My guinea pig hisses? sneezes at me

[Adrianne89]

Gir hisses or sneezes at me and runs and hides when i try to pick him up. he calms down after i hold him for a bit. no matter how much he runs i try to get him out of cage and hold him for 30 min a day now.....is that ok or do i need to let him alone if h continues to run from me.

[shags]

Maybe you can try sitting by his cage and talking to him softly so he gets used to you.

[Adrianne89]

His cage is in my living room by my computer desk I sit here and watch tv or surf the computer or go and sit next to his cage that is only a foot away... every day... He seems to be ok if I open cage and put my hand in he doesnt freak out.. but he still runs if I try to pick him up

[Adrianne89]

I really just want to know if this is him being angry with me or what it is?

[kananaka]

Most pigs do not like to be picked up. Have you tried the elevator method to pick him up? http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...-elevator.html

[Adrianne89]

wow that sounds like a wonderful idea.. I will try that with him tomorrow. Thank you

[Lisa21264]

My piggie Terra hates to be picked up. Guinea pigs are prey animals and their only defense is to run when they feel threatened. Try turning his pigloo over and picking him up in that making sure he doesn't jump out. He may always run from you but don't take it personally it's their instinct. They are basically food for other animals in the wild and don't have a lot of defenses

[Fifi_Sty]

one of our guinea pigs, Pepsi, really didn't like being picked up when we first got her but we used the tunnel in the cage to get her. It worked like a treat and now sometimes she will just sit and let you pick her up - depends on her mood though

[Adrianne89]

well I got a box and cut a hole in it.. set it in his cage and let him wonder in there then picked it up... I set the box on a towel in my husbands lap and gave him a snap pea to feed Gir and he slowly but surly made it out of the box nibbling on the pea.. then I got him in my lap and he snuggled up in the blanket and went to sleep SOOOOO happy I think he is starting to like us..

[madelineelaine]

The hissing noise is concerning. Guinea pigs don't 'hiss'.

[pinky]

I don't reach in and grab them. I usually slowly reach in and pet them on the head or around the ears. When they relax, then I go to pick them up. Don't hover or cast a shadow on him. He probably thinks you're a predator.... Are you sure he's not clicking his teeth? I haven't heard a guinea pig hissing, either.

[Adrianne89]

Its more like a sneeze... it doesn't sound like teeth clicking.. and he shakes his head a little and ruffles his fur.. It honestly looks and sounds like he is sneezing.. he does it sometimes when he is eating too... and he did it when he was almost asleep in my lap...
I don't know what it is..