Fweeper
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello all! I was wondering if any of the more experienced users could offer me a bit of advice on some issues I'm having with my boys
I should preface this by saying I am no stranger to pigs or basically all other kinds of small animal, but these two have me stumped! I took them on as a rescue at the start of October last year, knowing full well it was likely to be a bumpy ride, so I did expect this, but still, I had thought they would have made more progress with taming by now. I estimate them to be somewhere around 5-6 months, and they are firmly in the midst of their teen angst phase, which I'm sure isn't helping at all either :/
Essentially, I have one that I seem to get 2 steps forward and then fall 3 steps back with, and one...well, let's just say he is not a cuddly pig? Whilst they have their bicker fests, humping fights and the odd shouting fit, they actually seem to get on with eachother very well, which is lovely, it's ME they're not in love with!
We have no problems with trust issues around my hands, they both happily and noisily take food from me without a blink, they don't care if my hands are in the run or cage with them, they both actually happily come up for "nose boops". Praline, the larger of them, will actually happily allow me strokes and ear tickles in the run and cage! I can even lift his chin and stroke his cheeks. Sundae, however, will NOT be touched. At all. EVER.
I don't chase them to pick them up, I have a cuddle sack I just hold open in front of them and they usually just walk right in so they're never stressed from a chase when I hold them. The problems begin when they're being held. They hate it. Viciously, teeth and nail level hate it. They don't want to be stroked, they don't want to be touched, they can and will nip and scrabble to get free. Even Praline who is fine with strokes in the run or cage will not be stroked for longer than around 5 seconds when held.
I know teenage boars are squirmy and generally little oiks, I honestly don't mind if they don't want cuddles ever, but I do have to be able to handle them to clip their nails and the like, so I would really like some pointers!
I have tried bribing with food and they ignore it in favour of scrabbling to be free or sinking their tiny piggy teeth into me...which, I will grant you, they have never done deliberately, they always think they're grabbing the cuddle sack or my clothes, but still, OW! I've tried letting them be in my lap instead of being held against my chest, teeth into thigh. Ow again. I've tried building up the length of time they're being held for gradually over the months, zero effect. I'm at a bit of a loss because in the run or cage, they're very friendly, chatty little boys, Sundae's loathing of human contact aside because even HE let's me boop his nose! Suggestions welcomed here and thanks in advance!
I should preface this by saying I am no stranger to pigs or basically all other kinds of small animal, but these two have me stumped! I took them on as a rescue at the start of October last year, knowing full well it was likely to be a bumpy ride, so I did expect this, but still, I had thought they would have made more progress with taming by now. I estimate them to be somewhere around 5-6 months, and they are firmly in the midst of their teen angst phase, which I'm sure isn't helping at all either :/
Essentially, I have one that I seem to get 2 steps forward and then fall 3 steps back with, and one...well, let's just say he is not a cuddly pig? Whilst they have their bicker fests, humping fights and the odd shouting fit, they actually seem to get on with eachother very well, which is lovely, it's ME they're not in love with!
We have no problems with trust issues around my hands, they both happily and noisily take food from me without a blink, they don't care if my hands are in the run or cage with them, they both actually happily come up for "nose boops". Praline, the larger of them, will actually happily allow me strokes and ear tickles in the run and cage! I can even lift his chin and stroke his cheeks. Sundae, however, will NOT be touched. At all. EVER.
I don't chase them to pick them up, I have a cuddle sack I just hold open in front of them and they usually just walk right in so they're never stressed from a chase when I hold them. The problems begin when they're being held. They hate it. Viciously, teeth and nail level hate it. They don't want to be stroked, they don't want to be touched, they can and will nip and scrabble to get free. Even Praline who is fine with strokes in the run or cage will not be stroked for longer than around 5 seconds when held.
I know teenage boars are squirmy and generally little oiks, I honestly don't mind if they don't want cuddles ever, but I do have to be able to handle them to clip their nails and the like, so I would really like some pointers!
I have tried bribing with food and they ignore it in favour of scrabbling to be free or sinking their tiny piggy teeth into me...which, I will grant you, they have never done deliberately, they always think they're grabbing the cuddle sack or my clothes, but still, OW! I've tried letting them be in my lap instead of being held against my chest, teeth into thigh. Ow again. I've tried building up the length of time they're being held for gradually over the months, zero effect. I'm at a bit of a loss because in the run or cage, they're very friendly, chatty little boys, Sundae's loathing of human contact aside because even HE let's me boop his nose! Suggestions welcomed here and thanks in advance!
