Jennifer/Jensen - biting :(

[Kira]

Jensen was a really lovely guinea however recently he's turned into a terror...it all seems to have happened since I realized he was a boy as well maybe he really loved the name jennifer!? rolleyes

All through me cleaning his puss wounds and hand feeding him he was lovely but now he's all in the clear he's turned really well... vicious..I hate to use that word but I really don't know what else to call it...

Everytime I go to hold him now he bites chunks out of me, he doesn't just nibble he really bites hard, making me bleed and continues to do so until he's back in his cage. It doesn't matter if it's me or my partner or even a friend just going to stroke him - he just bites and bites

I hate having to tell people they can't touch him because he'll bite

I'm wondering if it's anything I've done or maybe he's just associating us with pain as we had to clean the wounds he had ect...

Any advice on how to go about getting him not to bite - or at least bite less?

If I have to just upside down pigloo him to the run and do the same to get him back I don't mind - I was just hoping I'd be able to at least stroke him again

sorry if I sound a bit whiny I really don't mean to :red

Kira x

 

[Wiebke]

It is upsetting, and it can have something to do with all the treatment he's had, so he has connected handling with treatment and discomfort/pain.

Perhaps if you used oven gloves at first and tried to give him treats on your lap? He may stop if he won't get a reaction from you.

A way of telling him that he is misbehaving piggy style is to (GENTLY!) pull him by the ruff and give him a tiny shake - telling him off like a piggy mother; at the same time you make it clear that you are higher in the hierarchy than him. That worked partly with my biter Minx; she got better afterwards. I also told her in a firm (but NOT shouting tone) "uh, uh!" if she tweaked me.

Best of luck with your handful.

 

[Kira]

Thanks a lot Wiebke I'll give those ideas a try x

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks a lot Wiebke I'll give those ideas a try x

Don't expect any immediate results - it was a slow process with Minx.

 

[Kira]

Don't expect any immediate results - it was a slow process with Minx.

I don't mind how long it takes and I understand it might not even work, I'm just hoping to be able to at least stroke him again properly - got a quick sneaky little one in today when he was playing with a vine ball which I was happy about

 

[Wiebke]

Distracting him with food is another good trick... Eventually, he'll realised you're not out to get at him and will relax again!