What do they really think of us...

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TheAurora

TheAurora

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Here's something which might make an interesting discussion...

What are everyone's thoughts on what our little piggy friends really think of us - what do we mean in their tiny worlds.

I often consider this...

They must be aware we are not really one of the herd.

They should really be afraid of us - and still are to varying degrees.

Are they capable of love, affection?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rolleyes
 
I asked Putt and she replied 'Parsley' :))
 
Most of us are guilty of anthropomophising our piggies to some degree. We tend to over-interperate their body language because that's what we as humans naturally do. For example, "Mr Snuffykins is so devious - he just snatched a piece of pepper from Mr Doodlebop and ran away to eat it!" Mr Snuffykins isn't being devious; he's acting on his desire for food, and has learned that by running away with the food he has an increased chance of eating it all for himself.
I think GPs are much more expressive than the general public give them credit for, but with regards to whether they can "love" or not I don't know. I think it's probably more a case of, "I recognise this human, she gives me scratchies when I run over to her, so I'm going to run over to her. Wheeeeek!" :))
 
I think mine think i'm here for foooooooood! :(|) especially Noelle, since I've moved her into the house she's right there wheeking everytime I walk in the room :))
 
I think at first they see us as a giant shadow that they are frightened of as they are not sure if we are going to harm them.

Then as they get to know our voice tone, smell and the fact we give them food! they slowly grow in confidence and realise we are okay but often still remain vigilant:)

They are capable of affection as some people have piggies that lick them:))
 
I think my pig's see me as being a feeder :)) They're comfortable with being with me and talk non stop in my ear and when I sit in their run they're quite happy to race around me. I don't think they have any affection towards me but see me as a form of pack leader who provides for them and gives them nasty baths.
 
i like to think that they're capable of affection (piglet licks me all the time) but I'm not really sure. they know that i wont hurt them, that i give them food and water, and that without me they wouldnt eat. so food=love? maybe :)
 
I don't know about overt affection, but since I am a new to having them in my life, I have been observing their attitudes toward me. At first, as Sal still does, they went into hiding when they saw me, then they came out to see what I wanted, which Sal doesn't do yet. Red would hide when I opened the cage door. Now that he knows I usually put him in with Sal when I take him out, he usually stands there and lets me pick him up. And when I hold him now, Red snuggles in and relaxes, even closing his eyes. The last time he was so relaxed, if I could have gotten up to get the camera I would have, because he was lying on my chest with his head pointing toward my feet and two chicken legs stretched out straight behind.

That is to say that I don't think it involves affection, just that he is smart enough to have learned that I mean him no harm and sometimes really good things actually happen when I pick him up. I am sure getting a bath the other day didn't qualify as a good thing in his mind, but it didn't taint the overall attitude. They also don't associate me with food so they don't have any reaction to that; I think that's because I usually have all sorts of food in their cages at all times. They DO associate me with their being captured and put in boxes as I do that when I clean their cages.

So I think they think about me as an intruder in their piggly lives, and Redemption is learning I can be tolerated and even played with sometimes as he popcorns when I clack the bars in his cage or blow on his head. Poor Salvatore is still traumatized by his rough life before I got him, I think.
 
^ Great answers, it's an interesting topic.

I agree we tend to humanise their reactions, mainly because we love them so much I think.

:)
 
I think that all my animals think I am a bit strange - but probably harmless.

It's funny but humans say that about me too ...
 
They see me as a bringer of food and clean bedding. They know that I am not a threat and I should think so after 4 years of caring for them every single day LOL Although my girls do tend to overreact sometimes, like I have been planning something all this time, but as soon as I pick them up they are fine and content. They will all pretty much let me do anything with them, they have a certain amount of trust in me and that is lovely. Ultimately though I am the food bringer :p
 
I think mine think of me as that big thing that brings food, talks to us like babies and tickles us! Peppa comes right up to me so i know she isn't afraid at all. The other tend to run unless I'm offering veg :)) and sometimes I get a funny sideways look as if to say "your mental" :))
 
i think at different times of the day they see us in this house as different providers- morning, most exciting as we bring yummy fruit and veg, late afternoon and evening, a bit of a nuisance as we disturb their sleep time, and early afternoon, comfort makers, as they get clean paper, hay and their seed pot filled up! and when we pick them up and take them for a cuddle in the front room,more often than not something to wee on!
 
I am not so sure about this one.

