Can’t seem to bond no matter how hard I try!

[Puddin&baby]

Hello,
I’ve had my two guinea pics from the ages of ten weeks. I try to hard to get them to warm to me by cuddling them regularly and feeding them greens, or trying to let them get use to my smell and explore me by closing off a space and laying in it or putting my arm in the cage and staying still to see if they could investigate! I try to get them to feed from my hand but that still does not work. I’ve had them for about three months and I’m starting to think they’ll never like me! Can anybody help?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
I’ve had my two guinea pics from the ages of ten weeks. I try to hard to get them to warm to me by cuddling them regularly and feeding them greens, or trying to let them get use to my smell and explore me by closing off a space and laying in it or putting my arm in the cage and staying still to see if they could investigate! I try to get them to feed from my hand but that still does not work. I’ve had them for about three months and I’m starting to think they’ll never like me! Can anybody help?

Hi and welcome!

Have you tried to learn to understand their social behaviour and use that to 'piggy whisper' with them and to make friends in ways that they instinctively understand? Don't expect them to learn 'human behaviour', go and communicate in 'cavy' with them - that takes a lot of time when you have bought shop piggies that have virtually not had any human interaction before they were ripped away from their family and thrust into a foreign pet situation.

Please keep in mind that by far not all guinea pigs are 'people piggies'. All the videos of proud owners showing off their cuddly pets that you see on youtube are actually not giving a correct picture. Guinea pigs are fascinating animals in their own right; they are NOT living cuddling toys.

Try to get into their world and try to see your relationship from their perspective. Interact less from a human-centric view with strict expectations as to what a pet should be and discover the world in which they actually live - it is actually a lot more complex and interesting than you would expect.

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

Lots more helpful guides and information for new owners: New Owners' Problem Solver And Information Collection

 

[Merab]

What @Wiebke said.
Welcome to the forum.
Please do be patient and persevere with your piggies.
Follow the excellent advice on the forum.
It’s well worth the work to build a good relationship with them and you will get a lot of pleasure interacting with them on their terms.
It would be lovely to see pictures

 

[Puddin&baby]

Hi and welcome!

Have you tried to learn to understand their social behaviour and use that to 'piggy whisper' with them and to make friends in ways that they instinctively understand? Don't expect them to learn 'human behaviour', go and communicate in 'cavy' with them - that takes a lot of time when you have bought shop piggies that have virtually not had any human interaction before they were ripped away from their family and thrust into a foreign pet situation.

Please keep in mind that by far not all guinea pigs are 'people piggies'. All the videos of proud owners showing off their cuddly pets that you see on youtube are actually not giving a correct picture. Guinea pigs are fascinating animals in their own right; they are NOT living cuddling toys.

Try to get into their world and try to see your relationship from their perspective. Interact less from a human-centric view with strict expectations as to what a pet should be and discover the world in which they actually live - it is actually a lot more complex and interesting than you would expect.

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

Lots more helpful guides and information for new owners: New Owners' Problem Solver And Information Collection

Thank you so much! I’ve tired to take tips online but have just recently joined here for help. The thing is is that they love my boyfriend and squeak when they hear him speak etc but run away even when I walk into the room. How would I interact with them in a Guinea pig way?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! I’ve tired to take tips online but have just recently joined here for help. The thing is is that they love my boyfriend and squeak when they hear him speak etc but run away even when I walk into the room. How would I interact with them in a Guinea pig way?

Please click on the various links and take the time to read the guides I have given you.
You may also find the tips in this guide here helpful: How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?

The more you can avoid predatory behaviours and the more you avoid pushing your piggies, but respect them and the society they work in instead, the better a relationship you can build up. It takes time for trust to grow, and it is a mutual process, not a one-sided one.

I can't repeat all the tips in the guides, which have taken me quite a while to write and years of experience with new and frightened piggies to figure out. But you will find them helpful because they really work.

 

[fanniephina]

There are many people whom have the same frustration with Guinea Pigs; as you get from the tips. The thing of any guinea pig having different personalities couldn't be more true. However, you can bond with your baby in ways other then physical contact and can expect to have a very entertaining and loving little one. Guinea Pig whispering doesn't have to even have the expectation of eventually having one to cuddle although it can happen. Use the process of forming your bond in a way that can have a trust factor.

I have one whom will come to me now if I am calling her name for her salad or at any other time. I won't hold her as I know from months and months of experience not to. However, I feel I am very bonded with her and she brings me endless joy in responding to me happily when she is fed. She trusts me even when I am in her cage to clean a part out and coming to the edge. She popcorns constantly and I think is really a very happy guinea pig. It really is just precious to me to see every day. This was after a lot of small steps normally outlined by gaining trust. As anyone says, it does take time but you can still bond daily by just the process and get much out of this time.

Lots of best wishes for your little family.