Hi all - I'm new to this site and after a bit of advice on dealing with my guinea pig who I've had about 6 weeks. She is 3-4 months old and living with two other sows aged 3 and 2 months. The others are sweet natured, gentle and never bite but I've named this one Trouble because she has been TROUBLE since the moment I brought her home! I let all of them run free upstairs at least once a day but once back in her cage Trouble spends a lot of time biting and tugging at the bars to get out again - she really makes a din and the whole cage shakes. As the cage is on the floor, as soon as I open the side to put food in she jumps out in a flash! When I handle her she constantly bites my hands and arm and tries to climb onto my shoulder and even tries to climb onto the top of my head! She hasn't drawn blood yet but does leave bite marks. I therefore couldn't let a child handle her. She has got loads of character which is great but do you think the biting will last and is there any way of trying to stop it? I've had a few guinea pigs but never one quite this strong-willed and aggressive before. I'm relieved the other 2 month old sits still on my lap and loves to be stroked and petted!
Difficult Young Guinea Pig
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piggyfan
What a little character she is! She is still very young and full of beans. I am sure she will be calmer as she gets older. I have a piggy similar. I sometimes blow on her when she bites me as she does not like that but nothing will stop her biting bars. I can only think of giving a bigger cage like a c and c as she may like more space.
Rodentopia
Adult Guinea Pig
I agree she may well grow out of it. Six weeks is a relatively short time and she will be still settling and finding her feet. When she is on your knee have you tried giving her treats like veggies. So she learns if she sits still and doesn't run off she gets a reward, she will soon learn 
Jess
Adult Guinea Pig
I think she'll probably grow out of it - My fuzzball duo are a pain in the rump! They are constantly causing trouble with the other three and it ends with bickering. Granted they are getting better.... ish 
She will grow out of it; she is just a very young, energetic piggy who adores her freedom and run time!
You can stop the tweaking by asserting your authority - fondle her ears (friendly power grooming, which means "I want you as part of the herd I am leading"). Establish a system of praise and displeasure (shouting NO doesn't work). Eventually she will learn what is good behaviour and what not.
To prevent the cage gnawing, put a freshly filled hay or veg filled toilet roll or a bit of grass in the cage after the end of the run time, so there is a treat for her to look forward to! Here are more toys ideas to keep her occupied in the cage: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-toys.43520/
You can stop the tweaking by asserting your authority - fondle her ears (friendly power grooming, which means "I want you as part of the herd I am leading"). Establish a system of praise and displeasure (shouting NO doesn't work). Eventually she will learn what is good behaviour and what not.
To prevent the cage gnawing, put a freshly filled hay or veg filled toilet roll or a bit of grass in the cage after the end of the run time, so there is a treat for her to look forward to! Here are more toys ideas to keep her occupied in the cage: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-toys.43520/
Thanks all for your helpful suggestions. I have bought a playpen on Amazon which I would definitely recommend. It's easy to put up indoors or out and folds up into a bag. It's definitely helped to have the extra space for my 3 to run about indoors. I liked the idea of a tube filled with hay and this is keeping Trouble occupied. Also I've added a 2 level wooden house she can climb up. She's also discovered running up the stairs after my adult piggy so that's getting rid of some excess energy! I still hope she grows out of the biting but that will probably take a bit more time.
Guinea Slave
Adult Guinea Pig
She sounds amazing! You've got a one in million there.
On the biting, I also had one which was a little feisty shall we say and nibbled all too often. I just used to put my finger on her nose and say NO in a low but firm voice. It did seem to work and she definitely knew what No meant after a while. I never shouted at her though....although I once put her in a 'naughty box' on her own on a particularly bad day...which she jumped out of
. You will have a lot of fun with her over the years!
On the biting, I also had one which was a little feisty shall we say and nibbled all too often. I just used to put my finger on her nose and say NO in a low but firm voice. It did seem to work and she definitely knew what No meant after a while. I never shouted at her though....although I once put her in a 'naughty box' on her own on a particularly bad day...which she jumped out of
. You will have a lot of fun with her over the years!Isn't it amazing how they can jump if they want to - their hind legs are much stronger than they look. I put the box, which I brought Trouble back from the pet shop in, next to the bed in the room they have floor time in, the plan being to prevent Trouble running behind the bed. Well, within 5 minutes I heard a loud noise and she had managed to jump into the box (about 30cm high)! So I thought - "well now you can stay there for a while you bad piggy and perhaps that will put you off doing it again". Actually, I said it out loud as you do! I left the room and a few moments later came back and there she was out and running about again! I wish I'd seen her technique as she must have pulled one of the flaps down that made up the lid and clambered up it.
Guinea Slave
Adult Guinea Pig
MerryPip
Adult Guinea Pig
She sounds like my little monkey, Angus! He's two years old now and much calmer and will sit for cuddles especially if his brother is out too but he used to be a terror at lap time and floor time. He is still an escapologist and if he's fed up having cuddles will give me a sharp nip on the collarbone to ask to go home...
Your girl will settle down eventually, she is just young and enthusiastic.... Try the snack on your lap thing and a good tasty but intriguing treat in the cage. My boys love fighting with a paper bag full of hay or readigrass. Keeps them busy for at least a wee while!
Your girl will settle down eventually, she is just young and enthusiastic.... Try the snack on your lap thing and a good tasty but intriguing treat in the cage. My boys love fighting with a paper bag full of hay or readigrass. Keeps them busy for at least a wee while!
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