Hiya
I think I may have posted about this before but Dizzi and Rascal have decided that they HATE being picked up......... BUT, I'm paranoid about checking their bums and do it every day ... in order to do this properly, I have to pick them up.
Each time I do it, there's a struggle but each time I try and be as quick as possible and give them lots of treats (well, their pellets and some veggies, which they love so much they get giddy about) afterwards.
Its got to the point now though that as soon as I go to stroke them, they run off.
If I give them a treat (pellet or veg), they run off with it (probably because they know when I'm treating them I'm usually about to pick them up for a bum check).
And now they won't come to me anymore!!
I fear they hate me.
Is there anything I can do to make bum checks etc less traumatic for them and get them to trus and love me again.
Thanks, Jo x
PS/ I'm never rough with them but I try to be firm and confident when I handle them but they wriggle like mad so I end up having to cradle them whilst I check them to stop them jumping out of my arms.
I think I may have posted about this before but Dizzi and Rascal have decided that they HATE being picked up......... BUT, I'm paranoid about checking their bums and do it every day ... in order to do this properly, I have to pick them up.
Each time I do it, there's a struggle but each time I try and be as quick as possible and give them lots of treats (well, their pellets and some veggies, which they love so much they get giddy about) afterwards.
Its got to the point now though that as soon as I go to stroke them, they run off.
If I give them a treat (pellet or veg), they run off with it (probably because they know when I'm treating them I'm usually about to pick them up for a bum check).
And now they won't come to me anymore!!
I fear they hate me.
Is there anything I can do to make bum checks etc less traumatic for them and get them to trus and love me again.
Thanks, Jo x
PS/ I'm never rough with them but I try to be firm and confident when I handle them but they wriggle like mad so I end up having to cradle them whilst I check them to stop them jumping out of my arms.