Hand feeding goals

Hand feeding your guinea pig is a great way to build your bond and improve your relationship. Hand feeding helps your guinea pig to adopt you as a "Positive Pet Parent" and see you as the provider of food, shelter, play, and companionship.

 

Hand feed your guinea pig fresh greens daily to help bond your guinea pig to you.

• Teach your guinea pig that human hands are gentle to lower potential guinea pig fear

• Sit next to your guinea pig and gently stroke gently and slow with one finger. Talk during feeding time to decrease fear and help your guinea pig trust you.

• Help your guinea pig relax by moving slowly and letting out big sighs and releasing all your body tension.

After hand feeding takes hold, you can use this quality time with your guinea pig to move the food and use words such as "come" or "sit up" using the food to lure the guinea pig to move where you want him or her to go then delivering the food as a reward and reinforcer.

Goals

• Prevent aggression. Teach your Pet that human hands are gentle to lessen potential aggression.
   

• Build trust. Sit next to your guinea pig and gently stroke him/her and talk in a soothing voice during feeding time to increase your Pet's appreciation of physical contact from you and to build trust.
   

• Reduce stress.  Help your guinea pig relax by letting out big sighs and releasing all your body tension.

Hand feed  before every meal to help bond your guinea pig to you.