General How to hold a guinea pig?

[kendalm7]

How do you properly hold a guinea pig? I know, you maybe saying " what's does she mean how to hold one!!!" But I'm asking this because I see many post on here from things that happen to guinea pigs because owners may or sorta know how to properly hold a guinea pig but I think someone who really knows should post a video on here so everyone who's curious can see and make sure they know that's what there doing! I worry my self sometimes if I'm holding and picking them from their cage right! As we all know Piggys are sometimes squirmy but not holding them right can cause them to fall or jump out of your hands, get hurt, or be scared! So I guess I'm just asking if members who want to would post a video on a real how to
also you can only really read how to never see online and if you youtube "how to hold a guinea pig" you get 13 year olds showing you and honestly I'm sure most of them have no idea!
Thanks so much!
just thought this would be a good idea

 

[Kim37040]

There are tons of videos on Youtube, but there is so much inconsistency between each of them it would be hard to use them as a guide.
Here is a info sheet from guinea lynx on handling.

http://www.guinealynx.info/handling.html


From my person experience I have learned that supporting their body with both hands is the most important thing.
They can get squirrely sometimes that jump.
One of the biggest things I have learned is how strong and quick those little back legs are. I always hold with my hand on their bum and not their legs for that reason.
I have been in situations where I was holding them and as I get closer to their cage they try to lunge for it when they smell it. Regardless of how far away it is. I have one pig who never would try it but I have another who is a lunger to his little core.

So a hand supporting the either the back of stomach area (depending on what direction you are holding them) and always a hand on the bum but not putting them in position to push those little legs off something to propel forward.



That is how I hold my piggies