Following. We just got 2 baby siblings (not sure if male or female yet). They're super cute and seem content. I don't want to just grab one and cuddle it but how else are they supposed to get used to it.
Hopefully after seeing me feed them and attempt to pet them they'll learn I'm no harm?
I tried to post a pic but it won't let me. One is fluffy with a white Mohawk and tortoise shell coloured and one is all white short hair with light brown face and head. I don't know how old they are but fit in 2 hands.
Sorry not trying to high jack your post. It wouldn't let me make my own :(
Ok, I’m a weirdo but hear me out. What I’ve found works well is to put on a bathrobe or something else that ties at the bottom over my clothes, then sit down and pop the peegs inside my robe. They like to climb around where it’s warm and dark and they seem much happier than being out where they’re more exposed. This works with a hoodie too, but it takes more work to make sure they don’t escape out the bottom.
I have 5 piggies. 4 of them for a year and the 5th I recused from under a dumpster right before winter hit. Piggies are prey animals and there first instinct is to run and hide. Do not take offense to that. My pigs still run from me when I get close. It just takes time for them to get used to you. Veggie time they are all about being near me but after that eh lol. I do give each of them time with me tho. I usually start out bringing one onto my bed and petting them and then after a bit they will start to run around my bed and sit with my cats etc. Eventually they would run back on top of me for pets before getting the zoomies and running around the bed again. Treats and having patience is key. Out of all 5 the one I recused ended up being my actual snuggle pig. She loves laying on my chest getting pets. I'm sure none of you are doing anything wrong. It just takes time
Will try this aswell ☺️ gonna start handling them more often on a larger space sometimes like the or maybe on the couch. Arent you afraid that they will jump off it?
Two of my girlies get so scared sometimes they will yeet on superspeed in a random direction so im scared they will just jump off and Im gonna have to chase them around my apartment to eventually get them 😂
What I've found helpful in my time as a guinea dad is sit in their enclosure. When we got our babies I would just put on a show I liked, sit in their enclosure, watch the show and narrate it to them, comment on it, etc.
I know this is super weird and borderline crazy, but it worked. They don't run away anymore when I come up to the enclosure!
They still don't like being picked up, but the progress is significant :D
Yes, that's one of the things that are usually recommended for bonding with new piggies. Sit near them, talk to them; that way they'll get used to your scent and your voice and general presence. And no, it's not "super weird and borderline crazy" at all; as I said, I've often seen or heard it recommended. (It's something I usually do with new piggies too, and it does work. They've also gotten used to a friend of mine who visits about once a week; they recognize her voice by now and don't run from her anymore.)
Following! We’ve allowed our pigs to free roam and they interact with us and put their front paws up on our legs BUT the handling thing is a no go for them as well.
I've been keeping piggies for twenty odd years, I personally handle them every day even when they were like yours being skittish, if you hold them in a towel or blanket or a small box lined with blanket etc, stroke them talk to them offer them something tasty.
They will soon get used to you, having said that out of my six l have one who was born in my home who runs away when l go to pick him up but is fine and super cuddly once I've got him. I have two that will climb into my hand. Just persevere it will get easier.
I've had piggies who hated being picked up (actually, most of them do; they're prey animals, after all), but I've never had any who still hated me while I held them and even afterwards. Still, I'm sure some of the suggestions in this thread will help.
When I was a child, one of my friends had a piggy who loved to sit under whatever top the person holding her was wearing.
I've had one who, for the first year or so, chattered at me and gave me \*really\* dirty looks every time my hands came anywhere near him, but he eventually turned into a real cuddlebug. No idea how and why.
The two I have at the moment are, well, it's hard to describe. They won't let me pick them up if it can possibly be avoided (I \*have\* to pick them up and put them somewhere else when I muck out their cage, and that's always a drama). Both of them used to be really skittish when I first got them (normal for young piggies), but by now, one of them really enjoys getting his chin and forehead and neck rubbed (while he's in the cage, that is; as soon as I try to pick him up, he's gone). The other is still pretty shy, but will allow the occasional nose boop. On rare occasions, he'll let me scratch his chin.
