Bonding With Piggies

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sally simpson

sally simpson

Junior Guinea Pig
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we have had our 2 girls less than 2 weeks but I'm already wondering if I've made a mistake
I'm doing all the right things to get them used to us but they seem to enjoy spending time being handled less and less
One is now snapping and makes me jump , I'm sure she is sensing my fear now
My son was so excited to get them but has already completely lost Interest as all they do is hide from us
I always make sure they have somewhere they can retreat to as I know that makes them feel more secure but that means we never see them
I'll persevere but I'm worried they hate us
They are in a hutch in the garage , we put them in the outdoor run at least 2 hours a day in an attempt to get them used to us and I try to handle each one for about 10 minutes a day but I'm now dreading it as they Dont seem to enjoy it and I'm afraid of being bitten
 
You may find this thread here helpful in making friends with your piggies. Two weeks is only a very short time. Sadly, most shop or breeders piggies havehad virtually nothing in the way of friendly human interaction, so they are completely running on their prey animal instincts.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/videos/

Just keep going and persist and your piggies will eventually come round! It can sometimes take a few weeks to a few months, but it is worth the effort - the first time you see a sign of trust and relaxation will be very special from them will make it all worth - trust from a prey animal is not easily given. ;)
 
They came from rescue , handled a lot , they seemed more relaxed at first although I think maybe they just sat still as they were scared , as they get more confident they seem to be trying to get away from us
I offer them favourite herbs and veg when we handle them so they associate us with treats , they will eat from my hand but given the option they prefer to hide
I think I'm doing something wrong , I've been told to handle them every day which I'm doing but it's disheartening especially for my son , I'll keep trying and hope they warm to us
 
Please read the links I have posted; they contain tips on how to use guinea pig body language to make friends. A lot also depends on what kind of background they have come.
 
I have , Thankyou , they were neglected for the first 3 months but well looked after then for a couple of months until we got them
 
I think that they are just shy - and it doesn't help that you are very nervous because that is transmitting back.

young piggies can tweak to tell you when they want back or don't like anything, but if you take charge and make clear that to them that it is your group they are joining, then you can also teach them what is desired and not desired behaviour by lots of praise and a noise that signals disappointment/telling off. "No" and shouting usually doesn't work. Deep bites usually only happen if a piggy panics over something.
 
Thanks , I wasn't nervous until yesterday , maybe she was just having a bad day and was letting me know she wasn't in the mood
Id never shout at them , I love them
 
To be honest, it is actually a good sign if they start telling you off because that means that they are losing their fear and are settling in. ;)
 
They may actually be getting used to you enough to show their likes and dislikes (what passes for docility early on can be them freezing out of fear.) Two weeks is a short period of time to get used to new people and a new environment. Keep interacting with them, it will improve with time. One of ours, Sundae, was so skittish when we got her that we didn't even see her for days... she would hide in the pigloo all day and would only pop out at night to eat and drink. As soon as she heard anything, she was back in the pigloo in terror. She is now a huge lap pet who is great with the kids and very interactive. It was a process, but it did happen, so don't give up!

I'm not sure how old your son is, but I have three kids as well and this is a great lesson in animal behavior and that you need to be patient and gentle for an animal to trust you. Explain that from the perspective of the guinea pigs, we are big noisy beings whose motives are unclear. They don't know if we are friends, or if we are scary predators who are going to eat them! Encourage him to feed them treats, talk gently, and to remember that making friends with an animal takes time (obviously this is going to be easier for an older child than a toddler!) Once he does gain there trust, he's going to have a real bond and a real sense of accomplishment, as well as a friend for life in the guinea pig! It is time consuming to create that bond of trust in an animal who is naturally fearful, but once it's there, it's wonderful.
 
That's a lovely reply Thankyou , I read it to him , he's 8 and he is very gentle with them , i do explain he needs to commit time to them and they will eventually trust him
We actually had a lovely time with them this evening , I got them snuggle pods and they love running in and out of them , I think they like to have a space to run to
 
I'm glad they're getting better! The best way to get them used to you is to, once or twice a day, get them out and feed them some veggies, then put them back in. Don't forget to get them out for run time, though! :) I'm glad he is very gentle with them, there are many children who aren't as careful as they should be. Don't forget, it's only natural for them to need to hide. It took me forever to get my Bacon to get used to me. I've had him for almost a year, but he still runs away sometimes! Just give them lots of love and care and they will give it back to you! :)
 
As Wiebke and Freela are basically saying, hang in there, and be patient, which is the operative word: trust is earned! I have had my first guinea pigs for about a good month now, and I don't rush things: the last few days I have been able to reach into their hideys and pet them, which is such a (rewarding) thrill, for them to 'let you in'... :D It does seem to help they are more or less integrated into family life, because you are a presence as opposed to an intrusion, howeve well-intended... But it takes time either way... No instant gratification, which is what we are too much used to as consumers anyway, which does not even offer us real pleasure, i.e. lasting...:hug:
 
its lovely to be reassured I'm doing the right things
I only give them veggies now when they come out of the hutch , blatant bribery to like me
they looove parsley :-)
 
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