Bad mama

*Gemma*

*Gemma*

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone,

I guess I’m after a bit of advice, or maybe just to make me feel a bit better.
I’ve had my babies for a year now, I just don’t feel like I’ve got anywhere with taming them. In between medicine for a URI and nail clipping, I feel like it’s one step forwards 10 step backwards.
There is progress, they will take good out of my hand, but stroking there heads, forget about it. They take food from me and then run a mile.
I understand they are prey animals, I just see pictures of piggies sitting together on sofa or on laps and I don’t know if mine will ever be there.

I love them, they will always be my babies I just feel like such a bad mama & I should be doing more :soz::bye:

Picture cause they are gorgeous :love:
 

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They are gorgeous, you are not a bad piggy mama some pigs just take more time to tame, don't be so hard on yourself it's not your fault
 
Just to add that we have had our piggies for 3 years, and Lucy is still a devil to catch. But she also loves lap time the most, and will happily curl up on my lap and snooze for ages - she just doesn't like being caught.
After all this time Ruby is still our only pig who trots up the bars and demands to be picked up (but only by DD1 of course).
Naturally I try to keep catching as stress free as possible, but once out if a piggy clearly enjoys lap time then we try to handle them at least a couple of times a week (and Ruby a couple of times a day).
 
Swissgreys said:
Just to add that we have had our piggies for 3 years, and Lucy is still a devil to catch. But she also loves lap time the most, and will happily curl up on my lap and snooze for ages - she just doesn't like being caught.
After all this time Ruby is still our only pig who trots up the bars and demands to be picked up (but only by DD1 of course).
Naturally I try to keep catching as stress free as possible, but once out if a piggy clearly enjoys lap time then we try to handle them at least a couple of times a week (and Ruby a couple of times a day).
Click to expand...
Yeah we have a little system where they will jump into a hidey so no chasing them around, they just don’t seem to like lap time.

I think I’m just going to go back to basics. Thank you everyone.
 
Claire W said:
My two piggies are 3.5 years old are still not fans of laptime. They do however enjoy sitting / laying on a fleece next me on the settee. Ellen hates being stroked in the cage but is fine once out on the settee. Both piggies hate being picked up
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Aww bless them, i’m gonna try feed them their veggies next me today, see how they go. We will get there, just needed a moan I think :hb:
My first piggies & I just wanna do right by them :D
 
You are doing fine. Some piggies take years to like being touched and stroked and sitting on laps, some take to it straight away and some never like it. Mine are probably all in the last group for different reasons!
 
Back to basics sounds good. I swear by the whispering tips (hence username.) Patience will get there in the end.
 
The whispering tips (especially ear nibbling!) work great but a "tame" guinea pig seeking out human company is not necessarily happier or healthier than a sassy guinea pig acting out natural behaviours with their herd and viewing you as a big food dispenser :) we're just food dispensers and poop hoovers really!
 
None of mine are really great fans of lap time so I don't force it.
Priscilla does have enforced lap time when her fur needs grooming but that lasts as long as it takes her to eat whatever the bribe is and then she's off.
It's one of the reasons her fur trims look so lopsided!
 
PigglePuggle said:
The whispering tips (especially ear nibbling!) work great but a "tame" guinea pig seeking out human company is not necessarily happier or healthier than a sassy guinea pig acting out natural behaviours with their herd and viewing you as a big food dispenser :) we're just food dispensers and poop hoovers really!
Click to expand...

I will definitely give it a go.
I just felt like there was no progress. I was sat on the floor today with them, I had lettuce & Darcy who is extremely timid, I’m just a nice monster that feeds her, actually came running up to me (obviously not just for the lettuce) so we are making progress. Just seeing all the bootiful piggies having cuddles so couldn’t see it. But we will get there when they are ready :love:

Thank you everyone. I definitely will start the whispering tips.
 
Merab's Slave said:
None of mine are really great fans of lap time so I don't force it.
Priscilla does have enforced lap time when her fur needs grooming but that lasts as long as it takes her to eat whatever the bribe is and then she's off.
It's one of the reasons her fur trims look so lopsided!
Click to expand...

Aww, it’s nice to know that maybe they just don’t like lap time. It’s a fine balance, I want them to ben happy & not force anything, but then I was wondering if I left it too late.
 
Liking each other's company is more important than liking yours I would say... I always feel like a failure when people post pics of 2 or more guinea pigs snuggling up nicely together... mine are great mates with each other but more in a "nose up bum then steal your spinach mate" way, they are lovely but really really lacking that "cutesy passive snuggle friend" appeal you sometimes see in pigtures!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Liking each other's company is more important than liking yours I would say... I always feel like a failure when people post pics of 2 or more guinea pigs snuggling up nicely together... mine are great mates with each other but more in a "nose up bum then steal your spinach mate" way, they are lovely but really really lacking that "cutesy passive snuggle friend" appeal you sometimes see in pigtures!
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Mine are the same, they are more get off of my bed now rather than let’s share a bed :P they are so little but they have such big personalities, I love watching them
 
My boys are extremely tame, apart from Ted will avoid pick up and always moves into same corner to be picked up. Once picked up both are fine and happy. I do think hand feeding treats on lap or out of the cage is the best way to tame and socialise a piggie. They are strongly influenced by veggies. A snuggle sack/blanket on the lap and a small box/tunnel or fleece bag is the best way to get piggies used to being picked up. Increase lap time a little each day. Yes it’s cupboard love but that is the same for all pets. Talking to them quietly and stroking around the ears and nose and make them feel safe and secure.i always get a little nibble when they have had enough or want a wee and always act on it so their confidence has grown over the years. I did this from when I got them at 4 weeks old, it’s imprinting you as sub mother? I don’t know if it’s harder with adopted piggies or if it depends on how much contact with humans they had when with their mother?

I’ve had piggies before in the 60’s and 80’s and did exactly the same with equally good results. Good luck, I’m sure you will get there x
 
Merab's Slave said:
None of mine are really great fans of lap time so I don't force it.
Priscilla does have enforced lap time when her fur needs grooming but that lasts as long as it takes her to eat whatever the bribe is and then she's off.
It's one of the reasons her fur trims look so lopsided!
Click to expand...
I'll try and give her a trim that's not lopsided when I visit in the Spring.
 
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