Getting to know you

Status
Not open for further replies.
PopcornPigs

PopcornPigs

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Messages
3,280
Reaction score
479
Points
645
Location
Surrey UK
Hello
I'm starting this thread to record my 'bonding' with Frazzle.
At the moment Frazzle is a very perculiar character, if he hears you/sees you he comes rushing up to the bars squeaking and wanting to say hello. However, when you open the cage he's gone.. he hides OR he sticks his head out the cage (probably wanting food)
When you go to stroke him he bolts. He flinches. He jumps when you touch him and runs away. It's like he's terrified of being touched. He didn't used to be like this.. but I'm determined to make things better.
I've started stroking him on the top of his head when he sticks his head out the cage for food. This seems ok apart from if you go to far forward (near between his eyes) or any further back.. if I do this he flicks his head up or runs away.
Today I thought I would brave getting him out for a 'cuddle'. Catching him was impossible, running from a single touch and jumping 180 degrees. So in result I resorted to using a tube to get him out.
He wasn't too bad to hold although kept trying to get over my arm which I lifted to stop him. I held him and stroked him softly on the head which he didn't seem to mind. I progressed to stroking down to his shoulder blades which he sometimes protested to by trying to get over my arm.. and nibbling my jumper. He bit me twice through the jumper hard which I have marks for, but I just had to grin and bear it. I'm hoping this habit will top..
After a few minutes of this stroking on head/down to shoulder blades I thought it was pretty good progress so decided to put him back home.
Will try again tomorrow :)
In future I will also post videos of how he acts around me to keep it interesting.
 
Try to get him to go into s a shoe box or pigloo ot tube for picking up. Most piggies will cooperate once they get it because it is a lot less stressful.

I had good success with this method with some very nervous piggies who a chase would only have upset further. Turn it into a little ritual with a little treat if he does it right. Lots of praise is as important.
 
I'm hoping that it will help other people as well as let me keep track of everything :) he seems like he would love human contact but just when it comes to being touched he gets frightened.
 
Ok the first video. This video represents my situation with Frazzle at the moment. Worked quite well as showed most of his behaviour (apart from biting/nibbling). The video's been annotated to show behaviour. Sorry it's quite dark.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rx_YqhgF18"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rx_YqhgF18[/ame]
Any feedback appreciated :)
 
He's gorgeous! x)x) Hm...well he actually looks quite happy to me. Saw him popcorn a couple of times. He doesn't seem too shy, I mean he comes right up to you and looks like he's demanding attention...or food. :)) Is there a door on the cage, so that you don't have to open the whole cage up, because that might be scaring him. Other than that, I don't know what to say. Just talk softly to him when you go up to him and don't make sudden movements because it can scare him.

What I do when I take Gilbert out is get him into a box, and after petting him I ALWAYS give him a treat, no matter what. Good luck with Frazzle! x
 
Thank you :) Yeah that's what's confusing, he seems to be demanding attention!
The only way to open the cage is top open the whole side of it, I have to do it really slowly so it doesn't scare him.
Gonna get him out for a bit again today, little n often! x
 
What an adorable piggie Frazzle is!!

He seems quite confident with you to my inexperienced eye lol! My 2 run away and hide a lot more than that when I first approach their cage - unless I have my hands full of food!!
 
That's an excellent video, really lets you see what he's like. He seems a bit unsure about the strokes on top of the head - shakes his head after being stroked 2/3 times. How about trying stroking behind his ear instead? Try bringing your hand towards him from the side rather than above as well, drag the fingers along the top of the plastic?

Just a suggestion. He's not doing badly at all is he. Very much in command of his territory there!
 
Wow that's funny behaviour. Frazzle is such a cutie ♥.

Is that behaviour specific to when stroking neck head region? Although he seems to be desperately wanting your attention/say hi, there is a definite reaction. Perhaps something is bothering him, maybe check his ears/shoulders and see if/where he specifically dislikes it? Maybe he just bumped his head or something and is still a bit sore? Mine are always doing feng shui throwing around their log cabins with their heads! Silly things rolleyes

I hope Frazzle's funny mood resolves itself. He may just be having a hyper week! x
 
I treated Frazzle with ivermectin last night just to rule out the possible fleas/mites etc. He's currently having his dinner so will try stroking/handling again later :) Thanks for all the replies will try out the stroking from the side/behind the ear.
 
Got the little man out just now, making really good progress so I'm not sure if maybe it was lice etc? Because although he was still slightly jumpy today nowhere near as jumpy as normal. He actually let me stroke his body :o.
Got him out for a little bit with a tube (instead of trying to grab him) and he sat quite still compared to yesterday. Didn't protest too much and let me stroke his body. A few nibbles but no bites today.. happy happy! :)
 
Oooh I forgot to add that when I put him back I was hand feeding him treats and he was popcorning all over the place :) such a character.
 
Thought I would make another update - Frazzle is definately making good progress. Does not protest at all to being stroked on the top of the head, and allows a couple strokes along the body (which he wouldn't let you stroke at all before). I am honestly confused by him though, because he comes running up, takes food from your hand, will let you stroke him for a bit, get spooked.. but then start popcorning? He loooves attention but still a tiny bit jumpy. For example, if he runs up to the cage edge, I'll talk to him in a baby voice ("Oooooh Frazzle wazzle wooo woooos, what you doing?") and he'll start popcorning! Adorable. New video coming up soon :)
 
An updating video :)
Hopefully you can see the improvement! For some reason he was shy tonight, but he normally runs up to the edge of the cage to say hello and doesn't run away anymore.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6hgTncjOeg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6hgTncjOeg[/ame]
Shows how interest can go a long way .. turning into a lovely pig (despite the odd nibble..)
 
PopcornPigs said:
Ok the first video. This video represents my situation with Frazzle at the moment. Worked quite well as showed most of his behaviour (apart from biting/nibbling). The video's been annotated to show behaviour. Sorry it's quite dark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rx_YqhgF18
Any feedback appreciated :)
Click to expand...

Hi, Sorry but I can't see any link for the video/s? Others seam to get it, why can't I see anything? :{
 
PopcornPigs said:
That sucks :( I can see them.
What about this link?
http://www.youtube.com/user/LizzIsOnlyHuman?feature=mhum
Takes you to my channel, then the videos are 'Frazzle bonding' and 'Frazzle taming'
Click to expand...

Hi, That is better! :) Thank you for that. Frazzle is lovely and seams friendly. He is excited by your attention I would say, rather than scared. I think as you relax more he will become less jumpy. Looking forward to the next video :)
 
Frazzle is getting on well :) Got him out today and he was relaxed, he didn't settle or stay 'still' but didn't try and run away every second, just sniffed my lap and shifted around a bit. AND he let me brush him! YAY
He's also getting the hang of 'in the tube' command I use for Terry and Doris. I basically put a tube in and say 'in the tube' and they hop in ready to come out for cuddles/run time etc. So yeah it's getting a lot easier to get him out, he occasionally decides he wants to go in reverse though!
Video soon :))
 
Haven't updated this thread in a while and I'm sooo happy to say that Frazzle is a changed guinea pig. Not only does he run up to the bars and want attention, but he lets you stroke him! Aaaand.. when you get him out for cuddles, instead of him trying to run away every second he actually spends about a minute exploring then settles down for strokes and cuddles. A couple days ago he got rather comfy...
untitled-1.jpg


And eventually fell asleep on me! Stretched out with the chicken leg and everything. Suuuch a gorgeous monkey.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top