My Poor Baby Chester

PiggyProdigy

PiggyProdigy

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
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Location
Kingwood, Texas
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Hello, all! It's been a while. (You can thank freshman year for that). I've had my two pigs Chester and Bojangles for about four months now, and I have a question about my poor baby Chester. (the one standing confidently in the picture) I snapped that photo one day of him just looking at his territory and I LOVE it. Anyways, Chester is a special? I guess... Like I said, last night was the fourtheenth week I've had him, and he is SO SKITTISH! I'll be sitting on the couch in their room silently, and twist my foot literally like 3 inches to the left or right and he will BOLT. For the first two months I had him he was scared of literally everything, he hates noises, his eyes go kind of wild when he eats.. I mean don't get me wrong he's healthy, I love him and he's still a guinea pig. But why is he so nervous all the time? I think it may be due the the fact that I got him from a lady who knew nothing about pigs, and had three little children who constantly were trying to hold him. Unfortanately, I think he may have been dropped several times. It took SO LONG for me to come in there without him bolting, and right now we're (my older brother and I) teaching him tricks with pellets, like circles and what I like to call "circus pig". (Jumping in the air). So my question is, why is he so nervous? Why does he bolt at every little thing? I know I don't know his background, but I love him, I treat him well, and food comes every day pellets and morning and now treat time, and veggies in the evening. His schedule is the same, my footsteps are the same, and also he's never once let me pick him up.
I'd really love some wisdom from experienced owners.
Thanks
 
Don’t get disheartened! I have 3 youngsters who. All live together with their Husboar and they all react differently to me.
Gracie is the smallest, runs and hides when it’s cuddle/ lap time but settles happily once on my knee. She will nibble happily on the veg supplied during this time and happy to sit longer even when veg finished. Katie Buttercup scuttles around desperately trying to avoid me then squeals loudly while I lift her then settles to munch on her veg. Soon as that’s finished she can’t wait to get away! Poppy who is 2 weeks younger - approx 5 months rushes about trying to avoid me and has to be tucked under my jacket with only her head sticking out but won’t have anything to nibble on while having lap time. I have the same routine daily but still have this reaction!
If you are quite new to piggies it is best to lift them while they are sitting in their nest or snuggle hole they get used to you. Feed them little bits of favourite veg during this time, stroke gently over the top half of their body. After a few days or could be weeks! You can then cup them underneath the body and gently put them on your knee but cover them up a bit so that they feel secure. Takes a lot of patience with some piggies!
My older piggies are all different too! Easier to lift up for cuddles but soon let me know when they’ve had enough!
Good luck. Keep trying!
 
Your boy sounds pretty traumatised from his time as a family pet to small children. It takes a long time (more likely years than months) to gradually relax him. Love him as he is, but respect his trigger happy prey animal instincts and work around them. You will get there eventually; it is just not a quick process. As long as he settles down that bit more quickly after each spook, you are making progress. It is generally a one step forward and two steps back process, but there comes the point when you'll know that he trusts you implicitly. That moment is one of the most pecious and special experiences as a pet owner and the reason why many of us are so passionate about adopting and rescue.
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig (to prevent accidents from blind jumps)
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
Thanks everyone. I'm sitting on my couch next to my current cage for the pigs (newly built c and c is ready to go soon). He is in fact traumatized. My heart breaks for Chester who is afraid of this amazing world he lives in. Every day no matter what the load on myself I try to make his a little better. I just bought some new things for their cage, and I've been getting him more accustomed to me. I love him so much, and would do anything to make him at peace. He is more of a friend or family member to me than a pet!
God bless
Piggy P
 
PiggyProdigy said:
Thanks everyone. I'm sitting on my couch next to my current cage for the pigs (newly built c and c is ready to go soon). He is in fact traumatized. My heart breaks for Chester who is afraid of this amazing world he lives in. Every day no matter what the load on myself I try to make his a little better. I just bought some new things for their cage, and I've been getting him more accustomed to me. I love him so much, and would do anything to make him at peace. He is more of a friend or family member to me than a pet!
God bless
Piggy P
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I'm sure with lots of patience and love he will come around and trust you! Just take things at his pace. You will be rewarded in the end! You need to teach him that hooman slaves are friendly and not frightening. I'm sure you will manage to do that. If he has been traumatised by his previous owners it could take a goodly time. Just be patient and show him lots of love xx :hug:
 
PiggyProdigy said:
Thanks everyone. I'm sitting on my couch next to my current cage for the pigs (newly built c and c is ready to go soon). He is in fact traumatized. My heart breaks for Chester who is afraid of this amazing world he lives in. Every day no matter what the load on myself I try to make his a little better. I just bought some new things for their cage, and I've been getting him more accustomed to me. I love him so much, and would do anything to make him at peace. He is more of a friend or family member to me than a pet!
God bless
Piggy P
Click to expand...

Take heart! It is not going to be a quick change, but the time will come that Chester will gradually learn to relax and enjoy life.

My Briallen is a severely traumatised ex-toddler's pet. She will never completely get over her fear of being picked and handled. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't trust me. When she had an eye infection earlier in the year, she quickly realised that I was making her better with my eye drops and was actually welcoming the treatment, provided I used a pick up conveyance for her and didn't chase her around. She will come and pick food from my hand.
And she is very happily 'married' with Barri whereas at first she was very apprehensive around other guinea pigs. It has taken two years, but Briallen has come a VERY long way in that time, in tiny, tiny steps and she is as happy as she'll ever be. Briallen is one of my 'difficult' piggies that I have brought out as much as possible over the years. Many of my freaky arrivals have turned into perfect pets over time.

Right now, the most important thing is to try an avoid anything that can trigger his reflexes as much as possible. Give him space when he needs it and use our guinea pig whispering tips to communicate with him in a language and in terms he instinctively understands - that alone can speed up the process of slowly building trust a lot.
Turning all the regular tasks like feeding, cleaning, handling etc. into rituals with their distinct calls to help him turn random violence into acts that the can anticipate.
Give him lots of praise and encouragement for every step forward. Be disappointed with your voice when he doesn't get it, but give him space and time to recollect himself and ease off any pressure when his instincts have been triggered again. Then start again from a lower level to help him feel safe with you. There is no rule book and no time limit; he has to do this at his own speed. But it is ever so worth it being patient and not trying to rush this process - you will reap the rewards later on when you get further a lot quicker once the little tender seedling of trust has taken root and can start growing!
 
@Wiebke @Betsy
Thanks guys. One step at a time, right? I love them so much, and now that I know what to do I will treat it like any other situation. That of which with a mindset of patience but dignity. First, he wouldn't let me pet him at all. Then he let me pet his nose... now he lets me stroke his nose and he curves it to let me stroke his upper face and the top of his head. Baby steps, baby!
 
PiggyProdigy said:
@Wiebke @Betsy
Thanks guys. One step at a time, right? I love them so much, and now that I know what to do I will treat it like any other situation. That of which with a mindset of patience but dignity. First, he wouldn't let me pet him at all. Then he let me pet his nose... now he lets me stroke his nose and he curves it to let me stroke his upper face and the top of his head. Baby steps, baby!
Click to expand...

With my Llewelyn it took a full month before he would come out and eat in my presence - at first, he would only do it when I was out of the room. I had to kind of inch up on him with every passing day. Taking veg from my hand took even longer. But by the time he died 4 years later, he would come up to me and take his syringe feed when I called him while I was sitting on the floor and he was free roaming around the room. Be patient, you will get there!
 
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