training and care

Question
My guinea pig ( Bernard) is about 7 months old.
He seem like he is scared of me and does not like being taken out of his cage. what am i doing wrong? Also, how can i train him to stay, come, etc.  

Answer
Hello Justine,

I'm very sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I have been very ill the last few days. Again, I am terribly sorry for the delay. Most Guinea Pigs do not like being picked up even if they like being held. Being picked up is very frightening for them in those breif moments they are suspended in air. Some piggies will get over this with frequent handling but most don't. Try taking things slow and bribing him. Lure him over with a favorite veggie treat while talking to him softly every time you enter the room. Don't try to touch him at all at first. Eventually, when he starts running over when he hears you come in, start petting him while he, munches. After he will sit still and allow you to pet him, start trying to pick him up. He may never get to the point where he allows you to pick him up without a struggle (it depends on how great his fear is) but this should at least make him more friendly and easier to catch. As for teaching him to come, call him name or give a command word (such as "Come") and wave a treat at him from a couple inches out of his reach. Slowly increase the distance between him and the treat and eventually he will be coming when you call him. As for staying, some pigs will some won't. You can teach most breeds to be still on the judging platform but often that will be the only place they are still. A judging platform is a tiny square they stand on while being judged at a cavy show. It really isn't big enough for them to move on without tumbling off and they learn to stand still so they don't fall. Typically just give them a treat and they will stay while they eat it but that's about it. If you have (or make) a judging platform you MAY be able to teach him to be still at other times by saying the word "Stay" while he's on the platform being still and then give him a treat then remove him from the platform. Later place him on the platform and tell him to stay and give him a treat and then take him down again. After a while, you can try this other places. I've never done this before, but it could work if you would like to try it. Once again, I'm sorry for the delay in answering.

-kkat
www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs