I Feel Like They Will Never Be Tame

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gicogico

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I’ve had my 5 month old Guinea Pigs for 3 months and I’ve been trying to tame them using tips from this site and all over the internet. I take great care of them but they are still terrified of me. One even recently started teen clattering when I put my hand in their cage. When I pick her up she squirrels and screams so bad, it sounds like she’s hurting her throat. I’ve been trying everything for 3 months but nothing is working. It’s actually making t worse and I’m feeling very discouraged. What do I do? My Guinea Pigs have never wanted anything to do with me and I’m scared it will Be this way forever.
 
No it wont be that way forever but it can take some time. I am still taming our girl we have had for a year..... she still runs off if i try and touch her in the cage,m she will take food off me however so getting there.... Some piggies are more scared than others

Have you tried this method to pick them up?

I would advise going right back to basics, getting them to take food off you in the cage then start lap time for a short amount of time at first and build up. We started off we laptimes for 1 minute with new piggies then pop them back, slowly increasing the time. They will soon associate you with food and good things but at first it takes a while to gain their trust.
 
I have had my piggies for nearly 2 years and 2 of the girlies still run if I try to pick them up.
 
I have had my guinea pigs for over a year and sometimes they get scared of me. The best way is to remember that everyone has these same issues. Patience is key! Just know it takes everyone time to get their pigs to warm up.
 
It takes a long time to win them over. They aren't easy pets to tame! Every bone in their body is primed to think they are about to become lunch all the time and so they behave that way all the time.

We've had the gruesome twosome for two years now and they are both pretty tame now but it took months and months. What helped hugely I think was moving them into our living space as they became much more used to us just being around. Before that they were in the play/dining room.

Keep going, it's worth it when you finally get there.
 
As the others have said - be patient and allow them to dictate terms.
My Keziah is happy to sit beside on the floor to be stroked but she hates being picked up and held. She is nearly 3 now and I've had her and her sister since they were 3 months old.
I'm sure the only reason my oldest piggy Merab lets me pick her up is because she's blind and doesn't see me coming and she's too lazy to get out the way.
 
As already mentioned, be patient and give them time.
Guinea pigs are prey animals so it is their instinct to run and hide if they think danger is approaching.
My Ellen is nearly 3 years old and she still doesn’t particularly like being stroked in the cage unless it’s on her terms
 
Don't feel bad OP my Sunshine doesn't love me much but I have decided to respect my Piggies choice and It was hard at first but we have a great relationship when it comes to feeding. Me and my Pig have been able to grow a Strange Bond and I love her whatever her choice!
 
@SunshinePiggy I’m sure your piggy does love you but shows it differently from other piggies.
They all have their own characters and, just like people, have different ways of showing love.
Enjoy the love you are shown, even if it is just food centred.
 
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