How Do Guines Pigs View Their Owners?

[MichelleM]

Bit of a heavy question, and I apologize if it's been asked before, but what are we to guinea pigs? It was clear when I first got mine that they saw me as a potential predator before they began trusting me, but how do they view me now? Am I just a "big pig?" Do they have a concept of a caregiver? Or am I just "food source?"

They're certainly not afraid of me anymore. They're not shy about climbing all over me during floor time, and Ganon's downright defiant, sometimes hopping out of my lap to get somewhere I'm keeping him from. Am I a companion to them?

 

[Malunkers]

Good question. I have no idea about the answer, but would be interested to know. Although, in truth, maybe it’s just enough to have the piggies trust us enough to be happy to climb over us? It makes me so happy that such vulnerable little animals can overcome their natural instincts to run and hide, and will accept us as part of their lives.

Ganon sounds great!

 

[Betsy]

Good question! I've often wondered this too! I think my piggies see me partly as a food source especially at veg time! Partly as a predator and then also someone who gives them lots of tlc and cuddles and who cares for them very deeply. Sometimes they like being picked up and stay still and let me pick them up quite happily and other times they run.

I always let them know I'm coming by speaking to them as soon as I open the patio door they are forewarned.

 

[Kylie80]

Tough question. I think in some part my two will always consider me a predator as occasionally when they first see me they will bolt back into their hidey’s until they realise who I am or I talk to them and then they come back out. For the most part they are happy now days to have cuddles at lap time and eat out of my hand so they must trust me a little or at least more now than they did when they were little.

 

[Kallasia]

Until recently, I think my partner was the "medicine man" - the one who shoves tubes in your throat and makes you have goopey stuff that tastes bad. I think they saw him as some sort of torturer, especially Binky who was on 3 different meds,all twice daily for months. He hated my partner with a passion!

Now the only meds Binky is on is his nebuliser he gets on with him much better. He's still cautious if he's being picked up but doesn't run. Errol is more cautious and will hide from my partner, although if he talks and stays still, or has food, Errol can be brought around fairly quickly!

I think they see me as a source of food and comfort. I provide hay and treats etc which they obviously like, but I also provide cuddles. Binky will, when he's in the mood, have a sleep on my lap so he must trust me. Errol isn't that trusting but does appreciate a chin rub!
If Binky gets hurt then he'll snuggle into me, feeling sorry for himself. He's got nearly no vision remaining so bumps his nose a fair amount because he still likes charging around!

I don't think they see me as a big pig as much as I would like that! I don't think they have a concept of self and other like we do. Like if you show a pig a mirror it won't identify itself, so it doesn't have self-awareness in the same way we do.

 

[Janice C]

Until recently, I think my partner was the "medicine man" - the one who shoves tubes in your throat and makes you have goopey stuff that tastes bad. I think they saw him as some sort of torturer, especially Binky who was on 3 different meds,all twice daily for months. He hated my partner with a passion!

Now the only meds Binky is on is his nebuliser he gets on with him much better. He's still cautious if he's being picked up but doesn't run. Errol is more cautious and will hide from my partner, although if he talks and stays still, or has food, Errol can be brought around fairly quickly!

I think they see me as a source of food and comfort. I provide hay and treats etc which they obviously like, but I also provide cuddles. Binky will, when he's in the mood, have a sleep on my lap so he must trust me. Errol isn't that trusting but does appreciate a chin rub!
If Binky gets hurt then he'll snuggle into me, feeling sorry for himself. He's got nearly no vision remaining so bumps his nose a fair amount because he still likes charging around!

I don't think they see me as a big pig as much as I would like that! I don't think they have a concept of self and other like we do. Like if you show a pig a mirror it won't identify itself, so it doesn't have self-awareness in the same way we do.

love and Hugs to wee Binky. xx

 

[Roclibrarian]

Definitely a food source lol. Mine are very different in that Ginny loves lap time, she'll snuggle into my arm and lie down when I stroke her. Luna on the other hand tolerates lap time at the best. She will eventually relax enough to look round a bit, but never looks like she enjoys it. Luna is quite happy to take food from me and let's me stoke her in the cage but only if she is eating. I think each pig sees us differently depending on their personality.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

That's a very good question! I think it depends on the piggy. Bella definitely seems me as a surrogate mummy and she's always looking for me haha. Cissy probably sees me as a food source, Tonks sees me as a predator until I catch her and then she sees me as a sofa. Drom sees me as her personal slave and Iggy sees me as horrible medicine lady and bathroom

I'd love to know what they're thinking and saying though, I dread to think sometimes!

