Best Way To Make Friends ...

[MoodyPaws]

I have had my Guinea pig 2.5 days and she's very chilled once on my knee and has settled down after 10 minutes to 20 minutes. She grooms herself while I stroke her and tucks into veggies without a care in the world. It's lovely to see.

One thing though, how best to stroke a Guinea pig that gives them most positive experience? Is under the chin better than on top of the head in terms of me not dominating her too much? I know gps sometimes stick their heads under another's chin area as a submissive/friendly gesture and I wondered if they therefore enjoy that most? Just wondering if anyone has any winning techniques for winning over their piggies? I notice she loves her belly doing but she hasn't fully flopped over yet. I kinda have to poke under her to stroke there but she does chat away to me more when I do and she relaxes and stretches out more after a while. Just trying to learn how best to make her feel comfortable and socialise with her in a way she understands ...

 

[Beans&Toast]

My two don't like being stroked under their chins, but I do this if I'm trying to show them who's boss (they know I'm not the boss anyway )
Toasty likes me stroking next to her eyes, on her cheek. She'll close her eyes and purr when I do this
Beans isn't a very cuddly pig most of the time, but when she wants affection, she likes having her head and ears stroked.
Both of them absolutely HATE me stroking near their bum... that is a no go area

 

[Cookies&Glitter]

One of my girls absolutely loves her back legs being tickled, she thinks it's a great game and runs and popcorns but loves her nose being rubbed (down between her eyes). One of my pigs loves her ears being rubbed and one is a neck scratcher. I have a new piggy that I haven't figured out just yet.

 

[Wiebke]

I have had my Guinea pig 2.5 days and she's very chilled once on my knee and has settled down after 10 minutes to 20 minutes. She grooms herself while I stroke her and tucks into veggies without a care in the world. It's lovely to see.

One thing though, how best to stroke a Guinea pig that gives them most positive experience? Is under the chin better than on top of the head in terms of me not dominating her too much? I know gps sometimes stick their heads under another's chin area as a submissive/friendly gesture and I wondered if they therefore enjoy that most? Just wondering if anyone has any winning techniques for winning over their piggies? I notice she loves her belly doing but she hasn't fully flopped over yet. I kinda have to poke under her to stroke there but she does chat away to me more when I do and she relaxes and stretches out more after a while. Just trying to learn how best to make her feel comfortable and socialise with her in a way she understands ...

Hi!

Every guinea pig has their personal sweet spots, so there is no one size fits all rule. Very few piggies actually enjoy lying on their back and having their bellies tickled. For many, the belly is a no go area.

Give her time to make friends; she is most likely still in the "if I let the predator play with me as they like, they will get bored and let me survive" instinct phase. Many piggy newbies mistake this for cuddliness and liking and then inevitably end up posting "why does my guinea pig suddenly hate me?" - if fact, their guinea pig has just decided to trust them enough to tell their human how they truly feel. That is generally step one of the ladder to full trust.
You may find the information in this guide here helpful: How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

We have got more information on settling in guinea pigs and how to have a good start in our guide bundle for new owners.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Is your guinea pig an only guinea pig? Please be aware that guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to live on their own; they are much better off with a round the clock companion of their own species.
Companionship

 

[MoodyPaws]

Thanks for the reply. I think you might be right about Melly letting me stroke her all over because she's cautious. Though she does start full grooming herself and gets up to eat and run around the sofa so she has realised I'm trustworthy enough that she can mooch around. She often goes on a wee and poop spree during these peaks of activity (thankgod for the bath towels) then settles down while I stroke her again. I think she has moments of trust but it's a work in progress.

I have just been & got her a friend today. So fingers crossed all goes well during introductions. Her friend (Molly) seems more skittish and high energy compared to Melly. But I'm hoping its a good match ... They're in the bath tub at the minute hugged together in an cardboard igloo ...

Hi!

Every guinea pig has their personal sweet spots, so there is no one size fits all rule. Very few piggies actually enjoy lying on their back and having their bellies tickled. For many, the belly is a no go area.

Give her time to make friends; she is most likely still in the "if I let the predator play with me as they like, they will get bored and let me survive" instinct phase. Many piggy newbies mistake this for cuddliness and liking and then inevitably end up posting "why does my guinea pig suddenly hate me?" - if fact, their guinea pig has just decided to trust them enough to tell their human how they truly feel. That is generally step one of the ladder to full trust.
You may find the information in this guide here helpful: How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

We have got more information on settling in guinea pigs and how to have a good start in our guide bundle for new owners.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Is your guinea pig an only guinea pig? Please be aware that guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to live on their own; they are much better off with a round the clock companion of their own species.
Companionship

 

[7squeakers.]

In general, piggies prefer being stroked more towards the front, and less towards the rear, and in the direction of the coat. Lots of them love to be stroked down the face and nose. My Bonnie loves having her cheeks rubbed. If your piggie tosses her head when you stroke her head, she is telling you to get off, so stop doing it straight away. You will just have to experiment and find out what she does and does not like.

 

[Wiebke]

All the best for the bonding! Please be aware that you have to sit through the inevitable dominance while they establish a working group.
Sow Behaviour