Didn't go so well ....

[guineapigs2468]

I was reading through guinea lynx and found a tip I thought to be quite good in the handling section. It shows you how to properly hold a guinea pig (which was the way I was holding my pigs anyway) and another tip I found to be useful. It said that guinea pigs can't jump backwards, so if you find it difficult to put a squirmy pig back in his/her cage them to put them in, head facing you.
Next there was a tip to stop guinea pigs being squirmy when picked up that might take a few weeks. It said to hold the guinea pig just above their bedding and wait until they stopped squirming, then place their feet gently on the bedding and when they stop squirming let them go.
It said that this should stop the guinea pig from being squirmy when holding after a few weeks. So I thought I would try this with my piggies. But it didn't go so well, my piggy squirmed so much and I lost my grip on her afraid that I was hurting her. The only way I could have kept hold of her I thought would be hurting her, and that is not what a wanted to achieve. So does anyone else have any experience with this ? Have they tried it with their piggies ?
I'm not sure whether to attempt this again, my piggy might be even more scared now.

Here's a link to where I found this information: http://www.guinealynx.info/handling.html

[spy9doc]

The more you gently handle them, the less they will feel the need to squirm. And, yes, they will tend to jump into the cage if they're facing it. I generally place mine into the cage rear-first with my hand supporting his bum.

Always have a firm (bit oh, so gentle) two-handed grip with one hand supporting the butt and back legs when moving them from one place to another. I find the older mine get, the less they squirm. I suspect that much of it is just familiarity and trust.

[PiBee]

I read this and I began trying it with my pig, and I think it's actually working! Sometimes it is pretty difficult to keep a hold on them but for the most part, they're learning really fast. My only advice would be to keep trying! Try placing them back in the cage away from a hidey house and maybe near a corner so they aren't as tempted to run?

[guineapigs2468]

The more you gently handle them, the less they will feel the need to squirm. And, yes, they will tend to jump into the cage if they're facing it. I generally place mine into the cage rear-first with my hand supporting his bum.

Always have a firm (bit oh, so gentle) two-handed grip with one hand supporting the butt and back legs when moving them from one place to another. I find the older mine get, the less they squirm. I suspect that much of it is just familiarity and trust.

My girl Maisy the one I was talking about is only 6 months old. She isn't all that squirmy its just when I put her back in the cage. I put her back in the cage, like you described but she squirmed so much I thought that I was hurting her. So not wanting to hurt her I just let her go.

[guineapigs2468]

I read this and I began trying it with my pig, and I think it's actually working! Sometimes it is pretty difficult to keep a hold on them but for the most part, they're learning really fast. My only advice would be to keep trying! Try placing them back in the cage away from a hidey house and maybe near a corner so they aren't as tempted to run?

Thanks, I will give it a few more tries, I just don't want to stress her out as she didnt seem very pleased that I didn't let her run of straight away ....

[jacqueline]

Kramer, my 10 month old boy still screams like a little girl when i go to pick him up. once he's on my lap, he gets his feeding, and then lots of petting time. by the time i put him back in his cage, he's very relaxed, with a full tummy, and he doesn't squirm at all.

trust, feeling safe and relaxed -that all helps and it takes time! be patient and just keep trying!

[guineapigs2468]

Kramer, my 10 month old boy still screams like a little girl when i go to pick him up. once he's on my lap, he gets his feeding, and then lots of petting time. by the time i put him back in his cage, he's very relaxed, with a full tummy, and he doesn't squirm at all.

trust, feeling safe and relaxed -that all helps and it takes time! be patient and just keep trying!

Thanks, I just get disappointed is all as she is very cuddly at lap time but when I pick her up at the start or am putting her back. She makes screeches like I'm hurting her, or will squirm like crazy.

[Elthysia]

My 10 month old female pig is too lazy to squirm but the screams as if I'm going to kill her. Always been like that apparently (according to rescue) she even relaxes in my arms and enjoys being petted behind her ears but she is just a screamer I guess (all of the above only when it remotely looks like I may pick her up, but she does come to me for it)

[PiBee]

Another tip I have it to make sure food is always present during something she doesn't like. For example: the same pig I was talking about not only hates being picked up, but will run away when you try and pet her. When I put a piece of lettuce in front of her, then try and pick her up, she's still visibly scared but she doesn't run away. I'm hoping one day it will help her learn that I mean no harm. Food is always a good bribe with guinea pigs!

[guineapigs2468]

Food is a very helpful with my piggies. My one guinea pig coco would never eat anything from me, and lap time seemed useless as she would just sit there completely still. But I kept trying and offering her veggies, until I found the one food to her heart. Grass ! Would you believe, she refused everything I offered her (but would eat all of it if she was in her cage) but when I offered her grass it was gone within seconds. I had to go get more for her. I have a little area that has been penned off from other animals, and in the warmer weather I put them in there to munch the grass, so that is where I got the grass from (I know about making sure the grass hasn't had any chemicals used on it etc).
However I don't show them food and then pick them up, as to me my guinea pigs trust me and will come sniffing my hands all the time looking for food. I feel that if I was to show them food, then pick them up they would lose all the trust that they ever gained with me and stop coming to me for veggies, instead I think that they would just hide as they know they are going to be picked up. This would be a big backfall in their taming process, but that is just my opinion all piggies are different.
Thanks everyone for all the advice, I think Maisy just puts on the screeches sometimes, she knows who the momma is and who has the food, that's all that matters to her.

