I don't want my guinea pigs to hate me.........!

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:'( I can pick them up now, one pretty easily, the other with a bit of a scramble around the cage. but they sit on my knee scared out of their little wits and just vibrating.
I feel awful for them, and I know its daft to feel like they have hurt my feelings. I just want them to love me. :o(

How long has it taken you to tame your guineas? And how tame are they, ie, do they come and beg to be picked up, eat out of your hand or do you still have to catch them?
 
If I'm holding parsley mine run to me, jump on my lap and eat contentedly, let me stroke them, chucky under their chin and everything, the minute I go to pick them up for a cuddle thery're off! There was only one pig that use to sit patiently and let you pick him up cuddle him etc etc - The gorgeous Binky / Dillon eh Mary H?

Its all quite normal, they don't / won't hate you - you bring food and keep them clean!
 
how long have you had them? don't worry they will lurrrrrrrrv you in time! beleive me. i felt like that to start with, but they've got to get used to it, and when they realise you are the food bringer they will definitely start to love you.

mine took about 4-6 weeks to really get used to me and now they do eat out of my hands and jump up into my arms when i open the run/cage and they snuggle into me, wheeek at me every time they hear or see me and they run up to the side of their cages! they let me stroke them and fall asleep on me and they will do this to you too, just wait, you'll wonder why you ever worried. :smitten:
 
It takes a little time for them to get the idea, but I always try to let my pigs hop up onto my hand to be picked up. Somehow, they seem to feel safer that way. Usually, I start by shooshing them gently into a corner, then put my left arm sloping down (palm up, towards their face) and the other gently at their back end. As they begin to move, I gently manoever (sp?) my left hand under the tummy, then put right hand over the top of their back to steady them and up they come. Sorry, that isn't really easy to explain in words - hope it makes sense!

Anyway, eventually, most pigs just get used to this and (because they always get parsley when they come out for cuddles), eventually stand to let me put my arm in and then jump up. All very civilised.

Having said that, I do have one sow who will NOT stand to be picked up, at all, ever.

Your little ones will get used to you and stop trembling, so long as you are always gentle, speak softly, tickle them in the right places and give them treats. Grooming them helps them to bond, I think, as well. Also, try to relax when you have them out, cos if you are tense, they can sense it.

Hope that helps a bit.

And, Cavy Love, your piggies sound adorable! :smitten:
 
:) They'll get better, though some pigs just don't like being handled, they just tolerate it- for a little while :) Start by holding them for 5-10 minutes at a time, actually time yourself and make its no longer nor no less. Obviously adjust it if they can't stand 10 mins but don't 'up the time' until they are happy at sitting for 5 minutes, then 10 etc. Always offer them food when you hold them and be relaxed your self. They can sense how you are feeling and if you're uptight so will they be :) I use the small animal baskets for mine when they're on my lap.
 
I have four guineas, two of them run like crazy when I try and pick them up, but once they're out and settled on my lap they seem to love having a cuddle. I think some piggies just run on instinct when you try to pick them up. My other two piggies are quite happy and cooperative when it comes to being picked up! Just give them a bit of time to get used to you. When you have them out let them sit on your lap on a blanket or in a cuddle cup, this will make them feel nice and comfy.
 
emilyj said:
When you have them out let them sit on your lap on a blanket or in a cuddle cup, this will make them feel nice and comfy.
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Ooh, yes, good advice, there. They like to feel secure, so falling down the gap between our legs is a bit turn off! I always use a towel (and have been known ot put it on a radiator first!).
 
well at least you are picking yours up ! Mine runs a mile ! lol i have only her a week though so i am trying to be patient :) :smitten:
 
Well Molly who is two and a half will sometimes let you pick her up, Rosie and Bella (4 and 8 months) back off as if they're not sure and then let you pick them up, Smudge and Truffle just leg it and you have to chase them into a corner and they are 7 & 8 months old.

At no time has any one of my pigs begged to be picked up ;D I wish!
 
Thanks Gingerpig! I was starting to think that I was the only one that didn't have dedicated and loving Guineapigs! :o)
 
Lennie hates being picked up but will happily climb on my lap when he feels like it or if I have food! Timmy just wont stand to be picked up, he bites me so I am in the process of stroking him a lot more and placing my hand gently on him to get him used to the idea that soon I am gonna pick him up! My two teddies run away but once I place my hand under their tummy area and one on their behind, they are fine and sit on my lap for ages, well till they need a wee ;D
 
gingerpig said:
At no time has any one of my pigs begged to be picked up ;D I wish!
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It's lovely when they do. I used to have a beautiful cream Sheltie who would ask to come out with me. He was an absolute delight. I cried buckets when he died. :'( :'( :'(

Another of my boars (it's always the boars!) used to come and sit by my foot (he was freerange) and wait to be picked up. We would then have a cuddle in front of the TV - him sleeping at the top of my chest and me peering over the top of him! Again, lovely man and I also cried buckets when he went.

Oh, no, I've made myself all sad now! I need to sign out and go look at some piggies (oh and give Pippa some Baytril).
 
It really takes time for your guinea pigs to adjust to you and bond. They are naturally shy animals. I got Shura when he was a few months old, and now he is age 3. When he was little he wasn't so happy about being picked up but over time every morning I would pick him up to eat veggies and he loves that. He accustomed to his cage and my voice and pretty soon I would put my hands in the cage and he crawls up and off we go. I think in general he is a very outgoing guinea pig, through his cage he loves to greet our friends chocolate lab, however Shura is more interested in the dog than she is in him. So over time he became very accustomed to me and is very attatched.

Hriusha is now 2 and 7 months. We got him a year ago and he was very nervous. He is still more skittish than Shura. When I first got him he wasn't interested in food and didn't want to be held or snuggled. But soon after a few months he became very happy, joined Shura in greeting me in the mornings and whenver I approached the cage they both jump out to say hi. When I put my arms in the cage he now jumps right up like Shura does. I think he is a bit more clever and his favorite thing to do is run around in his play pen. He does his funny little dance.

So really the bonding process between you and your piggies takes time but you just have to be patient and it will all work out. Perhaps when you take him out, give them some treats like some veggies that way they understand that you are no threat and you feed them. Talk to them in a gentle voice and stroke them.
 
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