[Djakarta]

We've started allowing my sons to hold the piggies in their laps . I have the boys sit in the pen alongside the cage and I drape their laps with soft material- fleece or towels. The boys have treats for the piggies, usually grass, the current favorite. I then place the piggies in the boy's laps ( neither of my sons is allowed to pick the piggies up yet). The way the fabric is draped, the piggies are free to leave the lap and to return. When the piggies are in their laps, the boys may pet them, but not restrain them if they want to leave. The boys will coax Higgins and Anastasia back and forth. Anastasia will often come to investigate what is being offered to Higgins. If Higgins can't see Anastasia, she will become agitated and cry for her and/or leave the lap to look for her. They love the treats, but look more like they are merely tolerating the contact, they don't yet enjoy petting. Anastasia is the friendlier and more dominant. Poor Higgins is more timid. Fortunately, my sons have decided that Anastasia belongs to my younger son, and Higgins to my older son. My older son is more patient and less in a hurry to be able to pet and handle Higgins. How should we proceed? Since Higgins is more shy, should she be handled more frequently or less? Should we attempt lap time every day ? Is it best to stick to a regular schedule --same sequence of events, same time of day?