My Guinea Pig Needs To Calm Down

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Louiseblack2

Louiseblack2

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About 3 months ago we bought two baby girl pigs, theyre so lovely and friendly they love coming to say hello at the bars but have very different personalities. To cut things short these girls are the perfect addition to my family but ive been havimg a few issues. We can touch and stroke the pigs through the bars but as soon as we open the door they begin to run hide squeak loudly and jump arpund theyre a nightmare to catch after youve caught them they take a while to calm in your arms and at first occassionally dive under my armpits and I'm scared theyll jump one day but eventually they calm down and become calm and there very loving persoanlities snow through. When we go to put them back they again attempt to jump at the sight of the cagw but they scratch and have bitten me before become skitty and desperate to return home. We get them out everyday but this still isnt getting better. Please can anyone suggest methods to make them happier being handled thanks
 
Cardboard tunnels are fab for picking up nervous/skittish piggies. If you can herd them into a hidey with a bottom that works too. My youngest are very skittish for catching still, I herd them into a house and scoop them out lol.
 
Louiseblack2 said:
About 3 months ago we bought two baby girl pigs, theyre so lovely and friendly they love coming to say hello at the bars but have very different personalities. To cut things short these girls are the perfect addition to my family but ive been havimg a few issues. We can touch and stroke the pigs through the bars but as soon as we open the door they begin to run hide squeak loudly and jump arpund theyre a nightmare to catch after youve caught them they take a while to calm in your arms and at first occassionally dive under my armpits and I'm scared theyll jump one day but eventually they calm down and become calm and there very loving persoanlities snow through. When we go to put them back they again attempt to jump at the sight of the cagw but they scratch and have bitten me before become skitty and desperate to return home. We get them out everyday but this still isnt getting better. Please can anyone suggest methods to make them happier being handled thanks
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Hi and welcome!

Please take the time to read these guides. You will find the tips in them very helpful in order to make friends with your girls without stressing them out unduly. It is going to be a slow and gradual process, but you will get there!
The main thing is to avoid triggering their prey animal instincts, use their own body language to establish friendly contact first, then love but at the same time your dominance. Create firm rituals with the same owkrs and melodies for every interaction so it looks less like random violence to your piggies.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
" Biting" And What You Can Do

You may find our new owners' guides collection interesting and helpful: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Cardboard tunnels are fab for picking up nervous/skittish piggies. If you can herd them into a hidey with a bottom that works too. My youngest are very skittish for catching still, I herd them into a house and scoop them out lol.
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They have a plastic tunnel in there at the moent and thats the method we used to use but they kinda became smart to that and mow just avoid it completely as they learnt how to get away from it
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

Please take the time to read these guides. You will find the tips in them very helpful in order to make friends with your girls without stressing them out unduly. It is going to be a slow and gradual process, but you will get there!
The main thing is to avoid triggering their prey animal instincts, use their own body language to establish friendly contact first, then love but at the same time your dominance. Create firm rituals with the same owkrs and melodies for every interaction so it looks less like random violence to your piggies.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
" Biting" And What You Can Do

You may find our new owners' guides collection interesting and helpful: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
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Thank you for these tips ill have anpsey know and see if any help
 
Louiseblack2 said:
They have a plastic tunnel in there at the moent and thats the method we used to use but they kinda became smart to that and mow just avoid it completely as they learnt how to get away from it
Click to expand...

Haha yes they're very smart! I've had to adapt and change my technique regularly to try and out smart them :))
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Haha yes they're very smart! I've had to adapt and change my technique regularly to try and out smart them :))
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I think some people underesimate how smart these creatures are i spmetimes forget until one manages to escape some how and i spend my morning chasing them lol
 
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