Can't pick up chins

[leer]

I've had my two chins for almost 8 months, but I'm still unable to pick them up. They will sit in my hand and crawl up my arm, so I'm pretty sure it's not a matter of them being uncomfortable with me. It's not that big of a problem, because I can transport them with a carrier, I just really would like to be able to hold them.
I know there are two ways to pick them up. I've tried picking them up by the base of the tail, but for obvious reasons, they do not like it. I asked my breeder about this, and she said it should get better over time. But whenever I do this, they just bark and scratch and squirm, so I feel really uncomfortable holding them like this.
I also hear you can scoop them up under the belly, but honestly, I cannot grasp how this is done. Whenever I get my hands under their bellies, they just jump away. I don't want to straight up grab them, because I'm scared of accidentally crushing them. So does anyone have any tips or tricks? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tunes]

You need to do a combination of the two. I grasp at the base of the tail and support by scooping my hand under the belly. Don't clutch them, just let them rest on the palm of your hand while you stabilize them by holding the base of the tail.

You have both parts, now you just need to put them together!

 

[leer]

Well I have tried that, and they just scratch at my palm and try to get away! Should I just keep holding them like that until they wear out? But then, I don't want them to get stressed.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Also, you want to always hold them by the base of the tail because they will jump straight out of your hands and could injure themselves if they fall far or onto something.

 

[alli713]

Well, just so you don't beat yourself up over this, actually most chins prefer not to be held.
Only one of my girls doesn't mind it. The other 4, no matter how you hold them, prefer to be running around and will squirm some when I'm holding them.

 

[ann1]

Some chinnies like it and some dont. Also it could yake yrs for a chin to fully trust you. Just depends on the chin

 

[Jenn]

I have had my chin for 1 year now and I can't hold onto her, even though she'll sit in my lap and jump all over me. I really don't push the issue too much, but I have gotten her used to my hands under her belly and around her. But if I try to push too much, she will kack at me and let me know I have wronged her! She thinks she's the boss!

 

[leer]

Well my main concern is that if I can't pick them up, I can't check for hair rings.

 

[Nancy S]

Try (with both Hands) fingers on the underside (belly) and use thumbs over top of upper/middle back. Be somewhat firm--not squishing. All three of my chins were forced to be held and now do just fine with it. (of course 2 of them do better than the 3rd one). They really don't like to be held and it's just something i think, you'll want to be able to do for future health checks, injuries, hand feedings during illness. Keep on it--you'll get it figured out and it'll be pretty easy. You've got them on your hands and arms so you're almost there. When you get them picked up and are holding them (don't let them jump) sit on a tall stool and pet their head. If they try to bite or do bite- do not put them back in the cage--continue to hold. Maybe have someone else give them a pinch of oats or rosehips while you hold and talk sweet. They are smart and they'll get it that you are going to hold them for a short period of time and mine have learned to relax and just "go with it"!hehe. Try really hard not to chase them; and you do have one in your hands--don't let the other one hear him barking and carrying on. (go out of the room if you have to). You can also try the dust bath in the cage --then remove the bath with the chin in it or i have wood house that i glued the wood bottom to--he'll run in there and i can remove the house to get him out....i do prefer to get my chins with my hands though most of the time. Good luck and you "can" hold them and my one of my guys really does like to be picked up-held-and stroked (but, was a biter when little).

 

[mishellyshel]

Because I am handfeeding my one guy he will let me pick him up very easily. some times when he is cranky he will go to the corner, but i can still scoop him up with little resistance. he gets fed 3 times a day, so every time i even go near his cage he wants to come out to play............BUT my other chin does not like being picked up, which means he gets very little playtime, since i have to carry them to the bathroom. usually after 3 days of me standing by the cage with the door opent trying to get him to come out he will come near the opening and sorta stand there knowing i am going to grab him and then he has a blast running around the bathroom!! but even when i go to pet him sometimes, he makes this little whine as if to warn me that he doesnt want me touching him. liitle brat.
they also jump on my shoulder from the cage and i am able to get them off my shoulder and carry them where they need to go. that way they are in control and they seem to like that!

 

[Laurie]

I totally understand your frustration! I have to do the belly scoop and even chase them a bit with my hand around the cage until I corner them and they have nowhere to go. They are a lot sturdier though than you might think. Yes the may bark and even bite but you will be able to use a bit of "oomph" to hold onto them. Once I am holding them I hold onto the base of the tale like Tunes sad and try to hold them under the belly. The neck is not a good place to grasp them at all.
After hair ring checks or holding them try giving them a treat and saying "treat" so they know something good will come of it!

 

[leer]

Thanks for the great advice everyone!

 

[BaxterJoy]

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about leer! I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I see all these videos on youtube and stuff of people just scooping them up out of their cages and stuff, and the chins barely blink. Baxter is still relatively new to us, so I'm totally understanding of the fact that he doesn't want to be held. They really handled him badly at the petstore (i know they tell you not to get them at the petstore, but after my husband and i visited him a few times, we just couldn't leave him there!). At the same time, when we have been forced to pick him up, I've done so by scooping him up from the sides when he's perched on my knee and facing the opposite direction... Like I said, this has been when we HAVE to pick him up because anything else would present way too many complications ... maybe you could do that if you have to? The down sides are that he gets a little bit startled. However, we make sure he calms down by talking to him, scratching him, and giving him a treat before putting him back in his cage.

 

[leer]

Oh that is a good idea, Baxter! I would have never thought of that!