My first guinea pig ever started licking me!

[naguya]

Hello

I'm excited to share that my first guinea pig has started napping next to me in bed (sometimes in my lap, sometimes besides me or even in his cage he comes close to me), purring and also occasionally licking me! His name is Momo (brown and white one), every morning when I wake up he comes to say a hello, he is the cutest little thing! Momo is about 8 months, despite the circumstances he faced with his previous owner (and still have consequences like tilt head), he is doing much better now and being very active!

The other one is Bijou (black, white, brown) He's still scared, but it's little by little getting used to environment and me, and less scared every day! Bijou is about 4 months old. Today he started to close his eyes when I caress around them.

Both of them yesterday were running a lot with lots of popcorn, it was the cutest thing ever!

 

[Ramia]

That's amazing and cool!

How did you get him so used to being held? I have one that sits nice for lap time but one I'm scared will escape because he's so wiggly.

Do you have any tips?

 

[naguya]

That's amazing and cool!

How did you get him so used to being held? I have one that sits nice for lap time but one I'm scared will escape because he's so wiggly.

Do you have any tips?

In fact, I truly don't know! When I bought Momo he was extremely scared, he wouldn't let me touch him (he screamed a lot in despair) and he even bit me hard several times until blood came out.

However, I had to give him antibiotics twice a day for 21 days, so imagine the situation!

At first I spent most of the days with him, him in the cage, and me next to the cage. I talked to him several times in a day, even though he didn't understand my language I said things like "you're going to be fine" or "Who's the cutest little thing in this world? It's you!" I began to realize that even though he was hiding, he was paying attention to what I did and what I said.

I followed every Wiebke's guide here about talking to them, like this one and the other one "who is the boss?" (I did the "I want to be friends with you" movement a lot to him! He always looked at me from afar doing it!

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

Also, I caressed around his eyes when I placed him on my lap, I avoided loud noises and sudden movements. Little by little he opened up to me. Also, when he bit me, I didn't make sudden movements, I calmed him down saying everything was okay.

Regarding Bijou, I'm doing the same thing. But less than I did with Momo, due to the fact that I don't have much free time right now like when I got Momo since I was on vacation. Bijou arrived almost like a "wild beast", but now he is opening little by little, before he wouldn't even let me touch him, now he closes his eyes so I can caress him! But he is still a scared boy.

Also, to tell you the truth, I just talk to them as if they were people, I noticed that by doing this they started to get closer to me, they always answer me several times with the "wheek wheek" haha. Momo is the most talkative, you ask him a question and he always answer in his language we always talk.

 

[Ramia]

In fact, I truly don't know! When I bought Momo he was extremely scared, he wouldn't let me touch him (he screamed a lot in despair) and he even bit me hard several times until blood came out.

However, I had to give him antibiotics twice a day for 21 days, so imagine the situation!

At first I spent most of the days with him, him in the cage, and me next to the cage. I talked to him several times in a day, even though he didn't understand my language I said things like "you're going to be fine" or "Who's the cutest little thing in this world? It's you!" I began to realize that even though he was hiding, he was paying attention to what I did and what I said.

I followed every Wiebke's guide here about talking to them, like this one and the other one "who is the boss?" (I did the "I want to be friends with you" movement a lot to him! He always looked at me from afar doing it!

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

Also, I caressed around his eyes when I placed him on my lap, I avoided loud noises and sudden movements. Little by little he opened up to me. Also, when he bit me, I didn't make sudden movements, I calmed him down saying everything was okay.

Regarding Bijou, I'm doing the same thing. But less than I did with Momo, due to the fact that I don't have much free time right now like when I got Momo since I was on vacation. Bijou arrived almost like a "wild beast", but now he is opening little by little, before he wouldn't even let me touch him, now he closes his eyes so I can caress him! But he is still a scared boy.

Also, to tell you the truth, I just talk to them as if they were people, I noticed that by doing this they started to get closer to me, they always answer me several times with the "wheek wheek" haha. Momo is the most talkative, you ask him a question and he always answer in his language we always talk.

Thanks! I have my Stripe for lap time. Chez is wiggly but I'm going to try and hold him closer to my body so he feels secure.

Neither boys are scared of me anymore, but I want them to sit on my lap.

I'm not sure Stripe likes it, but he sits nice on my lap.

 

[naguya]

Thanks! I have my Stripe for lap time. Chez is wiggly but I'm going to try and hold him closer to my body so he feels secure.

Neither boys are scared of me anymore, but I want them to sit on my lap.

I'm not sure Stripe likes it, but he sits nice on my lap.

At first Momo didn't want to be on my lap, he wanted to run away, but as he was taking antibiotics, after the dosage I used to give him a small piece of carrot or tomato as a reward for taking the medicine everytime. Maybe that's what made him get used to being on my lap.