Tamed so soon

Sophie B

Sophie B

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I see threads of people saying their guinea pigs won't let them even touch their noses after a year! Smokey is definetly the tamest of my two, he was tame within a day or two! Bacon took about a week though. That being said I dedicated so much of my time to getting them tame, I wasn't away from them for about a week, sadly my Smudge had passed away before he would let me pick him up much. My pigs are like dogs though, they follow me around everywhere and are constantly begging for food! Is this normal or am I just a piggy whisperer? (They are my first pigs, I got Smokey and Smudge then when Smudge passed I got Bacon, so I have had three pigs) Just wondering, thanks :D:D:D
 
Sophie Blane said:
I see threads of people saying their guinea pigs won't let them even touch their noses after a year! Smokey is definetly the tamest of my two, he was tame within a day or two! Bacon took about a week though. That being said I dedicated so much of my time to getting them tame, I wasn't away from them for about a week, sadly my Smudge had passed away before he would let me pick him up much. My pigs are like dogs though, they follow me around everywhere and are constantly begging for food! Is this normal or am I just a piggy whisperer? (They are my first pigs, I got Smokey and Smudge then when Smudge passed I got Bacon, so I have had three pigs) Just wondering, thanks :D:D:D
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A lot depends on the background of your piggies. If they come from a place where their mothers are kept in conditions that have their stress levels on high, then this can transmit to the babies and they can be born with maximum stress level/prey animal instincts on high as their default setting. Working past that can take years. I have adopted a few of them over the years. It takes a lot of patience and persistence, but it is possible - and the sense of achievement is a lot higher.

If your piggies have been born to relaxed and content mothers and they haven't been through any traumatic experiences like rough handling etc. themselves, then they are much more likely to settle in quickly. Some outstanding characters bond with you pretty instantly; treasure them when you meet them and feel blessed to have come across one of them!
 
I had an old boar that was never relaxed in 5 years i had him. But once om my lap he was fine
 
They were from Pets at Home, so that's what surprised me.
 
Sophie Blane said:
They were from Pets at Home, so that's what surprised me.
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Keep in mind that what you see on this forum is not necessarily the representative average - we are more often contacted when there are problems than not. There are also huge differences in between branches and how they handle and care for the piggies while in the shop. If your piggies have company, it is generally much easier for them to come out as the most courageous one works a motivational locomotive for the other(s). You have been lucky to find a special personality and have made the most of it. Your other two boys are what is more normal.
 
Yes but I am pretty sure the piggy we had was ill before we got him, and my roborovski Tiny Buddha was rocking back and forth which is a sign of depression from inadequate housing... We don't have the worst Pets at Home but not the best either.
 
I used to have 2 boars for a few years and one of them never let me touch him unless he was on my lap. Sadly, he died last year and that was the only time I carried him properly. My other Piggie though, he let me pet him while I was adopting him! It really all depends on their background and what they have experienced. But maybe you really are secretly a guinea pig whisperer! Good luck with your little piggies!
 
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