Handling And Taming
HANDLING AND RESPECTING GUINEA PIGS
Written by, Guinea Garden.
Guinea pigs have sensitive spines so handling correctly is important for their health. It's also important for them mentally. The way you respect them individually and their personalities, has a massive impact on their behaviours, and over all health!
Guinea pigs generally DO NOT ENJOY been handled. Some will tame enough to 'bare it' some, however, just will never enjoy it because it's them, and they don't personally like it. It is important to respect this and handle as little as possible if they dislike been handled.
It's also important to understand, each personality changes how to handle them. Some enjoy been held once caught but can't stand been caught, some are happy to be caught but don't enjoy been cuddled, some may not enjoy either. Some may enjoy it all. Therefore it's important to work out what your guinea pig likes and respecting that as to not stress them out.
Stress and handling goes hand in hand. Guinea pigs are prone to stress related heart attacks and more. If they become too stressed it can cause a decline in health. Handling them wrong or constantly against their will because you fancy a cuddle when they don't like it, can cause a fast decline in health. So it's important to ensure you minimise stress through handling where possible.
For guinea pigs who don't enjoy been caught, it's less stressful if you pick them up while in hideys/tunnels etc. This will make them feel more comfortable as their feet are firmly grounded, and minimise stress.
Guinea pigs are prey animals which is why they generally don't enjoy been handled, and why it is stressful to them. There are other ways to bond and connect with your guinea pig if they don't enjoy been handled, such as feeding them treats or sitting in with them where they roam.
If you do need to pick up, to minimize stress and protect the spine, the best way is to corner them slowly, then scoop front and back feet under your palms. From there hold them to your chest supporting their bottom and back.
Remember guinea pigs are naturally prey animals and will run and hide out of instinct. This doesn't mean they aren't tame or are too timid, but that they are startled.
Guinea pigs are sensitive animals, they freight easily and get stressed easily. So getting a guinea pig just for a child is not a good idea, an adult should be the guinea pigs owner not a child. It's not recommended that children handle, but sit and stroke instead and feed, and gain bonds in other ways. Children can easily hurt a guinea pig without knowing. Children can be a stressful environment to guinea pigs to, as children don't always have a calm persona and may struggle to be respectful of the guinea pigs needs and wants, Which can lead to disastrous handling, which can have a negative impact emotionally and physically on the guinea pig.
TAMING
We call it taming, however instead of thinking guinea pigs can be tamed, it's a case of earning your guinea pigs trust and forming a bond with them. So like people bonds, each bond with each guinea pig is going to be different, depending on their own experiences, their personalities and their environments.
The hand that feeds. Guinea pigs are more likely to form a closer bond with the person that feeds and takes care of their needs. Forming one strong bond is often a good way to earn their trust and create that bond. So if you are getting guinea pigs for the children etc, it's would be a better option to allow them to sit and stroke, but only the person who feeds them to handle them and create that bond.
Creating a bond and 'taming' guinea pigs doesn't necessarily mean cuddle time. You can still have a tame happy guinea pig without cuddling if they don't enjoy it personally. Sitting with them, or hand feeding them creates a confident bond with a guinea pig where they trust you unconditionally and will show you that trust with love.
When gaining the trust, you should start by leaving them in their home. Where they feel settled and safe, and start by simply making yourself know. Talk to them, make yourself vocal when you top up hay, water, food etc. Vocalising is a good way to get them use to you, and start associations which will go a long way into gaining their trust.
When they are starting to recognise your voice as the one that cares for them through vocal sounds, next try feeding them some treats that are irresistible. Whatever you've learnt that they love, start offering it as so they can take it from your hand.
Once they are confidently taking food from your hand. Try sitting with them and doing it, somewhere where they can roam with you. Offer those treats and continue been vocal and talking as you do it.
If and when they are comfortable in your presence, try giving them a rub on their head, or a scratch on their chin when they feel safe and secure in their homes or when they approach you in free roam.
Only when they are comfortable in your presence or when you have no choice but to pick up, do you trying picking up ensuring you corner them slowly, then scoop front and back feet under your palms. From there hold them to your chest supporting their bottom and back.
By Ashley Harvey
Congrats on obtaining your new piggy! Guinea pigs often are quite scared when they first meet their new humans. They're thrust into a new environment with new people and often a new cage mate, food, and housing to get used to. This can be really overwhelming and terrifying for a small prey animal that has instincts to hide from predators. Here are some tips to taming your new pig and gaining its trust to show it that you aren't a threat.
1. Make sure his/ her environment meets all husbandry requirements. Lots of hay (and I mean BIG piles of it - no hay racks). Hay not only provides them with food but provides them with security to nest. They love to burrow into a fresh hay pile.
2. The cage needs to be big enough and provide at minimum one hide per pig. This is important as it will often be the first "go to" spot when you place him/ her into the setup. The more hiding spots they have - the more secure they feel. Small cages can cause them to stress if they're in with another cage mate and there isn't enough space for two.
3. Leave them be without human interaction (other than feeding/ changing water, cleaning the cage, etc.) for the first few days up to a week. They're in completely new surroundings and human hands attempting to grab or pet them are just plain terrifying to them. This gives them time to acclimate and de-stress from the transition. Make sure the setup is located in a quiet area of the house away from kids, other pets, or any loud noises. Often it frightens them less if you have the cage up off the ground as well. Partially covering the cage with a light, loose blanket or sheet (enough for ventilation to still go through) can also calm them quite a bit.
4. Trying to catch them to hold can be challenging. Even the most social pigs often will still run and it can feel like a marathon trying to grab hold of them. One method to reduce this stress is to reach for them from the side, not the top as much as possible. Predators come from above so it's their natural instinct to bolt when they see these huge hands reaching for them. Another method is to use cuddle sacks which are useful if your pig enjoys soft, plush hides (which let's face it, what pig doesn't?) by placing a cuddle sack in the setup with the opening facing away from you (so they can't see you coming), and then gently lifting when the pig crawls inside. This also provides them somewhere to hide when you're holding them making them feel more secure. Lastly, herding them into a corner is also helpful and often makes it easier to hold onto them instead of chasing them about which just stresses everyone out.
5. Start talking to them softly and then place your hand in the cage, attempting to gently touch their head. Try tickling their cheeks, chins and ears on a daily basis without picking them up. This will help get them used to you touching them and most pigs prefer to have their chin and cheeks scratched. We do not suggest petting their bum, belly, or back as most do not like to be pet in these places. We recommend trying this "tickling" method before trying to hand feed to just get them used to your fingers being around their face. Slowly guiding your hand from the side of their face in their line of sight while they eat their veggies and then gently stroking/ tickling their nose is also another method. If you have an Abyssinian with rosettes all over, try to stroke them "with the grain" instead of against. This should go for all pigs breeds. Most do not like being pet against the way their hair grows.
6. Hand feeding favorite foods such as veggies and hay "tops" are a great way to bond with your pig. Pigs are extremely food motivated so this method often is very effective, but might still take a while to gain their trust. If you want to hand feed frequently make sure the food is low in calcium, sugar and acidity such as bits of bell pepper. If they refuse hand feeding - try taking a dandelion leaf (or similar veggie they like) and put it in their mouth until they grab hold of it with a tug, then release. Most of the time they'll eat it with this trick.
7. Talking softly to them sitting next to their cage. This is a great method with kids as you can have them sit next to the cage and have them read a book.
8. Placing the pig in a secure playpen and sit in there with them, letting the pig come to you instead of you chasing him/ her around having veggies in hand. This helps build trust that you aren't just there to grab and hold them, but to provide food (associating you with a good thing they enjoy) and just be there providing comfort.
9. Be prepared for the long haul - taming can be a drawn out process. Sometimes it only takes a few days, but other times it can take several weeks to months and even years to gain their complete trust. Once you do it is VERY worth it. They also have their own personalities and some will be more social than others with you and with each other. Even if one doesn't always seem to enjoy being held they are a joy to have around.
10. Don't act like a predator. Sitting perfectly still and then suddenly making noise can startle them easily, so don't be afraid to move around. Try to see it from their perspective - many predators stalk and pounce. Sitting still can make them think you're sizing them up for a meal. Don't be afraid to move around and them with your day to day activities while talking to them.
11. Train them with the "snapping". Pigs love food, and treats are a great way to earn their trust and associate you or a particular activity (such as opening the fridge, or hearing a plastic bag rustle) with a food reward. Try this:
- Snap your fingers 3 times before picking them up.
- Feed a treat (hay top, small piece of veggie, a pellet, etc.)
- Snap 3 times before putting them down.
- Feed another treat.
- Repeat.
This is also a great way to reduce stress when trying to pick them up instead of chasing them around the cage.