Guinea pig handling help for my cousin?

[leafpool]

Hello! I live across the street from my 8 year old cousin, Ethan, who got two bonded female guinea pigs 2 months ago. My Auntie keeps telling me that he has a slight fear of holding them and I was wondering if you guys had any tips to help him get his fear away?

Ginger is the older sister and she's the most laid back. She likes to be held much more than her other sister, Trixie, who isn't too fond of being held.

 

[bubblesrkool21]

gently pet them and help them calm down and have him grab them with both hands and pick them up slowly.

 

[Newt]

maybe he could just pet them in the cage first, feed them treats from his hand, until he is more sure of them? Then maybe he could practice holding them in a safe secure area, like maybe a bathroom, so if they get free of his hold, they cant run anywhere...?

 

[smhufflepuff]

I wouldn't try petting them in the cage first. I know mine used to run around like crazy in their cage when a hand came in to pet them/pick them up.

I'd go over, get the more relaxed piggie out and set it on your lap. Snuggle with the piggie, pet the piggie, invite Ethan to come over and pet the piggie with you (piggie still on your lap). Let him see how you handle a wiggly pig, a calm pig... all the moods and behaviors that piggies have and do while piggie is still on your lap. Perhaps not the first time you do this (or even in the first week depending on how scared Ethan is), shift the piggie from your lap to his. I'd also get out a blanket for Ethan's lap... it puts a little distance between him and the piggie and blocks something he could be afraid of: getting peed on.

 

[akane]

Petting a guinea pig in a proper sized cage doesn't happen. They just bounce around like pin balls the second you reach over their heads. You can try feeding them treats. Vegetables and horse treats work. Also having someone else get out a guinea pig and then handing it to him so he can feel that they don't hurt or anything might help before moving on to the difficult catching phase. Guinea pigs are just guinea pigs. No matter how tame you make them they never want to be petted and caught in a proper sized cage where they can run away. I've only seen 2 exceptions out of hundreds. Once out though that wild pig in the cage can become quite friendly.

 

[Newt]

I guess my girls were an exception then? Most of them would happily have a scritch on the head, so long as I offered some tasty veges first!
But yeah, I guess more skittish ones wouldnt be too keen....