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Change in behaviour...

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Sue991

Sue991

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Dear all

I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I inherited two guinea pigs in July of this year, Ozzy and Strudle, they were approximately 10 weeks old at that time. It's Ozzy that concerns me. When we first had him he was very small and boney and when you got him out for a cuddle he would basically totally chill out in your arms, flop over to one side and stay like that quite content for ages.

For the last few weeks he's become very skittish, not happy to be caught and taken out and quite difficult to keep hold of once he is out. We are continuing to get him out each evening for as long as we can but his behaviour isn't improving.

He's put on weight and is a better size now but doesn't appear to be as happy. He eats a lot, much more than Strudle and is always first to the bars when I go into feed them breakfast or tea.

Any ideas how I can get him to relax and chill?

Any advice would be appreciated as I've never owned piggies before although I wish I'd discovered the joy of piggy ownership many years ago!
 
I don't know the reason for the changeabout possibly as he's gotten older he's more sure of himself & piggies are naturally prey animals & are skittish by nature.
You can wrap him in a towel when you get him out, this should help make him feel more secure.
Patience is really the key, talking to him all the time in a gentle voice, if they are indoor piggies, chatting to them as you pass their cage & keep getting him out as you are doing, stroking him, talking to him & try bribery with his fave veggies.
Piggies aren't daft, he will realise this large thing who keeps grabbing him has nice things to eat :)
 
Thanks Nikki. We will persevere with him, he's such a lovely little chap. I'll try the towel and bribery and see what happens!
 
Some piggie are more skittish than others. By taking him out every night he should get used to you and realise he is not going to be harmed. Maybe you could try feeding him when he's on your lap.
 
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