What kind of petting does your guinea pig prefer?

[kittieb]

Mine like to be petted behind the ears.
But one doesn't seem to be enjoying any kind of touching.

so yeah
i just want to figure out what i can do to make her enjoy her lap time more.

-kittie

[linda]

Gini used to love it behind her head, on her head and 'big hand stroke' (whole hand stroking her back)

She hardly lets me touch the part under her throat....it was SOO soft!

[Cutecavy]

All my pigs LOVE chin rubs, whenever I'm having a cuddle they'll put their head up so I can rub their chin. It's so adorable Most pigs do like chin rubs, you should see if your piggy likes it. It's a good way to bond! Just rub or gentely scratch under their chin.

All my pigs liked to be rubbed anyway really, I always give them kisses and hugs mostly though lol!

[Melza]

my pigs like different bits the best, they all enjoy being stroked down the back.
lisa- likes a good chin rub
bella-likes a scratch on the back, near the rump
cleo- likes the ear scratch
stormy- likes a rub on his nose
cloudy- likes all of the above with a nice hug in the middle!

[cavyfan]

How to do piggy grooming (copied from my own site):
Grooming
This exercise emphasises that guinea pig's view of you as a friend - a fellow creature. Guinea pigs use their teeth and paws to clean themselves. However they often have trouble grooming along their spine, as they cannot reach this. If your guinea pig has a companion (recommended), they will probably groom each other. Whether or not they do, you can still try this exercise:

- Sit on a chair with your guinea pig on your lap and your finger or thumb near their mouth.

- Start gently scratching behind their ears with your other hand, moving your fingers slowly along the spine in the direction that the hair is going. Loose hairs may begin to come out in your hand. The guinea pig will probably begin to nibble and lick your finger - guinea pigs will groom each other simultaneously. This is good, it means that your cavy view you as a fellow cavy.

- When you have reached the end of the guinea pig's spine, he or she will stop licking - the grooming is done.

Follow up: Now brush the hair down flat, in the direction that it is going. The loose or dead hairs will slide out, and the guinea pig may begin to purr - a very good sign.

Congratulations! You have now groomed your guinea pig in the same way that guinea pig's groom each other.

They like that very much.
~cavyfan

[Melza]

very nice cavyfan, must try that! im excited now! lol! i bet they will really like that

[cavies]

WOooow it is so interesting to find out that cavies like to be stroked differently to another cavie
Not being sarcastic just dont have any guinea pigs yet

[Melza]

lol! of course, you like to be touched in different places to others dont you? *that sounded dodgy, but i can asure you nothing was meant by it!* guineas are the same, they are all different

[Pigjes]

It depends on how much the piggies trust you. That means, at the start, they will only enjoy to be touched on the top side of their body. Once trust sets in, you will be allowed to touch more places without them being freaked out. Floopy and Kooky were here 2.5 year and suddenly I was allowed to pet their belly. Bibi felt comfy straight on and I am even allowed to even kiss her belly

So, mine love petting under the chin, ears, bum, belly and even feet by now! ;D

[isis]

Of the four boars I know only the youngest one is really into being stroked, Earl quite like having his shoulders scratched, Everyone will endure chin tickles to a degree, and the two most recent adoptions prefer just to sit well supported and not be touched much at all.

[Clover]

All my piggies love being stroked under the chin, Jake just keeps lifting his head higher and higher They also like a very gentle ear stroke, I've heard it also calms them and they do seem to close their eyes a little and look very contented.

[Nia]

Starburst loves a scratch under the chin, and she lifts her head as well. And even if I stop, she keeps it lifted as if to say "Keep going now or I'll eat you."

[Melza]

they all love the chin scratch, and i was playing with bella today adn she loves a good belly scratch aswell! i have never known one to like that before!

["Newspaper"]

cavyfan, very interesting I am going to try that. Newpaper likes it behind the ears and the full hand stroke down the back. She also likes to be scratched right above her but where her hair sticks up! She will stop whatever she is doing and just sit there purring, then she starts to popcorn. Never saw a pig popcorn as much as her!!

[threelittlepigs]

This is such an interesting thread!

I have recently bought my piggies some fake fur (a remnant piece from a fabric shop). This has really transformed cuddle time. The piggies like to snuggle down into the fur and get nice and cosy. They are also much more willing to stretch out than before. I will try to post some photos soon: the pigs look so cute when they are being cuddled!

[Melza]

oh, good to remember threelittlepigs. we have some of that at work, i can put it in the guiea cages there and it may help them feel better, from all the stupid kids going "i wanna touch the guinea pig" *pokes guinea pig*

[Kalindi]

My girls like been scratched behind their ears, under their chings and just general stroking. they always love lap time. i think that it's a good way to bond!

[Melza]

it is a good way to bond! you cant miss their little faces waiting at the cage, they know what time it is when its hugs time and woe betide me if im late!

[kitty]

Bordeaux likes to be patted gently, like burping a baby, and Lelani likes me to run my fingers down her backbone which makes her purr!

[pssccf]

My pigs are very different to each other.
Spot~Is quite fond of grooming ME, but he also likes ear massages. You just put your thumb and forefinger either side of the ear and rub gently.
Squishy~ looooooooooooves when i swirl my finger around in his fur spirals, as he is an abbysinian.
Charlie~ Hates bonding of any kind. he squeals like it hurts, but he's perfectly fine. He just doesnt like cuddles.
Fudge~ he he! Anything you do puts Fudge to sleep. You could have him just sitting there and he'll fall asleep. He's ALWAYS asleep actually.