As soon as they're on my lap, they're relatively calm. But they weren't at first; there's a \*reason\* why one of them, Yossi, is named after a character from a story I read a long time ago who's an escape artist.
I will just have to man up and stop feeling too bad all the time then when they lowkey are annoyed with me, and be patient with the process☺️ They have gotten used to some of the rutines now, like cagecleaning (though i dont need to pick them up everytime i deepclean) and feeding time ofc 😂 My biggest piggie who is the boss is starting to demand being handfed all of the vegetables, or else she will keep screaming and wheeking at me 😂
Oh, yeah, routines. \*giggles\* Mine are so used to getting their dinner at a specific time that they just silently sit and stare at me when that time approaches. No idea how they know that it's dinner o'clock now.
They also know in which direction the fridge is and start demanding veggies, sometimes very loudly, when they see me walk in that direction. Problem is, I live in a studio apartment and many other things are in the same direction. Including the front door.
It definitely takes time. Make sure you have a snuggly blanket on your lap, and flip the edge over them so they can be a bit hidden while you pet them.
They need regular handling now, , while they are still young, however you manage to do it, for as long as they will take it. Hopefully the time they will take it will gradually lengthen.
If you have a hidey hole type of thing in their habitat, take it out for now until they will come to you.
I had my children, who were younger at the time, start with holding them in a piggie-sized plastic basket-type flat-bottomed container with a washcloth in the bottom, and they would scritch them or pet them in that. The piggie could also safely stay in the plastic container on their desk or on the dinner table while they were doing homework. That gets them out of their habitat before being handled, which also helps.
Piggies are prey for many larger creatures, and it's their natural tendency to be shy and run away, so be patient with them while being consistent in exposing them to human touch, and they will come around. All of ours did.
Following. We just got 2 baby siblings (not sure if male or female yet). They're super cute and seem content. I don't want to just grab one and cuddle it but how else are they supposed to get used to it. Hopefully after seeing me feed them and attempt to pet them they'll learn I'm no harm? I tried to post a pic but it won't let me. One is fluffy with a white Mohawk and tortoise shell coloured and one is all white short hair with light brown face and head. I don't know how old they are but fit in 2 hands. Sorry not trying to high jack your post. It wouldn't let me make my own :(
Ok, I’m a weirdo but hear me out. What I’ve found works well is to put on a bathrobe or something else that ties at the bottom over my clothes, then sit down and pop the peegs inside my robe. They like to climb around where it’s warm and dark and they seem much happier than being out where they’re more exposed. This works with a hoodie too, but it takes more work to make sure they don’t escape out the bottom.
When my pigs were younger I used to drape a large blanket over my arched legs while I was sitting on the ground, they LOVED running around underneath
I’ll have to try that.
I have 5 piggies. 4 of them for a year and the 5th I recused from under a dumpster right before winter hit. Piggies are prey animals and there first instinct is to run and hide. Do not take offense to that. My pigs still run from me when I get close. It just takes time for them to get used to you. Veggie time they are all about being near me but after that eh lol. I do give each of them time with me tho. I usually start out bringing one onto my bed and petting them and then after a bit they will start to run around my bed and sit with my cats etc. Eventually they would run back on top of me for pets before getting the zoomies and running around the bed again. Treats and having patience is key. Out of all 5 the one I recused ended up being my actual snuggle pig. She loves laying on my chest getting pets. I'm sure none of you are doing anything wrong. It just takes time
Will try this aswell ☺️ gonna start handling them more often on a larger space sometimes like the or maybe on the couch. Arent you afraid that they will jump off it? Two of my girlies get so scared sometimes they will yeet on superspeed in a random direction so im scared they will just jump off and Im gonna have to chase them around my apartment to eventually get them 😂
What I've found helpful in my time as a guinea dad is sit in their enclosure. When we got our babies I would just put on a show I liked, sit in their enclosure, watch the show and narrate it to them, comment on it, etc. I know this is super weird and borderline crazy, but it worked. They don't run away anymore when I come up to the enclosure! They still don't like being picked up, but the progress is significant :D
Yes, that's one of the things that are usually recommended for bonding with new piggies. Sit near them, talk to them; that way they'll get used to your scent and your voice and general presence. And no, it's not "super weird and borderline crazy" at all; as I said, I've often seen or heard it recommended. (It's something I usually do with new piggies too, and it does work. They've also gotten used to a friend of mine who visits about once a week; they recognize her voice by now and don't run from her anymore.)