 

[Janice C]

That's a very good question! I think it depends on the piggy. Bella definitely seems me as a surrogate mummy and she's always looking for me haha. Cissy probably sees me as a food source, Tonks sees me as a predator until I catch her and then she sees me as a sofa. Drom sees me as her personal slave and Iggy sees me as horrible medicine lady and bathroom

I'd love to know what they're thinking and saying though, I dread to think sometimes!

Darling Iggy!
Mind you, by the time I'd finished with Tansy's meds she seemed to like me better and comes to me more!

 

[Tewdric]

I'm sure mine think I'm a meals on wheels delivery person. They certainly let me know all about it if I'm late with their tea. There can't be many sheds in the area that start up wheeking when as I come up the path from the front gate.

It's only me that sets them off in the evenings though - they don't wheek at the OH coming home from work; or even if I'm on a late evening duty and he carries their food out to them.

Three of mine are very sociable with me and the OH, I've got one who's a lot more wary of us even after being with us for over a year. She's coming round slowly, but I don't think she'll ever be as 'human' friendly as the rest.

I've got two pigs who'll happily say 'hello' to anyone as long as they're in their run/aviary/hutch. They're great for winning over visitors who haven't had any contact with pigs before as they show that small animals can have huge personalities.

I also think one of mine scared a delivery driver quite badly as now all parcels delivered by one company are left in our back porch rather than the shed. My suspicion is that Lilith came charging out of their hutch and across the run at the delivery driver one day whilst they were dropping something off and they thought she was a rat (or similar). That company have never left anything near/in the shed again.

Lilith, the friendliest pig I've ever met.

 

[Janice C]

I'm sure mine think I'm a meals on wheels delivery person. They certainly let me know all about it if I'm late with their tea. There can't be many sheds in the area that start up wheeking when as I come up the path from the front gate.

It's only me that sets them off in the evenings though - they don't wheek at the OH coming home from work; or even if I'm on a late evening duty and he carries their food out to them.

Three of mine are very sociable with me and the OH, I've got one who's a lot more wary of us even after being with us for over a year. She's coming round slowly, but I don't think she'll ever be as 'human' friendly as the rest.

I've got two pigs who'll happily say 'hello' to anyone as long as they're in their run/aviary/hutch. They're great for winning over visitors who haven't had any contact with pigs before as they show that small animals can have huge personalities.

I also think one of mine scared a delivery driver quite badly as now all parcels delivered by one company are left in our back porch rather than the shed. My suspicion is that Lilith came charging out of their hutch and across the run at the delivery driver one day whilst they were dropping something off and they thought she was a rat (or similar). That company have never left anything near/in the shed again.

Lilith, the friendliest pig I've ever met.

View attachment 74530

what a beauty! looks like my Lucy although she only tolerates me! x
a friends hubby drops off shredded papers sometimes and informed me that my hamsters were loose in the garden so at least he didn't think I's rats running about! LOL

 

[Beans&Toast]

I wonder this a lot. They obviously fear us at first and think we might eat them..but once they're used to us, are we just giant, hairless pigs to them?

 

[Claire W]

I am very anxious when it comes to my piggies and I think it rubs off on them.

I am a predator when it comes to picking them up.

They are all over me at veg and floor time but they seem to sense my anxieity too.

 

[Tewdric]

I am very anxious when it comes to my piggies and I think it rubs off on them.

I'm sure mine know when I have health checking/nail clipping in mind. They make themselves very difficult to catch on those particular days, so they must sense something's up.

I know my Mr Brunel certainly knows when I want to catch him because I'm either a bit worried that he's slightly 'off' or because I want to check his man bits. Even parsley/mint bribes don't work on those days and I have to go ferreting under boxes in the back of the hutch to find him. Other times when I'm just doing the usual routine he's more than happy to come over and be sociable.

Doesn't everyone else find that on the occasions when you have to be a bit quick at cleaning out etc. as you absolutely have to dash off somewhere then those will be the times when either the housing is' bogging' and takes way longer than usual to sort out, or that a pig will chose to get in the way of dust pans, brushes, feet and all other bits of equipment in ways you never thought possible? I'm sure they do it on purpose!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Darling Iggy!
Mind you, by the time I'd finished with Tansy's meds she seemed to like me better and comes to me more!

