A Bit Of Behaviour Advice?

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MollyB

MollyB

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Hi all!

I'm getting used to Teddy's, (my lone, almost blind, rescue boar's) sounds, movements, and behaviours, but I just wanted to check with you all what they actually mean to make sure I get it right.
  1. He does a quiet teeth chattering sound when I bring him food or when I come see him and he's in his closed off section of the hutch. I assumed that the food one was impatience (I read that here :D), and I interpreted the other time as him politely telling me to leave him alone?
  2. Sometimes when he sniffs my hand he'll stop and let me rub his nose, then he might pull back quickly. Is he allowing me to stroke his nose and then moving when he's had enough, or is he frozen in terror? Because I really don't want to be continuing doing it if he just wants me to stop :)
  3. He seems to not want much interaction in the day time, but when the evening/later afternoon comes, he really wants to know what's going on, and he's much livelier. Could that just be his pattern? He likes to be busy in the early morning and late afternoon, but wants to sleep/be left alone in the day?
Thanks so much for any advice/help you have for me guys! He's my first piggie so I want to make sure I undterstand him as best I can :) x
 
Guinea pigs are crepuscular - i.e. they are most active at dawn and dusk, and mostly sleep or just quietly browse during the day. Guinea Pig Facts - A Short Overview

Ideally, you gently rub your boy around the eyes and cheeks; that is where guinea pigs show their affection with each other. Pushing up the nose is more a matter of enforcing dominance. Some piggies love nose rubs, but by far not all.
Here are our guinea pig whispering tips: How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
 
I find my girls are far more active in the early morning and late afternoon/evening. I think this follows their wild ancestors' crepuscular nature. (They are all currently sleeping!) Can't really offer much on the first two points though I'd tend to agree with the first! Mine also do something similar with the nose strokes so if be interested in the opinions too!
 
Thank you @Wiebke & @Guineapigfeet ! I'll make sure to only stroke his cheeks & eye area now; I'd hate for him to think I'm trying to show dominance! :S
I totally forgot about their crepuscular nature too! Thank you for reminding me! Now I know to just leave him be unless he needs a hay top up :) <3
 
Hello again! I just wanted to ask what you thought this sound meant?
They're saying it's a good thing, but Teddy was making it yesterday when I held him and I had a feeling it was more of a 'I don't think I like this' sound.
I've found mixed feedback on it, so I thought I'd check with you guys :)
 
I very lightly stroke Tia around the eyes & cheeks within 5 minutes she's asleep.
None of mine like there noses touched.
 
I've never been able to tell the difference between the annoyed purr and a good purr either haha. I find if my piggies don't like something they shove my hand out of the way.

My Cissy will let me give her nose a bit of a stroke, then has enough so headbutts my finger away lol. They're not shy at telling you what they do/don't like!

I find that you've kinda gotta explore a piggies stroke areas (chin, nose, head, ears, back but NEVER bum and rarely tum :))) to see your pigs particular likes and dislikes.

One of my piggies is blind in one eye and she's definitely been harder to bond with as her blind side is almost always facing me. Gentle talking and the presentation of a good food seems to have worked well for her. She still doesn't really like to be touched but she's getting there, I think it just startles her even when I present my hand to smell. Loves her cuddle time though :)
 
MollyB said:
Hello again! I just wanted to ask what you thought this sound meant?
They're saying it's a good thing, but Teddy was making it yesterday when I held him and I had a feeling it was more of a 'I don't think I like this' sound.
I've found mixed feedback on it, so I thought I'd check with you guys :)
Click to expand...

That is definitely a "I don't like it sound" - you can also see it in his body language; it is not relaxed.
 
What @Wiebke said. I get that noise anytime Blitzen needs groomed, because he hates it. Also when noises are happening that they don't like - keys jangling, phone ringing etc.

The notes about body language are probably the most important, though. It might feel like it takes forever to learn a pigs language but tbh it's going to take time and practise, it never happens overnight.
 
I can't rely on the purr either. Their vocal language can be quite confusing at times and each pig seems to be a bit different with their levels of vocalisations, it's almost like they all have a set of words/phrases but some will use more than others, and some simply don't vocalise certain things while others will. Not that I can hear anyhow. The purr I think must surely differ for various emotions but my ears do not distinguish between them very well at all!
The body language is easier to read though. Again at times it can be subtle, as when they are interacting with each other, but sitting tensed in a position that would allow them to bolt, butting hands out the way, things like that are clear signs of "I'm not happy with what you are doing".
 
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