This is embarrassing but I'm afraid of holding my guinea pig. I got him about 2 years ago and he was just a baby. I had wanted a guinea pig for years but suddenly when it was just the two of us when I got home that day I was terrified. We never really "bonded" per say, I mean he eats out of my hand and I pet his nose a lot but I've only held him twice and one of those times he bit me (this was more towards the time I got him and not recently). How I get him out of the cage before you ask is that I put his carrying cage up to the little door of his cage and he jumps in. I love him to death and I really want to hold him and carry him everywhere but I don't even know how to start because I had him for so long and he wont be used to it and I'm scared of being bit. Also he's getting just a tiny bit chubbier so I want to let him run around without worrying how I'm going to pick him up and put him back. Please help for both of us!

just act like he's a baby.........

Honestly the best way to get over you fear is to just pick him up, if you want maybe wear some gloves in case he does bite. But if you've barely held him in the past go slowly, he's not used to it. After so long, they get used to it & its harder to do the most simplest things. I once went a week without holding mine cause of my busy schedule & he bit the living daylights outta my thumb when I picked him up. He adjusted quickly though. Just go slow & if he gets jumpy or looks like he might bite just sit him down & try again later.

This is going to be a little harder than usual because you've had him for two years. As you probably know the bet time to handle a pet is when it is a baby, so it gets to know you and you get to know it. Well first things first, you really need to get over the fear of him biting you. Animals can sense when someone is nervous or frightened and they sometimes act in ways that will protect them, hence the biting. So when you hold him, try not to show him that you're anxious, he'll sense it. It takes time but he'll get there eventually :) you could always do a reward system too. Guinea pigs love little treats so when you pick him up and he doesn't bite, reward him with a little treat. He'll soon twig on, and with you being calm it should all work out. Good Luck :)

I Have Three Guinea Pigs