[MrWhistles]

How are you hholding her when you are teaching her to not squirm when going back into her cage?
I have tried this with Whistles but felt like he was going to get hurt.

[guineapigs2468]

How are you hholding her when you are teaching her to not squirm when going back into her cage?
I have tried this with Whistles but felt like he was going to get hurt.

The link I posted above might be more helpful, but I have the same problem as you really. Maisy squirms so much I feel like I'm hurting her when trying to teach her to not squirm. When I'm sat down and ready to carry her to her cage I firstly turn her to face me if she is not already. I then pick her up and hold her close to me, but still with her face to me, so that when I get to her cage there is no need to be turning her around. The next bit is hard to explain, I lower her slowly and the way I have learnt to hold her is by supporting the rear, and using my spare hand to support her chest, front area. If you imagine the normal way of holding a guinea pig, posted on the link above. That but turned around, with slight adjustments. My piggy still squirms a fair bit but I have only does this a couple of times, I also liked PiBee's tip where once you lower your pig into the cage, try doing it closer to the edge, giving them less space to run making them less likely to. I hope this makes sense, I'm still trying to work out the best way to hold Maisy myself.

[MrWhistles]

The link I posted above might be more helpful, but I have the same problem as you really. Maisy squirms so much I feel like I'm hurting her when trying to teach her to not squirm. When I'm sat down and ready to carry her to her cage I firstly turn her to face me if she is not already. I then pick her up and hold her close to me, but still with her face to me, so that when I get to her cage there is no need to be turning her around. The next bit is hard to explain, I lower her slowly and the way I have learnt to hold her is by supporting the rear, and using my spare hand to support her chest, front area. If you imagine the normal way of holding a guinea pig, posted on the link above. That but turned around, with slight adjustments. My piggy still squirms a fair bit but I have only does this a couple of times, I also liked PiBee's tip where once you lower your pig into the cage, try doing it closer to the edge, giving them less space to run making them less likely to. I hope this makes sense, I'm still trying to work out the best way to hold Maisy myself.

So you're holding it like the picture shows?
I saw the link. But wanted to be sure you weren't holding her in a way that would be painful.
I tried this but Whistles used his hind legs and lunched right out of my hands. I somehow, buy the grace of DOG, caught him before he landed on the floor.
Since the switch the fleece he is a bit less squirmy. I think the plastic bottom/shavings made for a slippy surface and he felt insecure.
I also always put Whistles in his cage with him facing into the front left corner. Seen in this photo. It is beside his wooden hut.

[Zuidy]

Personally, I wouldn't try anything like this after I tried the first few times.

Like @spy9doc said, just give it time. It is hard to keep a hold on the squirming Pig, and it would be easier just to build that trust to get them to stop squirming.

Just put them in bum back and always have food on hand.

[guineapigs2468]

So you're holding it like the picture shows?
I saw the link. But wanted to be sure you weren't holding her in a way that would be painful.
I tried this but Whistles used his hind legs and lunched right out of my hands. I somehow, buy the grace of DOG, caught him before he landed on the floor.
Since the switch the fleece he is a bit less squirmy. I think the plastic bottom/shavings made for a slippy surface and he felt insecure.
I also always put Whistles in his cage with him facing into the front left corner. Seen in this photo. It is beside his wooden hut.

I make sure I'm holding her right, if she squirms to much I let her go, especially if I know I might be hurting her. I just wouldn't want to take that risk. Beautiful cage as well, is all that to himself ? He is one lucky piggy.

[guineapigs2468]

Personally, I wouldn't try anything like this after I tried the first few times.

Like @spy9doc said, just give it time. It is hard to keep a hold on the squirming Pig, and it would be easier just to build that trust to get them to stop squirming.

Just put them in bum back and always have food on hand.

I might just carry on putting her back facing me, and not bothering with the waiting until she doesn't squirm bit afterwards, I don't want to hurt her accidently and it's not worth the risk. I always have food on hand if piggies are involved

[MrWhistles]

I make sure I'm holding her right, if she squirms to much I let her go, especially if I know I might be hurting her. I just wouldn't want to take that risk. Beautiful cage as well, is all that to himself ? He is one lucky piggy.

Yes all to himself.
I want hubby to be on board with a new piggy and so far he isn't helping.

[guineapigs2468]

Yes all to himself.
I want hubby to be on board with a new piggy and so far he isn't helping.

Well when the time comes I'm sure the right piggy will be waiting to be mr whistles new friend. They would have lots of space even with two piggies, I'm sure introductions will go well.

[Zuidy]

I might just carry on putting her back facing me, and not bothering with the waiting until she doesn't squirm bit afterwards, I don't want to hurt her accidently and it's not worth the risk. I always have food on hand if piggies are involved

Y'know, I actually forgot what I DO end up doing instead.

I hold her like in the PIGture to put her back, and if she squirms at all before I am just about to set her down, she goes right back down to my lap for a minute or so.

[guineapigs2468]

Y'know, I actually forgot what I DO end up doing instead.

I hold her like in the PIGture to put her back, and if she squirms at all before I am just about to set her down, she goes right back down to my lap for a minute or so.

Sounds like a good method, although I don't think Maisy would agree with this. She might end up peeing all over me in the process, as rather than squirming to get away sometimes she actually just needed a wee. She hasn't learnt how to warn me very well just yet, and the poo and wee just magically appear.