokes before hand so they are used to our hand entering the cage and not running straight away! It all takes time though!

That’s a shame that you bought one that’s too small, I do sell cuddle sacks in my Etsy that are nice and roomy, it’s one of the reasons I started making my own things as I often found items were too small for my fluffy boy!
Cosy cage accessories for small pets by TheLittleFloofCo on Etsy
 
update:
i tried picking her up with the carrier.
i put it in the cage and she walked into it, i then slowly picked it up and transferred it onto my bed. she want apsolutely crazy, i gave her food and she was biting on the carrier and she was squeaking really loudly, and so i put her back because she looked very scared. is it normal that she acted the way she did? and should i try taking her out everyday to get her used to it and for her to know that she’s alright? or should i stop and maybe do it once a week?
 
I leave the cat carrier out when they have floor time and they freely run in and out of it. That way when I need to use it to move them somewhere, or take them to the vets, it's not a scary place for them and they dont freak out.
 
They don’t particularly like open spaces where they have nothing to hide in/under. Had you taken her out the carrier when she started screaming and biting at it, it was she still inside? I wouldn’t take her out if it appears she doesn’t like it. I would stick to doing it once a week for health checks and weigh-in. Three weeks is a short time. They can take a long time to settle in and feel braver.

Have you made any progress in terms of getting her a friend? I think she would feel ‘safer’ if she had another piggy living with her.
 
Siikibam said:
They don’t particularly like open spaces where they have nothing to hide in/under. Had you taken her out the carrier when she started screaming and biting at it, it was she still inside? I wouldn’t take her out if it appears she doesn’t like it. I would stick to doing it once a week for health checks and weigh-in. Three weeks is a short time. They can take a long time to settle in and feel braver.

Have you made any progress in terms of getting her a friend? I think she would feel ‘safer’ if she had another piggy living with her.
Click to expand...
she came out to look around, then she went running back inside to the carrier and started to bite. I think she was trying to tell me that she wants to go back to her cage?
i’m still trying to make my parents agree to getting her a friend. If i could i would get her a friend right now. But my parents still believe that we should listen to what the lady that sold her to us said... which is that she’s aggressive towards other pigs, and we don’t have any more space to buy a extra cage just in case they don’t like each other...
 
Ah that makes things difficult. Perhaps show them the information about companionship etc. Otherwise the alternative isn’t great either 😞 I hope they acquiesce and let you get her a friend soon.
 
She might bite if she's frightened... like she's biting the carrier. If you can make an appointment to take her 'dating' at a rescue when they open again that is the most reliable way of finding a match. We never know what piggies have gone through before they come to us, even in their very early days x

My nervous George creeps out of his sack and nips at my clothes when he wants to go back to his cage.

Keep to a little daily routine. If you offer her a bit of veggie and kind words every morning she'll soon come out to you for that, even if she doesn't trust easily she'll trust eventually. She's still getting to know that her new environment is safe. As prey animals they worry that they're about to die a lot of the time. If she can find a friend she'll feel more confident - especially if her friend is more chilled. It's like, "she's OK, so I must be OK too!"
 
They are so much more friendly if they have companion from anther Guinea Pig. Do you have a rescue centre nearby, where you could take her to see if she could bond with another piggy? That way you wouldn't have to fork out for another cage because you could test it.

It's interesting to observe what changes in my two boys behaviour when I take them out for floor time or into their run - when the other one is not there. The dominant pig will wait until the submissive pig is out before he comes out of hiding. He is so much more relaxed when Pip is around him. Pip is more outgoing and will explore even without Papua around, though. But they are 100% less shy when they have each other for seour curity.

While you are waiting to decide about getting your pig a friend, then I would do the following:

- Be overly gentle and patient with your pig.
- Talk to her whenever you are nearby and bringing food etc.
- Place your hand in the cage with her holding a slice of her favourite veg and let her come to your hand, rather than chasing her around with the food.
- Give her plenty of time and be prepared that she may never enjoy being handled.
- Also, I would do a daily poo pick while she is in there, so she gets used to your hands being in her space

All of the above is what I have done with my boys, who I have now had for around four weeks. They still don't like being picked up, so where possible, usher them into a fleece tunnel or likewise and transfer them for floor time. I have only held them both a handful of times, and for maybe a minute or two.

You just have to build their trust, slowly. It is not worth the stress to the piggy - or to you - to do otherwise. 😊

Good luck with it, and I do hope your parents will agree to a companion for her!
 
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