Piggies Happiness Over Mine

[Elizabethjg]

Hi,
So I adopted my boys from a shelter when they were two years old about a year ago. When I first got them, of course, they didn’t like me very much. I thought they just needed time to settle in. They have come a long way, but they don’t like me to touch them still. They eat anything out of my hand and they like to smell my fingers. But if I try to go any further, they run. It’s been a year and they still like being left alone.
My question is: Is it better for me to just take care of them and leave them alone? Or try harder to be there friend?

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome to the forum. I am moving your post to Guinea Pig Chat as it will get more views there.

The fact they eat out of your hand is really good! Piggies are prey animals and it can take years to tame them.

Some piggies like more fuss than others also..

I have two piggies Widget (4) and Chickpea(1)

Widget will let me stroke her on her head in the cage and this took a around 1.5 yrs to get to that point. Chickpea will take food from me but then run off and I am not allowed to touch her But that is okay, if at some point she gets tamer then cool but if not I am happy with the interactions we have together... guinea pigs are not by design a cuddly pet they have far too much prey instinct for that, but some do get used to fuss and enjoy it. Over the years I have had as many piggies that like some sort of fuss to those that don't so it is half and half.... Just keep doing what you are doing,

Be lovely to see some photos of your piggies, what are there names?

 

[Merab]

Hello and welcome.
I have 2 girls who are 3. Neither of them like to be picked up or cuddled.
They will happily eat from my hand, let me stroke them in the cage, or during floor time (Keziah).
Jemimah is still inclined to run away while out playing.
I also have an older sow who lets me pick her up now - she’s blind and doesn’t see me coming. She’s also too old and lazy to get out the way.
She doesn’t mind being cuddled but not for long before she wants down.
Just be patient and let them dictate the terms.
They are the best ever pets.

Looking forward to pictures and more news of your piggies.

 

[PerceptorII]

I've only known one guinea pig that didn't impulsively try to escape when being picked up. It's an ingrained instinct, a defensive response to fight off predators they inherited from their wild ancestors. My piggies are slowly getting to enjoy being handled. Oti now allows me to pet him in the cage, while Dobbins has started allowing me to lightly stroke him on top of his head. But if I grab them they'll try to escape. That autonomic response is still there and will likely never go away. It doesn't mean my piggies don't like me.

 

[Elizabethjg]

These are my boys, Copper (right) and Todd (left). Thank you guys for the encouragement! I felt so bad that they were always scared of me, like I did something bad to them. But it makes sense that it is still an instinct inside of them. They are pretty comfortable with me just sitting in their cage with them, but if I try to touch them they freak.

 

[DM030819]

My ultimate goal with all of my pigs is that they feel comfortable around me. They don't have to be 'my friend' or want to spend time sitting/sleeping on my lap.

As long as they know I'm not going to hurt them that's fine.

None of my boys are overly friendly with me. But they know they're safe with me. Proof of this is the first thing they try to do when they see the vet is climb into my arms. Run for cover boys!

 

[Merab]

View attachment 83603 These are my boys, Copper (right) and Todd (left). Thank you guys for the encouragement! I felt so bad that they were always scared of me, like I did something bad to them. But it makes sense that it is still an instinct inside of them. They are pretty comfortable with me just sitting in their cage with them, but if I try to touch them they freak.

What stunning boys

 

[PerceptorII]

View attachment 83603 These are my boys, Copper (right) and Todd (left). Thank you guys for the encouragement! I felt so bad that they were always scared of me, like I did something bad to them. But it makes sense that it is still an instinct inside of them. They are pretty comfortable with me just sitting in their cage with them, but if I try to touch them they freak.

I don't blame you at all for wanting to pet those cuties.

 

[Tim]

Oh my They are adorable! Don’t worry, they are eating from your hand just like all my boys do Occasionally they climb into my hands. It takes time and lots of patience. Chip n Dale are still very skittish and I don’t think they will ever get full trust since they are ex-school piggies, they have come on a long way in the time I’ve been their slave though
to the forum by the way

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,
So I adopted my boys from a shelter when they were two years old about a year ago. When I first got them, of course, they didn’t like me very much. I thought they just needed time to settle in. They have come a long way, but they don’t like me to touch them still. They eat anything out of my hand and they like to smell my fingers. But if I try to go any further, they run. It’s been a year and they still like being left alone.
My question is: Is it better for me to just take care of them and leave them alone? Or try harder to be there friend?

Hi! Try our piggy whispering tips to make friends with them in ways that they instinctively understand because you are using social guinea pig behaviours. Very few piggies will ever like being picked up as that cuts very close to their prey animal instincts, but many are fine with being held and a cuddling session on the lap. By far not all like being touched in the cage or when free roaming, but you can nevertheless have a very close relationship with them.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

The vast majority of piggies do not like being touched and cuddled if given the choice, but most can come tolerate a cuddling or grooming session and be relaxed about it. Respect it and learn their way of telling you when they have had enough.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I only have one who is sometimes my friend. Daisy will come over to me and not run away when I open the hutch door. A nose rub is fine but anything from top of the head back is a no go lol! Lily though - I'm still barely allowed to look at her and I've had her nearly a year. As said a lot of it cuts close to their natural prey instinct

 

[Kylie80]

I have had my two girls for a year and a half and they still hate for me to touch them in their cage, that’s their place where they feel safe and secure so i try not to interfere to much with them but they do come up to me when i talk to them at the bars for a nose or paw rub and let me hand feed them and will come up to my hand and sniff and gently nibble my hand. At lap time only one likes a cuddle which strangely is the shy anti social piggy the other is usually the braver and interacts with me when she’s in her cage. I have been suprised though at how good they both have been with nail clipping, they seem to really trust me doing it and prefer me over the vet nurse to hold them if they go to the vet for any reason. But cage interaction needs to be on their terms and I don’t push.