Yea Bella had to have medicine when she was a youngun and I think that's why she's so clingy now! If my mum is holding her and I come near she goes mad trying to get to me bless her. Can't say I hate it

 

[Wigwig]

Archie views me as Mrs Archie Everyone else is a slave (but he loves his slaves too), except Bikbok who is viewed as an annoying little brother, and my fiance, who is the eternal rival and must be kept at the very bottom of the pecking order.

 

[Fweeper]

My husband and I joke that we own Pinky and the Brain. Sundae is firmly Brain in this equation and I can have a whole conversation with him, so we assume he views me as "useful human obstacle" because I am usually the bearer of dinner and various treats, but also prevent his eternal escape attempts/stop him chewing things he shouldn't.

To Praline, however, very much the Pinky in this, I am firmly "safe human". He's had a lot of medical issues, and it's always been me that sits up with him and gives him his medication, takes him to the vets and such, so now when he's ill, he naturally comes to me and assumes I can fix it...no pressure or anything *nervous laughter*

My husband is "other human" to both pigs, he's there to be shouted at for the express purpose of fetching me when needed! haha Literally they just yell at him until I appear!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I suppose to see what a guinea pig thinks of you, you need to first see how they act around other people. My two boys both have something against my brother (for reasons unknown) and if his finger is in the wrong place I'm afraid it gets nibbled! They also attempt to eat my stepdad so in this case I'd say both men of the household are their 'enemies'. Mo has an attraction to my mum and will always try to crawl to her if I have him on the sofa so I think he definitely views her as someone safe and a 'perfect lap for sleeping on'. Mo also adores my grandad and allows him to stroke his many chins - yes I'm jealous! Lol.

I think Mo definitely views me as someone who protects him and loves him. If he's in a new environment or if gets spooked he returns to me for safety. And he often just popcorns up to me for a pat even when I don't have food. I'd even go as far as to say that I'm his eyes I am 'pigmum'. Steve on the other hand is still a little shy and though he knows I won't hurt him he is a bit nervy. He definitely views me as a food source (as soon as he hears me he is wheeking).

 

[Kylie80]

I suppose to see what a guinea pig thinks of you, you need to first see how they act around other people. My two boys both have something against my brother (for reasons unknown) and if his finger is in the wrong place I'm afraid it gets nibbled! They also attempt to eat my stepdad so in this case I'd say both men of the household are their 'enemies'. Mo has an attraction to my mum and will always try to crawl to her if I have him on the sofa so I think he definitely views her as someone safe and a 'perfect lap for sleeping on'. Mo also adores my grandad and allows him to stroke his many chins - yes I'm jealous! Lol.

I think Mo definitely views me as someone who protects him and loves him. If he's in a new environment or if gets spooked he returns to me for safety. And he often just popcorns up to me for a pat even when I don't have food. I'd even go as far as to say that I'm his eyes I am 'pigmum'. Steve on the other hand is still a little shy and though he knows I won't hurt him he is a bit nervy. He definitely views me as a food source (as soon as he hears me he is wheeking).

I agree as my Coco is a big mummy's girl and loves lap time with me but won't go anywhere near my OH yet she will let him hand feed her but doesn't like him touching her in or out of the cage, she even let's my dad touch her before my OH.

 

[Janice C]

I'm sure mine know when I have health checking/nail clipping in mind. They make themselves very difficult to catch on those particular days, so they must sense something's up.

I know my Mr Brunel certainly knows when I want to catch him because I'm either a bit worried that he's slightly 'off' or because I want to check his man bits. Even parsley/mint bribes don't work on those days and I have to go ferreting under boxes in the back of the hutch to find him. Other times when I'm just doing the usual routine he's more than happy to come over and be sociable.

Doesn't everyone else find that on the occasions when you have to be a bit quick at cleaning out etc. as you absolutely [you]have[/you] to dash off somewhere then those will be the times when either the housing is' bogging' and takes way longer than usual to sort out, or that a pig will chose to get in the way of dust pans, brushes, feet and all other bits of equipment in ways you never thought possible? I'm sure they do it on purpose!

When I’m trying wash and disinfect their hay corners ( always peed silly!) even if they are outside nibbling grass they will suddenly appear and get under my feet and want to run all over the wet areas! Bless!