I have Wobble in the computer room (its the warmest room in the house) due to his recent dental and abcess surgery. After his surgery hes had a couple of funny episodes, and it has been very hard for me (there has been many tears). Two days ago he was very snuffly. I thought it was his time. As I sat on the floor blubbering my eyes out, Wobble ran over and climbed on to my lap. I don't really know what he was thinking but I am sure that he knew that I was sad. I often believe that they know more then we think they know.
 
It is a difficult thing to explain, I mean they talk in a different language so it can be hard to know what they are really thinking. With McMac I gained his trust by having him associate me with food. But now he has gotten more confident he will come up to the bars and give me a lick and a nibble even without veggies in my hand. I feel he sees me as a food giver, protecter and someone he can trust. It just feels there is some kind of connection between us, he doesn't come up to the bars when other people are around trying to get his attention, but with me he comes straight towards me as if to say hello there, I recognize you :)
 
This sounds silly but I feel I have much more of a connection with my dogs than my pigs. I often think I can sense what Willow my dog is feeling and thinking, I never get that with my pigs.
I do think my pigs like me though as I bring the food :) they deinitely know I'm the food bringer person as they squeak for food whenever I walk past their cage :))
 
What I am to my piggies:

  • The person that brings them food.
  • The person that cleans them out (though I don't think they'd personally mind living in filth all the time seeing how mucky they can be!)
  • The meanie that brushes them, trims their hair and nails, and the one that baths them...
  • Oh, and I'm the one that scares them before they realise I come bearing veggies.
I like to think they love me as much as I love them, but I know they don't. That said, just having them around me is enough! Watching them just be guinea pigs is fantastic for me, I'm never bored, and I'm sure they're not either! :)
 
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Reply: :)

This is an interesting question.:Ayociexp113:

I like to believe my girls love me, and are happy to se me when they are squeaking, but I know this is just them begging for food. When I have them in my lap they seem to be comfortable, but that's it. They always want to run around on the floor.

So to them I am:

Snack lady, cleaning lady, and they're personal groomer.:(|)

It's hard to say if my girls love me, they don't show affection the same way as my dog does, he always wants to be near me and sleep in my bed, I know he loves me very much.

My piggies does not squeaks at anybody so I think I am important to them, but if they love me our not I don't know.
I like to think sox)
 
ghostbusterbunny said:
What I am to my piggies:

  • The person that brings them food.
  • The person that cleans them out (though I don't think they'd personally mind living in filth all the time seeing how mucky they can be!)
  • The meanie that brushes them, trims their hair and nails, and the one that baths them...
  • Oh, and I'm the one that scares them before they realise I come bearing veggies.
I like to think they love me as much as I love them, but I know they don't. That said, just having them around me is enough! Watching them just be guinea pigs is fantastic for me, I'm never bored, and I'm sure they're not either! :)
Click to expand...

I like that to, them being guinea pigs. I don´t have a huge need to force them to be on my lap, they get to run around several hours a day, so both me and them are happy :))
 
Gracie01 said:
I am not so sure about this one.

I have Wobble in the computer room (its the warmest room in the house) due to his recent dental and abcess surgery. After his surgery hes had a couple of funny episodes, and it has been very hard for me (there has been many tears). Two days ago he was very snuffly. I thought it was his time. As I sat on the floor blubbering my eyes out, Wobble ran over and climbed on to my lap. I don't really know what he was thinking but I am sure that he knew that I was sad. I often believe that they know more then we think they know.
Click to expand...

I think animals can sense when someone is sad our sick, I have had lots of cats who did this everytime I was crying!. A cat is not a guinea pig but a animals are alike in so many ways. x>>

Is he better now ?
 
BellasMummy said:
This sounds silly but I feel I have much more of a connection with my dogs than my pigs. I often think I can sense what Willow my dog is feeling and thinking, I never get that with my pigs.
I do think my pigs like me though as I bring the food :) they deinitely know I'm the food bringer person as they squeak for food whenever I walk past their cage :))
Click to expand...

I have that same feeling with my dog, he follows me around, he wants to sleep besides me and when he looks at me it´s almost like he knows what I am thinking. This sounds crazy, but it feels like he has a person inside. He is so smart and understands so much. But I know he´s not a medium :p

I feel bad when I feel this way about him and not the piggies, maybe it´s the fact that he shows me affection every day, the girls mostly run away from me. It´s normal piggie behaviour and I am fine with that. :p I love my girls very much but dogs and guinea pigs have very different behaviour so you can never compare the two.
 
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