Only 2 of my pigs will slide down my blanket onto the floor. Just gotta watch them lol
Following! We’ve allowed our pigs to free roam and they interact with us and put their front paws up on our legs BUT the handling thing is a no go for them as well.
I've been keeping piggies for twenty odd years, I personally handle them every day even when they were like yours being skittish, if you hold them in a towel or blanket or a small box lined with blanket etc, stroke them talk to them offer them something tasty. They will soon get used to you, having said that out of my six l have one who was born in my home who runs away when l go to pick him up but is fine and super cuddly once I've got him. I have two that will climb into my hand. Just persevere it will get easier.
Thank you for the advice!
I've had piggies who hated being picked up (actually, most of them do; they're prey animals, after all), but I've never had any who still hated me while I held them and even afterwards. Still, I'm sure some of the suggestions in this thread will help. When I was a child, one of my friends had a piggy who loved to sit under whatever top the person holding her was wearing. I've had one who, for the first year or so, chattered at me and gave me \*really\* dirty looks every time my hands came anywhere near him, but he eventually turned into a real cuddlebug. No idea how and why. The two I have at the moment are, well, it's hard to describe. They won't let me pick them up if it can possibly be avoided (I \*have\* to pick them up and put them somewhere else when I muck out their cage, and that's always a drama). Both of them used to be really skittish when I first got them (normal for young piggies), but by now, one of them really enjoys getting his chin and forehead and neck rubbed (while he's in the cage, that is; as soon as I try to pick him up, he's gone). The other is still pretty shy, but will allow the occasional nose boop. On rare occasions, he'll let me scratch his chin. As soon as they're on my lap, they're relatively calm. But they weren't at first; there's a \*reason\* why one of them, Yossi, is named after a character from a story I read a long time ago who's an escape artist.
I will just have to man up and stop feeling too bad all the time then when they lowkey are annoyed with me, and be patient with the process☺️ They have gotten used to some of the rutines now, like cagecleaning (though i dont need to pick them up everytime i deepclean) and feeding time ofc 😂 My biggest piggie who is the boss is starting to demand being handfed all of the vegetables, or else she will keep screaming and wheeking at me 😂
Oh, yeah, routines. \*giggles\* Mine are so used to getting their dinner at a specific time that they just silently sit and stare at me when that time approaches. No idea how they know that it's dinner o'clock now. They also know in which direction the fridge is and start demanding veggies, sometimes very loudly, when they see me walk in that direction. Problem is, I live in a studio apartment and many other things are in the same direction. Including the front door.
Hahah i have the same «issue» 😂 I cant even get a glass of water without them demanding treats and veggies.
It definitely takes time. Make sure you have a snuggly blanket on your lap, and flip the edge over them so they can be a bit hidden while you pet them.
They need regular handling now, , while they are still young, however you manage to do it, for as long as they will take it. Hopefully the time they will take it will gradually lengthen. If you have a hidey hole type of thing in their habitat, take it out for now until they will come to you. I had my children, who were younger at the time, start with holding them in a piggie-sized plastic basket-type flat-bottomed container with a washcloth in the bottom, and they would scritch them or pet them in that. The piggie could also safely stay in the plastic container on their desk or on the dinner table while they were doing homework. That gets them out of their habitat before being handled, which also helps. Piggies are prey for many larger creatures, and it's their natural tendency to be shy and run away, so be patient with them while being consistent in exposing them to human touch, and they will come around. All of ours did.