New Piggie Owner (2 Males) Bonding Issue

[TLCONE]

Hello all!
I am a new owner of two very handsome little guys, I have had them for about a month . They are playful and express themselves a lot I have read up on a lot of sounds and the meanings.
I understand from this that they really don't like me much and i'm wondering if my naivety when I first got them could have scared them of me.
I have read that i should have left them alone for the first few days to adjust to their environment... I did not do this, I didn't know that of course they would be scared and need some time.
I was picking them up and letting them run around and petting them on the first few days, however now one of the piggies seems very scared of me, runs away from me and doesn't ever want me to pet him.
Could I have caused irreversible damage to our bond? Are there any tips that would help me repair trust?
Thanks in advance!
Tom

 

[VickiA]

Hello and welcome to the forum Tom.

Piggies are prey animals. They spook easily and have to overcome their prey instinct to flee in order to bond with you. It's natural that they run away from you. Some piggies easily overcome their fears. Others are more uptight. Some love a cuddle. Others don't. With time and patience you should be able to build a good bond with them, even if they seem to be afraid of you at the moment.

Always announce yourself when approaching the cage in a calm cheerful voice (a bit like talking to a baby or small child) so that they know you are there. Arriving at set times with gifts of treats is also a good thing to do. They will soon associate you with good things like food or hay and will soon wheek with excitement as you arrive.

In terms of picking them up and petting them, it's a good idea to use a tunnel, hidey or cosy rather than chasing them round with your hands. I still use this method with one of my piggies who hates being caught. Petting them in a cosy helps them feel safe and less vulnerable at first.

Please be assured that with time and patience you should be able to have a great relationship with your piggies.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all!
I am a new owner of two very handsome little guys, I have had them for about a month . They are playful and express themselves a lot I have read up on a lot of sounds and the meanings.
I understand from this that they really don't like me much and i'm wondering if my naivety when I first got them could have scared them of me.
I have read that i should have left them alone for the first few days to adjust to their environment... I did not do this, I didn't know that of course they would be scared and need some time.
I was picking them up and letting them run around and petting them on the first few days, however now one of the piggies seems very scared of me, runs away from me and doesn't ever want me to pet him.
Could I have caused irreversible damage to our bond? Are there any tips that would help me repair trust?
Thanks in advance!
Tom

Hi! Just be patient and persist! Guinea pigs are prey animals. Guinea pigs from shops and breeders have typically not had any real interaction with humans, so they have still learn how to trust and gradually become pets. That takes more time than most people realise.
You may find these two guides here helpful:
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-pick-up-and-weigh-your-guinea-pig.126359/

There are more guides and information for new owners via this link here that can help you gtting started with your piggies: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...of-information-threads-for-new-owners.129375/

As we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can always tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you live instead of having to keep things as general as possible to cover all bases. Click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!