Why wont our piggys let us pick them up?

Question
Hi

I have two lovely boys who are 11 weeks old. I have had them for three weeks and although they let me stroke them in the cage, they won't let me pick them up and they won't let me go near them when they are out of the hutch. They will come by me and sniff me but won't let me stroke them. Pls help!  

Answer
Hello Donna,

Very few piggies will let you pick them up. Being picked up is a frightening sensation for them those few moments they are dangling in the air with their feet above ground. We know we won't drop them but they generally aren't too sure. So even though most piggies love to be held and cuddled most of them hate the "picking up" proccess. As for when they are out of the cage, try teaching them to come when called. This will help them realize that coming to you means they get a nice treat and all piggies live for getting treats. They are still very young too and as they get older and more used to being handled the easier it will be to handle them. Good luck. Enclosed are instructions for teaching "Come".

Come  

What you need: an enclosed, piggy-safe area,  veggie treats, a piggy
What to do:
1. Place your piggy in an enclosed piggy-safe area so that if he does wander instead of come he won't be hurt.

2. Sit a couple inches from your piggy and wave the treat at him while calling his name or saying a command word such as "Come!"

3. Repeat.

4. When he comes running instantly when he hears his name or the command word, begin increasing the distance between you slowly.

5. If he stops coming when called, go back to the previous distance, and start again.

6. Soon, your piggy should begin to come when he is called, just be sure you have a treat ready for him. Keep in mind, a piggy is not a dog (no matter how similar they can be sometimes) and if he finds something more interesting that is closer than the treat is, he may just ignore you. While he may respond most of the time, it is possible he won't respond all of the time, no matter how well he is trained.

7. Congratulations! You've now taught your piggy a very useful trick. This should help alot when trying to round him up after playtime.


-kkat
http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs