My Guinea Pigs Are Terrified Of Me

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Mellowcloud

Mellowcloud

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I've just broken into a huge cry, because I loved my guinea pigs.
When we are supposed to clean their cage, I have to take them out, and look after them on the sofa whilst my mum cleans the cage.
However, they are TERRIFIED of me now and they wheek when my mom is there, they go up to my mom and want food from her.
When I go next to their cage, they look at me, quickly flee downstairs and hide in their huts.
It's bothering me and I'm very sad, they were my little treasures and my dream is getting broken.
Why? because being a pet owner was my dream, and to care for all pets and make them happy was my dream.
They're not happy with me, and I'm considering taking them back to the pet shop as they will be happier there.
I know they were happy before as they used to wheek at me and ask for food.
I'm very sad :bye:
Should I leave them? i've had them for about almost 2 months now, they were my everything and I know they'll be happier without me.
 
How old are your piggies? I am guessing pretty young.
I think you just need to take a deep breath and be patient. Guineas are prey animals and so will naturally hide when they see a large animal eg you. Talking to them so they get used to your voice helps and also associating everything with food. So offer food from your hands - just small bits and they will start to associate your hands with food.
Also try picking them up in a box or a cosy sack - much easier than chasing them with hands - all my boys are 'sack trained' - they now just jump in!
Some piggies take much longer than others to relax but it will happen - just hang on in there and give them a chance to become braver.
 
lauraboara said:
How old are your piggies? I am guessing pretty young.
I think you just need to take a deep breath and be patient. Guineas are prey animals and so will naturally hide when they see a large animal eg you. Talking to them so they get used to your voice helps and also associating everything with food. So offer food from your hands - just small bits and they will start to associate your hands with food.
Also try picking them up in a box or a cosy sack - much easier than chasing them with hands - all my boys are 'sack trained' - they now just jump in!
Some piggies take much longer than others to relax but it will happen - just hang on in there and give them a chance to become braver.
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Not really as I said they 3 months old possibly getting into 4 months old, not that young. That's what I did.
 
Awww don't be sad.

It sounds like the piggies were okay with you before but it's a recent thing ... their nervousness.

Can you pinpoint an event where they may have been a bit spooked by you?

Personally, I wouldn't give them up ... being a pet owner is a commitment, through good times and bad.

There are always ups and downs with any pet.

At the end of the day it's all about trust.

Do you spend a lot of time with your piggies? Do you sit with them without picking them up, just chatting to them? Do you hand feed them a lot.

Perhaps you want something they are not ready to give yet? You might want them on your lap but they might be happier sitting next to you for example.

Good luck. Your hard work will pay off I PROMISE YOU XXXXX
 
TheAurora said:
Awww don't be sad.

It sounds like the piggies were okay with you before but it's a recent thing ... their nervousness.

Can you pinpoint an event where they may have been a bit spooked by you?

Personally, I wouldn't give them up ... being a pet owner is a commitment, through good times and bad.

There are always ups and downs with any pet.

At the end of the day it's all about trust.

Do you spend a lot of time with your piggies? Do you sit with them without picking them up, just chatting to them? Do you hand feed them a lot.

Perhaps you want something they are not ready to give yet? You might want them on your lap but they might be happier sitting next to you for example.

Good luck. Your hard work will pay off I PROMISE YOU XXXXX
Click to expand...

Well I think yesterday when they were on the sofa whilst my mum was cleaning the cage I tried to stroke them. Maybe it's that?
I hand-feed them only pellets and hay. I don't hand-feed other things, but sometimes maybe lettuce.
I don't want them on my lap. NEVER EVER EVER tried putting them on my lap.
I spend most my day, seeing as I'm homeschooled.
 
lauraboara said:
Yes that is still very young! can your parents help you with the taming process? have you explained to them how you are feeling?
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I have. My mother says "they are scared of you" and that's it. She told me to google it. But I asked you guys instead. I don't have a father, I do but he doesn't really know I have guinea pigs. The only thing I have hope in is asking you for help really. (you as in everybody here)
 
It sounds as though you have got in a bit of a stew and the piggies will pick up on those vibes. So perhaps do something totally different for a while and then when you are calmer, just go and have a chat to them and offer some bits of veg. They will prefer veg to anything else eg slice of cucumber or bit pf pepper. Just little steps and I am sure you can get there. Good luck!
 
Patience is key and I don't mean two weeks or two month it's a long process. My girls will now greet me at the front if the cage and if I'm lucky they will let me pat there nose. I've had them for a year now.

I have another pig who I can't pat at all I've had him 6 years. He's been so poorly he's had to completely rely on me for food for 2 months, he still never got any tamer. We have an understanding he'll allow me to feed him vegetables in his cage and will endure his general maintenance checks. I have a very different relationship with him I just enjoy watching him having fun there's nothing better than him exploring he oozes character and will happily run round me but never come over to me except if I have veggies.

My point is your pig's will come round it just takes a great deal of time. Perhaps they will never be cuddly but like my Fred you will grow to love there characters and develop a bond that suits all three if you. I love my little guy to bits and seeing him being independent is the reward I get from pet ownership.
 
Hey they don't hate you! all piggies are frightened sometimes. My piggie Holly is only just becoming less petrified of me. Ive had her for nearly 5 years now. It takes a long time. Youve only had yours for a few months. So take things slow: dont beat yourself up about it if they are running into their hides as you approach. Just grab some veggies, sit down and take some time talking to them and offering them veg. Even just through the cage bars. Then you can open up the cage once they are coming to you for veg. Believe me once they know that your voice and a rustle means food they will come running. Just be patient. Then once they take veggies easily you can give them a wee tickle on their chin or something. Be patient. I shed many tears over Holly I thought she hated me and couldnt understand why. If your pigs are inside and you take things slow they will come round. Some pigs longer than others. When you spend time watching and chatting with them you will find out their characters. Young piggies like yours will become accustomed to things more easily but even older pigs ( ive had mine from about one to two years) can eventually relax too. and remember ENJOY your piggie ownership and let them be a happy thing for you! They arent always like cuddly teddies but they sure are cute!
 
Mellowcloud said:
I've just broken into a huge cry, because I loved my guinea pigs.
When we are supposed to clean their cage, I have to take them out, and look after them on the sofa whilst my mum cleans the cage.
However, they are TERRIFIED of me now and they wheek when my mom is there, they go up to my mom and want food from her.
When I go next to their cage, they look at me, quickly flee downstairs and hide in their huts.
It's bothering me and I'm very sad, they were my little treasures and my dream is getting broken.
Why? because being a pet owner was my dream, and to care for all pets and make them happy was my dream.
They're not happy with me, and I'm considering taking them back to the pet shop as they will be happier there.
I know they were happy before as they used to wheek at me and ask for food.
I'm very sad :bye:
Should I leave them? i've had them for about almost 2 months now, they were my everything and I know they'll be happier without me.
Click to expand...

Sorry I am a little confused by your post and I am hoping you can clarify a couple of things for me.

What has happened that you thought they were happy before with you but not now?

You say they wheek when your Mum is there and go up to her and want food. Is that perhaps because she is feeding them more than yourself?

I am not sure what you mean by your dream as a pet owner. You say you would never ever have them on your lap. But why not? There is nothing better than a cuddle and snuggle with a piggy. If you take them out and put them on your lap you can then hand feed them some veges and they begin to associate lap time as a nice experience. Over time once they trust you then you can stop with the veges and they will just enjoy the cuddle.

All piggies have different personalities and some are going to be friendlier than others but it does not mean that one is happier than the other.

Why would you think that any animal would be 'happier' in a cage in a pet shop? Surely when you took them on you understood that you would simply have to love them unconditionally and that they are not necessarily going to give you what you were hoping for in return?

Have you told your Mum that you are considering taking them back? If so does she agree or not?

Sorry for all the questions but obviously we all want to help you as much as we can but we need to understand what exactly you feel the problem is and how you can look to deal with it.
 
It's just all about being patient and eventually they will be fine.
I got both my boys at 3month old and 1 week after I got them one of the boys got a nasty case of ringworm. I had to treat his ears and eyes and he became terrified of me as he thought every time I went near him he would be getting treatment. It made me feel pretty rubbish but now he is 7month old and every time i enter the room he's standing at his cage to greet me and LOVES getting petted. It will be worth it, so just be patient and hang in there!
 
Caron's Cavies said:
Sorry I am a little confused by your post and I am hoping you can clarify a couple of things for me.

What has happened that you thought they were happy before with you but not now?

You say they wheek when your Mum is there and go up to her and want food. Is that perhaps because she is feeding them more than yourself?

I am not sure what you mean by your dream as a pet owner. You say you would never ever have them on your lap. But why not? There is nothing better than a cuddle and snuggle with a piggy. If you take them out and put them on your lap you can then hand feed them some veges and they begin to associate lap time as a nice experience. Over time once they trust you then you can stop with the veges and they will just enjoy the cuddle.

All piggies have different personalities and some are going to be friendlier than others but it does not mean that one is happier than the other.

