How to handle new Guinea Pig

[texol]

We have (or rather my wife) has just bought a GP from a pet shop, we keep it in the kitchen in a hutch, my wife has cleaned it out twice, but has not yet handled it, the problem being its too fast to catch and when you put you put your hand in to pick it up it runs away. The house is noisey during the day with the kids around does anyone think its makin it nervous in any way and is there a certain amount of time we should leave it before trying to handle it? (we have had it almost a week)

[texol]

Can i also add, my wife is wary about getting scratched or bitten i have told her they do not bite, am i right?

[garner]

If you go back on pets 1.5.07 chirpykes 19.55, Ive given a reply on the same subject..Good Luck with your new pet.

[texol]

after 2 ov my friends coming yeterday they both managed to pick her up they said you havent got to be scared ov them. so i went to try and pick her up and suceeded so after that ive manged to pick her up about 4 times only for about 5 mins at a time but then tonight ( fri) i went to get her, picked her up but she bit me and drew blood. wot do u think the reason is she did that.

[wildwood]

You must bu now have some idea what it's favourite food is. Feed a little bit by hand a few times a day. Then put the food on your palm so that it has to lift it's front paws up on your hand. Next day scatch it softly on it's tummy while it is up and you'll soon have it used to you.

When you pick any animal up it must feel safe. Try putting both hands on each side and pick it up in a cuplike fashion. With a new animal one should never pick it up with the hand under the stomach, it takes time for them to get used to that.

[bensmum]

I have kept guinea pigs for years and have never had one bite yet so you're unlucky there! She is probably really nervous and they are very fast when you try to catch them so don't chase her around. Even guinea pigs who are used to being handles will often try to avoid being picked up. As wildwood says get her used to treats and she will come to associate you with nice things, from there it should get easier.

[electricblue]

we had a guinea that cudnt be handled,after it'd died we was told that the females,which she was are less easier to tame,dont know how true this is but we now have a male and altho he dont like to be picked up,once u actually hold him,he loves it,he even talks to me when ive got him,lol,and will quite happily sit on u and doze off!!

[texol]

thanks for yr advice everyone. so should i leave it for a while b4 i try to pick her up again and just try with the food in palm ov my hand.

[what..the?]

If you feel more comfortable get some thin gardening gloves to protect your hands for awhile.

Also try not to scare the pig make sure it knows you are coming to touch it, and always hold it secure as this is one of the reasons a pig will bite. They think you might drop them and they bite you to say put me down now.

Always wash your hands, if your hands smell of food they my think it is food. If holding food dont get your hands to close, mine bit me acidentally the other day because I was holding food and he thought my finger was food, maybe his eye sight is not too good.

Hold the guinea pig in a hand towel, as this helps the pig feel safe and also you can wrap the pig up in it the carry it round and put it back in it cage easier. And of course it's away from you skin and cannot bite you. I will let the pig sit on my lap on the towel to watch tv, that way the pig will not go to the toilet on you clothes, and you can quickly move him if you need to by just wrapping him up or lifting the edges of the towel so the pig is like in a hammock.

If you hand hold the pig - (i am right handed so ) when the pig is facing away from me or is facing right I scop my right hand under the pigs belly from the pigs right side, lift the pigs weight a little to allow you to scop the left hand under the pigs bum and back legs, lift up and out of cage and then hold the pig up right as if to expose his underneath, the pig should have it back to you, you should have your right hand round its middle/waist and your left hand under the pig holding his weight - the pig will normally stand on your left hand with their back feet. The guinea pig will feel safe like this and as long as you dont have you right hand too high up its middle i.e. too near its neck it cannot really bite you.