Naughty Guinea Pigs

[guineapigs24]

So I was just thinking.... when a dog does something naughty you can shout at it and it can tell by the tone of your voice when your mad. But when a pig does something naughty like bite you how could you shout at it? Apart from the fact there to damn cute to shout at! x)

I was just trying to pick up stephen my abby, who if he doesn't wanna be picked up he will nip you sometimes and i said "NO!" and tapped his nose lightly and he just looked at me as if to say "what?" and carried on hehe cheeky little pig!...does anyone else do anything like this? Does anyone think they even listen?

 

[piggyfan]

I know what you mean. When I first got Sophie she would always bite the others. I used to take her out the cage and put her on the sofa to show her she was not being nice. I have no idea if it worked but I felt I had to do something as my babies would squeal in pain and it really hurt me. Now she gets on so well with them and closes her eyes while they groom her.

 

[guineapigs24]

I know what you mean. When I first got Sophie she would always bite the others. I used to take her out the cage and put her on the sofa to show her she was not being nice. I have no idea if it worked but I felt I had to do something as my babies would squeal in pain and it really hurt me. Now she gets on so well with them and closes her eyes while they groom her.

Aww thats lovely, she must love them now hehe

 

[youthnovels]

I'm not sure with guineas if I'm honest, mine always seem a bit ... thick :red

The rabbits know that "Noooooooo" means get away or I'll come and get you myself and they sheepishly backaway from whatever they were doing. x)

 

[Wiebke]

"No" is not a guinea pig concept, and shouting will only confuse or frighten, but not help.

I usually say "uh uh", and then they know that they shouldn't do what they currently do (or at least that I dislike their behaviour). Or I might (gently) flick my fingers at them, in an imitation of piggy disapproval if they continue chewing on something they shouldn't.

However, it won't work with behaviour situations like piggyfan describes - the biting was dominance nipping and the squealing submission (rather than pain); they have to sort that out themselves, which they usually do within a few days. We have to accept that as humans, we tick differently than guinea pigs. They simply can't understand what is wrong normal piggy behaviour and you can't punish them for being a piggy and not a human.

If a piggy is nipping you, discourage it gently, but not excessively, as it is not excessive behaviour; most are just curious and some are trying it on with you, trying to establish the boundaries. Most guinea pigs get the message failry quickly.

If you can, remove or hide any object that is causing offense.

 

[gogoguineas]

I do the same as above, I go 'AH AH!' quote sharply/ abruptly if that makes sense or click my fingers. Don't know how successful it is tho!

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Rodney understood "No" and "Oi". lol!

He was a little devil sometimes

When he started to chew something if I said "Oi" he would stop and run away, then when he thought i wasnt looking he would go back and pose as if he was going to chew......then I would shout "Oi" and he would run away again! lol! I know he was just playing a game with me, but it was always so funny..

I wish Id caught that on video, its something I think about a lot

 

[dylansmummy]

my aby used to nip he grew out of it though

 

[Wheeky]

I haven't had my two babies long, so we're still bonding, but my older two seem to understand me pretty well.
If they go somewhere they're not meant to, like behind a cupboard, I say, "Err, excuse me!" and they come plodding out again. Sometimes I accidentally leave the door open when they're having floor time, and they will walk slowly and sneakily towards the door, stretching their legs as they go, until I notice them and say "AHEM" and they come plodding back again.
My more sociable pig likes to play the "No!" game as well. If he starts chewing something I say "No!", which makes him popcorn. Then we do the whole thing again.

 

[piggyfan]

"No" is not a guinea pig concept, and shouting will only confuse or frighten, but not help.

I usually say "uh uh", and then they know that they shouldn't do what they currently do (or at least that I dislike their behaviour). Or I might (gently) flick my fingers at them, in an imitation of piggy disapproval if they continue chewing on something they shouldn't.

However, it won't work with behaviour situations like piggyfan describes - the biting was dominance nipping and the squealing submission (rather than pain); they have to sort that out themselves, which they usually do within a few days. We have to accept that as humans, we tick differently than guinea pigs. They simply can't understand what is wrong normal piggy behaviour and you can't punish them for being a piggy and not a human.

If a piggy is nipping you, discourage it gently, but not excessively, as it is not excessive behaviour; most are just curious and some are trying it on with you, trying to establish the boundaries. Most guinea pigs get the message failry quickly.

If you can, remove or hide any object that is causing offense.

How do you know the squealing was submission rather then pain?

 

[BellasMummy]

Shouting at your pigs really isn't a good idea, they won't understand why your doing it. Same with dogs really too, shouting will only make them scared of you.

 

[guineapigs24]

Shouting at your pigs really isn't a good idea, they won't understand why your doing it. Same with dogs really too, shouting will only make them scared of you.

I don't actually shout at them, i just wondered what everyone did when they are naughty

 

[Jayne.]

I've got three 3 month olds at the moment,, so I haven't really began telling them off yet,, but with Felix & Bruce,, I would tap them on the nose & say NO firmly. It was totally lost on Bruce,, but Felix always stopped doing whatever it was he was doing & squeak at me as if to say sorry. I'm sure he was part human!