paulalovespiggies
Junior Guinea Pig
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2013
- Messages
- 100
- Reaction score
- 67
- Points
- 245
Hi everyone.
I really need some help with my 2 guinea pigs - 2 boars, they are healthy and as far as I can tell, happy. These are the first piggies I've ever kept. I've had them for 18 months and I got them from a pet shop together at the same time, no previous owners. I guess they are about 20 months old.
Here's why I need help.
I have tried so hard to get them accustomed to me but even now, they have no interest in being petted or interacting and unless I have food there's no point because they won't come near me. It really makes me feel sad because I do love them and hate that they dislike any interaction, it makes me not want to do anything with them because I don't see the point when they hate it so much. I've tried talking to them, singing to them, just sitting with them quietly while they have floor time, rewarding brave behaviour with treats, having them on my knee together or separately and petting them, having them on my knee not petting them, lifting them, not lifting them and letting them climb into a tunnel to be picked up, picking them up covered by a towel, holding them covered by a towel. I started off being super gentle with them and coaxing them all the time, now I am much more direct because I don't always have 30 minutes to wait on them coming out of their hidey to get floor time etc.
I know healthwise they are fine, both engaged and popcorn every night when I put them back in their cage (!). There's nothing in their environment that would scare them, we have a quiet household with no other pets. I just feel like a poop cleaner at the minute and I've got to the point where I get no enjoyment from looking after them. I would never rehome them because I know I look after them well and I just wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of them. But what do I do? I don't want to just go in, put them out for floor time, clean their cage and then put them back in the cage... That's pretty much what I do at the moment because it's just not worth chasing them to hold them for a moment before they freak out, wriggle away or start nipping to be put down. I read other people's posts and I'm so jealous! Piggies that like being petted, that wheek when you're coming into the room! And mine hate me, LOL! (I know they don't really but you get why I feel that way). I have the patience of a saint and I'm willing to try anything... But I'm out of ideas. The list before is not exhaustive but it's everything I've tried off the top of my head. Any takers?
I really need some help with my 2 guinea pigs - 2 boars, they are healthy and as far as I can tell, happy. These are the first piggies I've ever kept. I've had them for 18 months and I got them from a pet shop together at the same time, no previous owners. I guess they are about 20 months old.
Here's why I need help.
I have tried so hard to get them accustomed to me but even now, they have no interest in being petted or interacting and unless I have food there's no point because they won't come near me. It really makes me feel sad because I do love them and hate that they dislike any interaction, it makes me not want to do anything with them because I don't see the point when they hate it so much. I've tried talking to them, singing to them, just sitting with them quietly while they have floor time, rewarding brave behaviour with treats, having them on my knee together or separately and petting them, having them on my knee not petting them, lifting them, not lifting them and letting them climb into a tunnel to be picked up, picking them up covered by a towel, holding them covered by a towel. I started off being super gentle with them and coaxing them all the time, now I am much more direct because I don't always have 30 minutes to wait on them coming out of their hidey to get floor time etc.
I know healthwise they are fine, both engaged and popcorn every night when I put them back in their cage (!). There's nothing in their environment that would scare them, we have a quiet household with no other pets. I just feel like a poop cleaner at the minute and I've got to the point where I get no enjoyment from looking after them. I would never rehome them because I know I look after them well and I just wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of them. But what do I do? I don't want to just go in, put them out for floor time, clean their cage and then put them back in the cage... That's pretty much what I do at the moment because it's just not worth chasing them to hold them for a moment before they freak out, wriggle away or start nipping to be put down. I read other people's posts and I'm so jealous! Piggies that like being petted, that wheek when you're coming into the room! And mine hate me, LOL! (I know they don't really but you get why I feel that way). I have the patience of a saint and I'm willing to try anything... But I'm out of ideas. The list before is not exhaustive but it's everything I've tried off the top of my head. Any takers?