It's Hard Work Interacting With My Guinea Pigs!

[juniper89]

My good friend owns a guinea pig (or perhaps it's the other way around!) My desire to own a guinea pig originated from being around her guinea pig on several different occasions. I did a great deal of research before deciding to get a guinea pig, and I was convinced that it would be difficult to convince guinea pigs that I'm not an enemy!

As you may already know, I finally purchased my very first guinea pig several weeks ago. As of now, she is a little over 2 months old. She is extremely shy and skittish, but only when she knows she's about to be held. Otherwise, she's running laps and popcorning around her habitat. She can't resist popcorning when she eats. She'll take a bite, and do that little twitch and week in excitement! Oh, but when I go to try and pick her up, her good mood is instantly gone. I thought it was simply because she is a baby, and isn't used to being held by humans. I did get her from Pet Smart, after all!

I decided to get her a cagemate. Her name is Rosalind and she's two years old. She still has several days until I can introduce them. She grew up being held by her previous owner. So I figured I would give her several days to get settled in before I handle her. Well, I finally handled her, and I figured she wouldn't take to me immediately, being a guinea pig and all. But I've tried again and again, and I can't even so much as talk to her or say her name without her pausing for maybe a couple of seconds and booking it back to her hideout (even when I'm on the other side of the room!) The fact that she's used to human interaction and yet still fleeing from me is extremely discouraging. Especially since it seems to be getting worse with every interaction

My discouragement may be a result of my overall noobishness in terms of guinea pig ownership, but I would like to hope and believe that it will get better and not worse.

 

[Betsy]

All piggies are wary of new surroundings. Rosalind needs time to settle. She may be used to being handled but she is not used to you and all the new smells and being in a different place. Try putting a blanket on top of the cage so she feels safe and have a read of these guides.

Settling In And Making Friends With Guinea Pigs - A Guide

They give good advice on how to settle piggies.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

It is great that you are getting a companion for Rosalind. We have got a very detailed step-by-step bonding guide as well as a sow behaviour guide for when they have bonded.
Give the two girls several days next to each other with interaction through the bars once the quarantine is over, so they know each other before they meet on neutral ground and are less stressed.

Unfortunately, not every second-hand piggy has had a loving and understanding home.
Please try to use our piggy whispering tips to make friends with your piggies in their own body language and to invite them into your group. We have also got pick-up tips that are a lot less stressful; especially for piggies with bad experiences from rough handling.

You can find all these guides in our New Owners guide collection and will hopefully find them very helpful and interesting. I cannot list all tricks just in one post.
New Owners' Problem Solver And Information Collection

 

[Katiedid]

It takes time, my babies took months - and the were syringe fed as babies (and prefer daddy tickles). My rescues took 18 months (apart from Biscuit as she has more front than Brighton). Keep hand feeding them and being there it’s still very early days xx

 

[beckyxxx]

Guinea pigs are prey animals so natural instincts kick in when they think they are going to be picked up, especially from their cage. I’ve had my two guinea pigs for nearly a year now and they still won’t let me pick them up from their cage but will let me from the sofa etc. It’s not that your guinea pig doesn’t like you, it’s just the way they are even if they are used to it they still aren’t likely to be fan of it and will try run away when you approach to pick them up. a good way to pick them up is by herding them into a cosey, snuggle sack or a tunnel (as long as both ends are covered) and this way it takes the stress out for both you and your guinea pigs I’ve been using this trick ever since I got my guinea pigs and they defiantly prefer it to me picking them up with my hands