Is it normal for a Cavy to be this dumb?

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House MD

House MD

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I got my piggy a few days ago. But he seems to be strangely low intelligent.

Now, although I have nothing to compare him to, since this is my first Guinea Pig, some things in his behavior seem kind of odd.



1. When he is in his cage, he is terrified of me. I can't move a muscle without him running for his life back in his house and out of site.

But when he is outside, and I am letting him run all over the room, he is a lot more relaxed and he doesn't seem to feel no fear towards me (keep in mind that I only have him for a few days, and he is still getting used to me).

So, it's like he thinks I am a different person when he is caged and loose.

2. When I move in the room, he storms in his house. Yesterday, in the hurry, he bumped his head pretty hard in the house trying to get in, then bounced back, bumped again, and succeded to enter in the third try, bumping his head on the other side of the inner side of the house.

I thought that was an accident and that he learned his lesson. But he just did it again the day later. Again from the third try he was able to rush in the house, bumping the first to times in the side of the entry point.

3. He didn't drink at all from his water-bottle for the first few days, but today he mastered it finally. The odd thing is he keeps biting the metal thingy at the end of the bottle (where the water is coming from), and probably damaging his teeth (it sound's like someone is chopping his teeth with a chainsaw).



Don't get me wrong, I really love my little Pluton, and don't want to insult him or anything, but I am just wondering, is it normal for a Cavy to be this "unintelligent" or is this maybe normal behavior?
 
The thread title made me laugh....but........

He's not "dumb", he's scared. It usually takes them days to weeks to months to settle in properly. He's a prey animal and sees you as a predator - something that would want to eat him, their only defense is to run for their lives. If you got him a buddy he might come out of his shell more, since they prefer to live with their own kind.

Some pigs do not prefer water bottles, have 2 that would rather use a bowl. rolleyes

Oh, and welcome to the board! I'm Marie :)
 
Hello, Marie! :D Pluton and I are happy to meet you. :D

Thanks for the response. I know how I might seem like a predator to him, but why does he feel more safe in while outside of his cage (he even cuddles and eats out of my hand) but while caged, he is afraid of his own shadow.

As for the water bottle, I substituted water for veggies high in H20 (like peppers), so it's not the deal with drinking water as with trying to digest the metal thingy in the bottle. I am afraid that he is damaging his teeth that way. :(
 
guinea pig are prey animals, their instincts are to run and hide from things they think are a danger to them. in the wild they would run and hide from preditor birds and such things. once he gets to know you and trusts you, he wont run away so much and be comfortable with you walking past, or what ever. ive had mine a year now, and she still darts away if i make sudden movements, or if she hears an odd noise like the phone.

as for the water bottles, pigs dont have very long tongues and cant stick them out to lick the water bottle, so they use their teeth. mine does it. her teeth are fine.

as for the bumping his head... can only think hes still getting used to the layout of the cage, so when hes moving fast he's not quite got the right place to run to yet. on the other hand, is the popcorning? - it looks like hes jumping around and having a fit. when my g. pig is popcorning she always runs into things!
 
No, he's not popcorning, he just bumps in the side of the house entry when he tries to runaway from an odd angle.
 
House MD said:
Hello, Marie! :D Pluton and I are happy to meet you. :D

Thanks for the response. I know how I might seem like a predator to him, but why does he feel more safe in while outside of his cage (he even cuddles and eats out of my hand) but while caged, he is afraid of his own shadow.

As for the water bottle, I substituted water for veggies high in H20 (like peppers), so it's not the deal with drinking water as with trying to digest the metal thingy in the bottle. I am afraid that he is damaging his teeth that way. :(
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I can't explain that, because its just how they are! :)) Most pigs are scared and will run from you but when you get them out they are fine. From what I understand it can take months to a year until they don't feel completely threatened by you! Basically: Patience is key! I have only had pigs for 3 months and they get more comfortable every day but most (I have 9) still run from me when I try to pick them up, but are fine once I've got them.

They do get a lot of water from veggies, so I wouldn't be too concerned about the water intake. Some drink a lot and some drink very little....they're all different. And I wouldn't be concerned with the metal ball, that is just how they drink, and I don't think it will damage them, they're teeth are constantly growing.

We always love to see pics of piggies! So post a pic of Pluton when you get a chance in the Photo Gallery! :(|)
 
hes probably still getting used to his new home. but i woulnt take the water supply away, keep the bottle there or a bowl of water. so that hes got constant access to water when ever he wants. the bottles dont hurt their teeth or damage the pig in any way
 
Marie and ellie, thanks for the feedback about the teeth and water! :)

As for the water bottle, I will return it now. I guess I just panicked when I took it away.
 
OK, so Pluton just bumped in the side of his house again trying to escape from my yawning.

He didn't seem to hurt himself.... yet. But I'm a bit worried, if he keeps hitting himself this way, I may have to open a topic "Why is my piggy getting even dumber?".
 
:)) Well take comfort in the fact that both Pola and Nell (two of my girls) also do this, and they frequently crash into each other! rolleyes He'll probably run everytime you sneeze/cough/make a sudden movement.

Do you talk to him when you walk into the room? Some say that helps, so he knows you're coming and he'll learn you = food = good things. ;)
 
Yeah, sure, I talk to him all the time.

Read somewhere it helps them adjust when they get used to your voice.

BTW is it normal for them to get more attached to someone else then the owner who spends most of the time with them?

Pluton is a lot more fond of my girlfriend, even though I play a lot more with him and feed him more, and she just sees him for a few hours a day.

I read about some animals that the males get more attached to the female humans, and females to the male humans. Is this maybe the same case with Cavies?
 
Welcome to the forum. Bless little Pluton sounds like he's just getting used to you and his new home, especially if he's the only piggy, he has nobody to explore with or be scared with lol! He may prefer your girlfriend if she has a softer voice or is a bit less harsh in her movements? I know my animals are more jumpy around my boyfriend because he's just naturally a bit less gentle than me! That said you're probably best to not be too gentle around him or he'll never get used to loud noises etc. I'm sure he'll come round soon enough it will just take him some time to get used to everything, mine were exactly the same as this for a while and now they're all practically jumping out of their cages to be fed every morning and night!
Emma
x
 
mine are the same, they usually run away when they're in the cage. Maybe it's because its their home and they know they can bolt to safety.
If I take them out they're fine and will happily stay with me.
 
It took Crunchie and sparkle a good 5 weeks to become relaxed and settled by which i mean that they explore the living room when out of their hutch.
And they will come to me if i lie on the floor.... but if i move a muscle they make a run for it, and hide in their house if approached.
we have had them around 9 weeks now
Claire
 
House MD said:
Thanks for the response. I know how I might seem like a predator to him, but why does he feel more safe in while outside of his cage (he even cuddles and eats out of my hand) but while caged, he is afraid of his own shadow.
:(
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Is his cage quite close to ground level? If so, you may appear bigger to him when he's in his hutch rather than when he's on your lap, if you get what I mean?
 
Porcellus said:
Is his cage quite close to ground level? If so, you may appear bigger to him when he's in his hutch rather than when he's on your lap, if you get what I mean?
Click to expand...

Well yes, it's on a table about a half-a-meter from the ground (1.64 feet), but I am usually sitting on a chair that's just a little above that level or lying on a bed that's the same level.

@kt1:
I really hope not... :(
 
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