rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
bonding going very slow
- Thread starter rita1
- Start date
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Aw, what a pair of cuties x They seem quite happy with each other and getting along well
Hi!
Place a towel over the top of the cage to give them an added feeling of safety. Piggies don't like being exposed.
Keep your hands off as much as you can, don't loom and use piggy whispering tips to assure them that you are not a predator and not out to get them. Avoid triggering their prey animal instincts. Make sure that you invite them into your herd first, so they are assured and get a feeling of belonging. Guinea pigs identify themselves firstly via the group they belong to.
Use our piggy whispering tips and our advice on how to avoid triggering their prey animal instincts. They work - but they are not instant. Trust is a fragile plant that needs to make roots first before it can grow.
Just sit and talk until they are comfortable with your presence, or even forget it. Settling piggies in a process that can take weeks or months, depending on skittish your piggies are. Be patient; you'll get there!
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
thank you for your advice, that’s not their home, i only put them in there while i clean them out, their house has 4 hides so they feel safe, i leave the radio on so they can get use to voices, i do put them in there every day so that they get use to me, i also lie on the floor with them, they are better when i lie down. i think i have a long way to go.
I assumed that that was their run, and not their cage. Can you move their hideys with them into the run while you clean out the cage?
rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
thank you, it’s me they are not bonding with. the one with the white on her will not let the other piggie in the igloo, i have other hides but that one is the favourite one. they are so nervous of me, it’s very sad to see.
rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
when i do they hide in there and won’t come out. i could buy a log shelter so i can still see them and they could see me. when they go into their home they hide in the igloo and won’t come out. i never see them. unless i get them out.
D
Deleted member 131797
They’ll come around, perhaps get their fav piece of veg and hold it where they can see it and don’t move at all, just chat with them the way you did in the video. They are a bit spooked because they are being followed around by your hand, but being able to stroke the one with the white face is a major achievement. It may take 5 mins or so, and your arm may go dead, but eventually their greediness for the piece of food will win over their fear. Let them come to you, bribing with food is the way!
rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
thank you for your encouragement, it is hard going, i try not to pick them up now and just stroke them, hoping that they will stop fearing the hand if i don’t pick them up and the hand is only offering food and a friendly scratch.
D
Deleted member 131797
I understand. They just don’t seem to like us as much as we like them straight away! I have a super frightened/traumatised pig and she’s let me stoke her whilst in the cage probably only 5 times in 2 years. But my trick is to hold parsley between my thumb and ring finger, then stroke her under her chin with my index finger. She likes the parsley more than she hates me stroking her so...
She’s fine at laptime now and trusts me, but I have a feeling she was a child’s pet when she was young and before I rescued her and she’s terrified of people whilst in her cage.
That’s an extreme example but also why I’m saying to you that you managing to stroke them a little is already a great achievement. I find that new piggies start to come out for food after a week or two, but still scurry away when you put the food in their cage. After 4 weeks or so you can try feeding them with your hand and they may start coming to you. Food vs fear... food wins every time! That’s about my personal experience with non-traumatised pigs. You’re doing great. You’ll be amazed too as things suddenly get much better.
She’s fine at laptime now and trusts me, but I have a feeling she was a child’s pet when she was young and before I rescued her and she’s terrified of people whilst in her cage.
That’s an extreme example but also why I’m saying to you that you managing to stroke them a little is already a great achievement. I find that new piggies start to come out for food after a week or two, but still scurry away when you put the food in their cage. After 4 weeks or so you can try feeding them with your hand and they may start coming to you. Food vs fear... food wins every time! That’s about my personal experience with non-traumatised pigs. You’re doing great. You’ll be amazed too as things suddenly get much better.
Phoenix
Junior Guinea Pig
It can take a while. When I first got Panda and Polar they were very skittish (and still are, I havent had them long) Bribe them with food and talk gently like you're doing already and keep trying. A trick I've found useful is trying to seem as small as possible so they see you as less of a threat. Take your time and don't rush, they will come when they are ready.
rita1
Junior Guinea Pig
thanks everyone some really good tips. i will keep trying, slowly and gently is the answer with lots of tasty treats.