Why would you think that any animal would be 'happier' in a cage in a pet shop? Surely when you took them on you understood that you would simply have to love them unconditionally and that they are not necessarily going to give you what you were hoping for in return?

Have you told your Mum that you are considering taking them back? If so does she agree or not?

Sorry for all the questions but obviously we all want to help you as much as we can but we need to understand what exactly you feel the problem is and how you can look to deal with it.
Click to expand...

Honestly, your questions are confusing too, please explain more? I also do snuggle him much and alot just not on my lap. They had alot of friends in the shop, and they were very happy there.
 
Sorry if you find them confusing but perhaps if you just look at one question at a time and answer it then this will help us understand what you are saying the problem is.

What makes you say they were happy in the shop just because they had other guinea pigs in the cage with them? It is very unlikely that the employees in the shop were able to spend time with them to talk to them and cuddle them and have play time with them like you are able to do.
 
Just because they aren't wheeking at you doesn't mean they aren't happy.

Why won't you let them on your lap?
 
Can I ask what vegetables you feed your piggies too?
 
Please do your best to chill about this. Your littles will adjust, in their own way. I have eight girls, all from a rescue so I don't know what they went through before that. Some are more friendly than others, some are more friendly on one day than another. I see that others have recommended feeding them little treats: I find that they all love fresh grass pulled from the garden, usually mixed with bits of clover and dandelion. I don't expect them to show the same attachment that I might get from a dog or cat so I just chat away to them at feeding and other times so they get used to my voice. They really don't like being taken out of their hutches at cleaning out time and they wheek a lot so I wheek back, quite quietly. Please don't take them back to the shop. You are obviously a very caring person. I don't believe that they don't like you. They are perhaps more comfortable with your Mum at the moment - maybe she has bigger hands than you and finds it easier to pick them up gently ? Please don't give up. Maybe they prefer Mum's smell because they link it with food ? Try and feed them yourself regularly, move slowly and keep your voice low and steady. You'll get there. Best wishes.
 
Hi , try not to let it upset you, guinia pigs like other animals can sence distress,
if you are distresed , then it could be affecting the way they see you.

Mabe if you sit down by there cage and talk to them , this way they will get to know you
mean them no halm

it may take a while , but it will be wourth it :hug:
 
Please don't give up on them:) All the advice is spot on, it takes time and patience with piggies. Is there a reason you don't want them on you lap? That is one of the best times for bonding with them:) put a fleece on you lap to put the piggies on and have some veg or fruit for them in you hand. Talk to them quietly and gently, no shouting or sudden movements as that can scare them. Remember, they are not afraid of you, it is their instincts to be shy and cautious. Also sit by their cage and talk to them, with the door open and offer some veggies for them to take, but don't always try an pick them up straight away, just let them get used to you being there, your voice and that you bring goodies:) They will soon be wheeking at you as well:)
 
Hi!
I remember when I rescued my first two girlies and brought them home for the first time. Rusty and Lillith, they hated me. They wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with me at all. Things changed but sadly not fast.
First, things got a lot better when we got them a bigger 5x2 c&c cage and out of the tiny store bough cage they were in. And things got even better when I started giving them fresh veggies and fruit daily. And honestly Lillith never fully came around. We came to and "agreement" as my mom liked to say lol.
Rusty on the other hand became very close to us, but oddly enough it was to my dad at first! And he was about 6'4, 250lbs! Piggies can sure be strange.
With Allie and Callie(I've had them since they were very young unlike Rusty and Lillith who were 2 and 3 when I got them) they came around fast. Callie has almost always loved my attention and Allie has come to love it.
Basically what I'm saying is all piggies are different but from my experience the younger ones are easier to bond with. I find its easiest to at first just sit out side of their cage and talk to them. Having the cage elevated/at eye level helps with this so you're not looming down on them. Entice them with food and then when they're eating put your hand above their head slowly so they can see what you're doing and start petting their head. After a few days start moving your hand down their body a bit. In my experience most piggies will HATE their bum being touched, especially if they can't see it so don't try this right away. Also, if they run away from your hand and into their huts dont take their huts off their head, just try to get them back out with food.
Try to teach them a sound associated with food so they want to run out of their huts. I make a really loud kissy noise and that usually gets them running around and out of their huts haha
What Parkdaleangela said was really good. Just being calm and gentle and keep your voice low.
I hate to seem harsh but it seems like you haven't done your research yet. With being a pet owner you always always always do research prior to getting your pet. But with that being said you're on a great track. This forum is an excellent place to find research and get amazing advice!
 
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