One of the main reasons people get guinea pigs is to interact with them. While playing with your guinea pig is completely normal, and encouraged, it is important that you are aware of the proper ways to handle your guinea pig.
Since guinea pigs obviously can’t talk to us, we must reply on their body language and behavior in order to accommodate them. In today’s article, we will explain everything you need to know about the proper way to hold a guinea pig.
Do guinea pigs like to be held?
Yes, most of the time guinea pigs like to be held by their owners. In fact, most guinea pigs will look forward to being held.
That being said, it is important that you hold your guinea pig properly so you don’t scare or injure them. For starters, it is important to know that new guinea pigs might be scared to be held at first.
This is because guinea pigs are naturally scared of larger creatures. In the wild, guinea pigs spend a good portion of their life hiding and running away from larger predators. Therefore, a new guinea pig might take a while to trust you.
One quick way to determine if your guinea pig is ready to be held is to pay attention to how they respond to your presence and your voice. When you enter the room, do they start running around the cage in excitement? Or do they scurry away and find a hiding spot? If your guinea pig is still shy and likes to hide, you should give him/her more time before you try to hold them.
You should also pay attention to guinea pig noises, as they can give you great insight into what your guinea pig is thinking or feeling.
How to get your guinea pig to like you?
The key to holding your guinea pig is making sure your guinea pig likes and trusts you. I would start about by hand feeding your guinea pig. If they are too scared to come close to your hand, try making a trail of food that leads to your hand. Once your guinea pig eats from your hand, you can move on to the next step.
How to pet your guinea pig?
Before you hold your guinea pig, you should start by petting them. It is important that you remain very gentle, and don’t push too hard against their skin. Make your hand clearly visible to your guinea pig so that they don’t get scared when you touch them. Also, never try to pet a guinea pig that is asleep.
If your guinea pig runs away from your hand, do not chase them. Let them have some time to themselves and try again the next day.
Do guinea pigs want to play with their owners?
Yes, guinea pigs absolutely want to play and be intimate with their owners. While guinea pigs can sometimes come off as shy and timid, they do like to establish close bonds with their owners. Also, guinea pigs that live by themselves can get very lonely. Therefore, you as their owner are the only interaction they have with other species.
Will my guinea pig bite me if I pick him up?
It is pretty uncommon for a guinea pig to bit their owners. However, it still does happen from time to time. The key to prevent this is to not sneak up on your guinea pig, and only pick him up if they are comfortable with it.
It is common for guinea pigs to nibble on clothes. This does not mean your guinea pig is mad. It just means your guinea pig is bored and wants to chew on something.