Small victory celebration

M

Mummybean

Junior Guinea Pig
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Corsham
I know that this will seem like a really small thing as most owners piggies like to be cuddled and played with (and even sometimes give piggy kisses and sleep on their knee 😮) but my experience has been a little different so today I’m celebrating a small win. Norbert let me hand feed him pea flakes and Digby let me stroke his cheek while he was eating his cucumber. To give a little babckground. We got them both from a pet shop. The first time we tried to pick up Norbert he bit my husband and drew blood. They were both terrified of us all. It has been a long, slow progress of gaining their trust. We don’t pick them up because it distresses them. So I use the tunnel to transport them. I’ve been sitting with them, offering food for WEEKS. My 10 year old sits at the hutch realising to them. I Started with long pieces of kale poked into their hideaway house. Even they they would freeze and not eat it until I left the food and closed the door. I gradually started getting them to nibble the end (often my arms ached because it took so long!) and moved to smaller and smaller pieces. And now we have progressed to them coming right up to me to take a pea flake! And even a cheek stroke. I was ridiculously excited about this and just wanted to share my joy. Here is a pic of my lovely ‘Nervous Norbert’
 

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That's wonderful! It feels so great to have them start to trust you. All my previous piggies loved being held and cuddled. It was quite a shock when the two I adopted in July had no interest and are very scared about people. They have thankfully come around and enjoy our company and they make lots of demands for food! They still don't want to be picked up, but I use the cuddle sack to pick them up.

I look forward to hearing more about Norbert and Digby! I'm sure before you know it they will be singing/yelling for their dinner.
 
That’s amazing. Well done for the perseverance. It’s paying off. 😊
 
Mummybean said:
I know that this will seem like a really small thing as most owners piggies like to be cuddled and played with (and even sometimes give piggy kisses and sleep on their knee 😮) but my experience has been a little different so today I’m celebrating a small win. Norbert let me hand feed him pea flakes and Digby let me stroke his cheek while he was eating his cucumber. To give a little babckground. We got them both from a pet shop. The first time we tried to pick up Norbert he bit my husband and drew blood. They were both terrified of us all. It has been a long, slow progress of gaining their trust. We don’t pick them up because it distresses them. So I use the tunnel to transport them. I’ve been sitting with them, offering food for WEEKS. My 10 year old sits at the hutch realising to them. I Started with long pieces of kale poked into their hideaway house. Even they they would freeze and not eat it until I left the food and closed the door. I gradually started getting them to nibble the end (often my arms ached because it took so long!) and moved to smaller and smaller pieces. And now we have progressed to them coming right up to me to take a pea flake! And even a cheek stroke. I was ridiculously excited about this and just wanted to share my joy. Here is a pic of my lovely ‘Nervous Norbert’
Click to expand...

What a wonderful milestone! :yahoo:

All the more precious for it being so hard won. It has taken me months in some cases of traumatised or very nervous piggies to get there but patience and perseverence will ultimately prevail.

These tips and information can help you understand where your piggies come from and how you can use their own social interactive key behaviours to speed up the process a bit. I have found it surprisingly effective, especially with biting or tweaking piggies:
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
Well done for your perseverance.
Not all piggies are cuddly - none of mine really like being held. Phoebe hates it with a passion.
I am allowed to stroke them in the cage though.
Enjoy what you are permitted and enjoy your gorgeous piggies
 
Meg will be 5 on 5th May she was born here along with her 2 RB brothers as a result of a shop pregnancy. She has known me all her life. She will quite happily take food from me but picking her up is a big no no unless she goes in a hidey. I usually carry her around in a hidey when moving her from the hutch to the run and back again. On the weekly weigh day, I have to pick her up to put her in the scales and this is fun when she hates being handled! This morning I managed to have a cuddle of her for around 10 mins which is unheard of.
 
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