Too impatient?

[Paddy and Pete]

Hi everyone

I'm the proud owner of two rescue piggies: Paddy aged 6.5 & Pete 1.5 years old. I got them last Saturday. They're indoor pigs but I have an outdoor (& indoor) run. When I put them in the run, instead of running around they stay under their hidey house. Am I being too impatient & expecting too much too soon? I don't want to leave them in their cage without out of cage time, but they seem happier in it.

They do come out in the cage when I'm around sometimes. Both are pretty skittish, Pete more than Paddy. Once I pick them up they are fine although no purring yet

I'm in South East England.

Thanks in advance for any comments. I had piggies as a child but that was a long time ago! I just want to do the best for them.

PS I do have other pets too - 3 cats & a dog. All interested in piggies but no attacking. I supervise the other animals & interest is through the run NEVER without this protection.

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome

Guinea pigs are prey animals so it's their natural instinct to hide.

They're just getting used to their new surroundings. Please give them time to settle I also have two cats and three gerbils too as well as my two guinea pigs

 

[Piggies&buns]

It takes lots of time.
It’s taken a few months for one of my pigs to get comfortable with me. The other one still runs and hides as soon as he sees me!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

I'm the proud owner of two rescue piggies: Paddy aged 6.5 & Pete 1.5 years old. I got them last Saturday. They're indoor pigs but I have an outdoor (& indoor) run. When I put them in the run, instead of running around they stay under their hidey house. Am I being too impatient & expecting too much too soon? I don't want to leave them in their cage without out of cage time, but they seem happier in it.

They do come out in the cage when I'm around sometimes. Both are pretty skittish, Pete more than Paddy. Once I pick them up they are fine although no purring yet

I'm in South East England.

Thanks in advance for any comments. I had piggies as a child but that was a long time ago! I just want to do the best for them.

PS I do have other pets too - 3 cats & a dog. All interested in piggies but no attacking. I supervise the other animals & interest is through the run NEVER without this protection.

Hi and welcome!

Give your piggies more time; they will come round more quickly. Use guinea pig behaviours to make friends with them in ways that they understand immediately and try to avoid triggering prey animal instincts, especially whn picking up.
Guinea pigs are prey animals that take a while to get used to a new territory and home. It also depends on how much friend human interaction they have had in their previous home.
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

Please do not mingle prey animals with predators; incidents with supposedly safe dogs or cats do unfortunately happen not all that rarely, and usually happen too fast for you to intervene.

Here is our full new owners guide collection of which the above links are part of. We are addressing all the areas new owners have the most questions and worries about. You will hopefully find it very helpful and interesting.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[RosiePog]

I’ve had my Rosie 3 months and she’s only just now coming out to collect her veggies out of my hand in the morning. It takes a lot of time, patience, sitting quietly and letting them come to you. If their environment is completely safe indoors I found that slightly more open hideys helped to encourage them to explore more - an open topped or double ended box filled with lots of hay to snuggle under if needed, an upside down igloo, a fleece pocket they can peek out of so they can take shelter but also get an idea of their environment. I save all the good stuff - the things they can only have small amounts of for run time and cuddle time so they get rewarded for exploration and interaction. It’s a long game with GPs and I suspect that is one of the things that is rewarding about them as pets - their good opinion is hard earned

 

[MomoMura]

You have to imagine it from their perspective. They're in a completely new environment, with new humans, new smells, sights, and actual predators around (!). You may trust your dogs and cats, but the guinea pigs sure don't (at least not yet), so it will take them so much longer to adjust than if you were the only predator around to interact with (yes, guinea pigs view us as predators :p).

From personal experience, Momo, my most skittish piggy was very shy about floor time for about the first two months I had him. He barely came out of his hidey, and would leave his companion to explore on his own. After about two months, he started coming out and is now the biggest explorer/squeaker. He squeaks and struts so much now he makes Mura look like the quiet one It takes time and patience.

My advice would be to provide them a room with quiet and privacy away from the other pets, so they can easily relax more. Best of luck to you! Guinea pigs make wonderful companions <3