my piggies hate me!!!

[ilikepepto]

my piggies hate me!!!

HELP!!!! my piggies hate me! they also hate coming out of their cage! i've had two females for six months. they don't like being petted or held. i'm very gentle and try to soothe them but that doesn't help. i try to be the best piggie mom that i can be, fresh veggies, plenty of space, water and toys; and i try to get them to enjoy their playpen but they hate it and me! my arms are covered in GP scratches! could this be a temperment issue?

 

[Briana D]

Re: my piggies hate me!!!

Where did you get your pig from? Has it been treated for mites?

 

[michaelince]

Re: my piggies hate me!!!

If they seem to scratch a lot, get upset when you pet them, even have bald patches then as has been said they could have mites. (all piggies are bald behind their ears and have a bald spot just where their tail would be if they had one).

Our piggies took a long time to get used to us also and were over a year old before they were really friendly.

No piggies like being picked up - but if you hold them comfortably they should quickly settle down.
Try not to chase them around picking them up - it'll really stress them. If one of my boys is feeling skittish I'll put down a carboard tube for him to hide in then pick that up
Try not to have them in your arms or on your lap too long, look out for signs that they've had enough, (nibbling fingers or restlessness), and put them back.
Make sure your lap is comfortable - use an old towel to make it smooth, give them a treat to eat.

We've never had real scratches from our piggies, (we have had some painful bites!), perhaps their nails are over long.

If they have mites it will make them very cranky and unhappy (and they could die). Other health problems will also affect their behaviour, for instance somthing as simple as over grown nails would make walking uncomfortable.

 

[2steps]

Re: my piggies hate me!!!

Think it would be worth having them checked for mites just incase - it is very painful. Think you should get their nails cut too.
michaelince, none of my pigs have a bald spot where the tail would be, in fact I hav eproblems with this area of fur on one of my shetlies as it gets wet and I have to cut it down.

None of my pigs like being picked up but they are happy once they are in my arms and will sit and be stroked.

 

[Marlania]

Re: my piggies hate me!!!

I find that my pigs love to be held right against my chest. It really soothes them, and I get lots of happy squeals when they're being held there. Usually when they're happy enough, they calm down and climb onto my shoulder. This is a habit I got my almost 1 yr old and 2 month old into. I wouldn't suggest this if it also didn't work on my friends guinea from hell. This pig hates everyone but me. While it bites my friend and jumps from her arms, she snuggles against me. That really annoys my friend, but at least it changes her pig's attitude every so often.

Marlania
www.hopeforanimals.com

 

[gnomequeeny]

Re: my piggies hate me!!!

Try to give them a treat everytime you meet them for awhile or handle them. Eventually they will associate you with food therefore animal love you! lol