Have I scared my piggy?!

[Alexis777]

Hi!
I've recently got two baby boys my first ever piggies and had them about 3 weeks now.
From the beginning they were understandably very skittish but Teddy was the calmer one, I started taking them out for lap time after few days of having them, using a blanket so they could hide under it and feel comfortable. Teddy was very calm and would just lay there on my tummy and let me stroke him without any problems at all, he would also chat a bit and seemed like he enjoys it. On the other hand Ozzy was the more scared piggy and still is, he would try run away when I was holding him, and is still very skittish when in the cage and I come near although he would occasionally take some food from my hand.
Teddy is more comfortable around me he squeaks for food and comes out in the cage to eat and chat to me, he always eats from my hand and would occasionally let me stroke him inside the cage but he started to run away during lap time!
He just won't sit still he wriggles from the very beginning and just won't let me hold him even for like 10seconds I have no idea what's wrong!

I feel like I have done something wrong to make him scared of me but he was fine at the beginning and now won't even let me hold him at all

Any ideas what could be the reason and what could I do?

 

[Helen82]

It may be a positive "negative" thing! The calmness and stillness before may have seemed alright but perhaps he was a bit too nervous to react; even though it seems negative that he's wriggling and running away he's probably doing that now because he's more comfortable with you and isn't afraid to show his feelings! Given more time he may come round to the idea of lap time again or some piggies just aren't very keen.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!
I've recently got two baby boys my first ever piggies and had them about 3 weeks now.
From the beginning they were understandably very skittish but Teddy was the calmer one, I started taking them out for lap time after few days of having them, using a blanket so they could hide under it and feel comfortable. Teddy was very calm and would just lay there on my tummy and let me stroke him without any problems at all, he would also chat a bit and seemed like he enjoys it. On the other hand Ozzy was the more scared piggy and still is, he would try run away when I was holding him, and is still very skittish when in the cage and I come near although he would occasionally take some food from my hand.
Teddy is more comfortable around me he squeaks for food and comes out in the cage to eat and chat to me, he always eats from my hand and would occasionally let me stroke him inside the cage but he started to run away during lap time!
He just won't sit still he wriggles from the very beginning and just won't let me hold him even for like 10seconds I have no idea what's wrong!

I feel like I have done something wrong to make him scared of me but he was fine at the beginning and now won't even let me hold him at all

Any ideas what could be the reason and what could I do?

Hi!
It is very easy to trigger prey animal instincts in guinea pigs, especially new ones!

Please take the time to read these guides here. They tell you about the various prey instincts and how you can work around them with using guinea pig body language to imitate friendly social behaviours and invite your boys into your herd and tell them you love them. A spot of piggy whispering and working around those instincts by avoiding as much as possible as coming across as a predator will go a long way to reassure them. Building up trust is a slow and gradual process, but you can get there!

How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

These guides are part of our new owners information pack, which specifically addresses all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about. You will hopefully find them both very helpful and interesting!
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

All the best!

 

[PiggyPoo]

It may be a positive "negative" thing! The calmness and stillness before may have seemed alright but perhaps he was a bit too nervous to react; even though it seems negative that he's wriggling and running away he's probably doing that now because he's more comfortable with you and isn't afraid to show his feelings! Given more time he may come round to the idea of lap time again or some piggies just aren't very keen.

I agree! Mine were the same at first and then they had the confidence to protest, it takes a very long time for them to relax as they’re prey animals. I just put a lot of time in with them and got very little reward. Just do things on their terms and they’ll come round eventually but mine have taken months but now they’re a lot more confident xx

 

[Alexis777]

Thanks you guys, do you think I should still be trying to take them out for lap time even for those 10secs when they try to run away?

 

[PiggyPoo]

Thanks you guys, do you think I should still be trying to take them out for lap time even for those 10secs when they try to run away?

I just hand fed them for a while and sat with them while they were in the cage. When they we’re more comfortable being around me. I did lap time with food, and sat with them during floor time and let them run around me. Their natural instinct is to run away but once I’ve picked them up they’ll sit for a few cuddles now.

It takes a lot of patience! I’ve had mine 8months xx

 

[Merab]

It sounds as if Teddy feels confident enough now to tell what he wants.
When Phoebe first came the only way to get her out for lap time was in her snuggle pouch where she stayed.
Now she flatly refuses to be caught, and lap time may last as long as 10 seconds before she’s off.
However she is very happy to be stroked in the cage.
Just allow your piggies to teach you what they like and don’t like and enjoy them for who they are