Biting Humans?

[Malice]

I've had my two girls for eight months now and they're both wonderfully happy and very tame. However, I've noticed that whenever I (or my boyfriend) hold Syllabub for more that a couple of minutes she starts nibbling us; and I'm not convinced it's a 'oh, is this edible?' kind of nibble. It does feel more like it's a 'go away'. She's never drawn blood or particularly hurt me, but I am concerned that she might one day (not that I'd be particularly bothered if I get bitten, just I'd rather she didn't bite a guest, make them jump, and potentially get hurt herself).

They're both very friendly and aren't scared of humans (any more than normal, anyway); they always come up to the bars when I enter the office, they eat straight out of my hand and even come over to say hello when they're running around the office. But neither particularly like cuddles; Poglet is always wriggly and won't sit still and Syllabub always tries to jump off after a few minutes (and then nibbles hands if she can't).

I've never had a guinea pig do this on such a frequent basis? I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to stop it, or whether it's just part of her personality?

Thanks.

 

[sport_billy]

Ah, you may have a vampire piggy

We had one called Vimto, she is now nearly reformed and does not always try to taste zeeee blood or zeeee flesh now...

Some piggies while fine in the cage and interacting on their terms with you but when on laps feel a little vulnerable, the nibbles are her way of telling you she does not like it. I used to get actual snaps off Vimto and she would draw blood too
She was just a very scared piggie and felt vulnerable on laps, she didn't appear frightened (but obviously was) but she was confident enough with me not just to freeze and it was here way of saying 'please put me home i don't like this'. We worked at it and would take her out for 30 seconds then pop here home, we did this 3 times a week for around a month weeks, then slowly increased it up to 5 mins via 30 second increments . Each lap session she'd have a sprig of coriander. It took us 6-8 months but she doesn't bite now and will happily chill on laps for a while but not for too long We would never let anyone else have Vimto on there lap in case she wanted to taste the forbidden flesh once more

But some piggies really hate lap time and we as owners have to respect that, we'd all but gave up with Vimto and used to interact at the bars with her in the cage until we gave the above method a try. Our eldest girl Cookie won't settle and will just walk off, we only really have one lap pig - Sarsaparilla.

Another thing is to have them in cosies on you lap, that may give them extra security.

 

[Wigwig]

I dont know if anyone else has ever come across this, but my GP archie loves biting for the sake of biting, he will chew on skin and pull on it (like how you can on elbows), he obviously does the "i need the toilet" nip and the angry snapping if he doesnt like something, maybe yours is like that? He does the pressure strong but just before it hurts. It is unnerving unless you allow him and see that he wont hurt you. Kind of like how dogs will chew you gently.

 

[nicky]

Edward has always been a bit of a biter but then Edward has always been a bit of a diva

 

[Kerrie74]

We've got a couple of biters. Both adopted with the habit lol, but it's not hard enough to draw blood and one has calmed down since we got him Feb 2014, Jericho is going to be a tough nut to crack!

 

[Maddykins]

Ah, you may have a vampire piggy

We had one called Vimto, she is now nearly reformed and does not always try to taste zeeee blood or zeeee flesh now...

Some piggies while fine in the cage and interacting on their terms with you but when on laps feel a little vulnerable, the nibbles are her way of telling you she does not like it. I used to get actual snaps off Vimto and she would draw blood too
She was just a very scared piggie and felt vulnerable on laps, she didn't appear frightened (but obviously was) but she was confident enough with me not just to freeze and it was here way of saying 'please put me home i don't like this'. We worked at it and would take her out for 30 seconds then pop here home, we did this 3 times a week for around a month weeks, then slowly increased it up to 5 mins via 30 second increments . Each lap session she'd have a sprig of coriander. It took us 6-8 months but she doesn't bite now and will happily chill on laps for a while but not for too long We would never let anyone else have Vimto on there lap in case she wanted to taste the forbidden flesh once more

But some piggies really hate lap time and we as owners have to respect that, we'd all but gave up with Vimto and used to interact at the bars with her in the cage until we gave the above method a try. Our eldest girl Cookie won't settle and will just walk off, we only really have one lap pig - Sarsaparilla.

Another thing is to have them in cosies on you lap, that may give them extra security.

This!

I basically did this with my piggy Martin who is by nature a very shy, skittish pig and was a terrible little biter when we adopted him. Like above it took a looong time for him to settle, but now he enjoys a little lap time (he parks his bum and head down, and closes his eyes a bit when I stroke him on his head or around his ears). It just takes perseverance and baby steps to improve the behaviour.