Bobby&Frankie
Junior Guinea Pig
Well as a lot of you know i got some piggies last week and they have been badly handled in the past so are very nervous. I've been going out to see them every day for at least 10 minutes (pouring rain doesn't help) and watch them eating.
I followed some advice given which was to use a shoe box and block them (well i used their toy tube which is as good) so now i can catch them within five minutes, i've began feeding them in their carrier so they associate being picked up with their food. (only doing it once a day and the other meal i sit and watch.
My mum is an alcoholic who doesn't listen to anything i say, she feeds my dog human food which i've said no to. I've been studying animals for 4 years straight and she thinks she knows better. Today i lifted the top of the crate off and watched them eating on my lap (in the carrier) they were fantastic and started eating within about 3 minutes after they got used to the noise of the tv etc.
My drunk mother crawls over the floor mallethead as i'm strict on the 'being on their level to reduce a threat' i told her to leave them alone and she put her hand over the top of them and started stroking Frankie. I told her to leave them alone as they're still nervous and she started speeding up stroking them and not looking where her hand was going. What makes it worse is she was quickly stroking Bobby who is the most nervous and she also used her whole hand instead of a couple of fingers.
Feels like a weeks work has gone completely down the drain 8... it's so annoying that because she couldn't listen to me, the work i've put in has completely gone - they're terrified so i'm letting them calm down a little and i'm going to put them back - start again tomorrow i guess.
Don't think one person has ever made me so frustrated, they were doing so well too - almost to the stage they weren't running when i moved.
I followed some advice given which was to use a shoe box and block them (well i used their toy tube which is as good) so now i can catch them within five minutes, i've began feeding them in their carrier so they associate being picked up with their food. (only doing it once a day and the other meal i sit and watch.
My mum is an alcoholic who doesn't listen to anything i say, she feeds my dog human food which i've said no to. I've been studying animals for 4 years straight and she thinks she knows better. Today i lifted the top of the crate off and watched them eating on my lap (in the carrier) they were fantastic and started eating within about 3 minutes after they got used to the noise of the tv etc.
My drunk mother crawls over the floor mallethead as i'm strict on the 'being on their level to reduce a threat' i told her to leave them alone and she put her hand over the top of them and started stroking Frankie. I told her to leave them alone as they're still nervous and she started speeding up stroking them and not looking where her hand was going. What makes it worse is she was quickly stroking Bobby who is the most nervous and she also used her whole hand instead of a couple of fingers.
Feels like a weeks work has gone completely down the drain 8... it's so annoying that because she couldn't listen to me, the work i've put in has completely gone - they're terrified so i'm letting them calm down a little and i'm going to put them back - start again tomorrow i guess.
Don't think one person has ever made me so frustrated, they were doing so well too - almost to the stage they weren't running when i moved.
not only because you feel she has set back your taming of the piggies but I am presuming you are still fairly young & as a mother myself it makes me cross to hear of parents being so irresponsible regarding their kids. 
