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Piggiesinablanket

Piggiesinablanket

New Born Pup
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So my girl Spice is really living up to her name. I've had her since she was born because I have both her parents (which have been separated since). She now 1 turning 2 here soon. But the issue is she's always been impossible to handle. She snaps and bites at anything hands, fabric, ect. which makes nail cuts and just simply holding her so hard to do Her cage mate is her mom so there's never been a issue there.

If there's anything I can do help correct this let me know. I'd like her to be able to be handled for necessary reasons.
 
Piggiesinablanket said:
So my girl Spice is really living up to her name. I've had her since she was born because I have both her parents (which have been separated since). She now 1 turning 2 here soon. But the issue is she's always been impossible to handle. She snaps and bites at anything hands, fabric, ect. which makes nail cuts and just simply holding her so hard to do Her cage mate is her mom so there's never been a issue there.

If there's anything I can do help correct this let me know. I'd like her to be able to be handled for necessary reasons.
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Hi

Unfortunately, some piggies experience their mother's high stress while in the womb and set them as their own life default before even born and to which they revert whenever they feel stressed - handling is one of the prime situations.

Patience and persistence will often eventually mellow their outlook to some extent but you are rather looking at years. I have several of them. They sadly pay the price of our current system of commercial mass pet production, whether that is via chain pet shop supply breeders or private for sale breeders. :(

Here are some practical tips which you may find helpful:
Wiebke

Thread 'Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips'

1 Understanding Prey Animal Behaviour
- Unresponsive prey reflex
- Flight reflex
- Fight reflex (defence bites)
2 How to Avoid Predatory Behaviours
- Scent
- Flow of chatter
- Sudden movement and noises
- Looming and staring
- 'I am not seeing you'
3 Piggy Whispering
- 'I want to be friends with you'
- 'I invite you into my herd'
- 'I love/care...
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Wiebke

Thread 'Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?'

1 Dominance and hierarchy: Who's the boss?
2 Attention seeking: How piggies train you!


This text is part of an article I have written for Guinea Pig Magazine issue 47 (November 2018). It is the propriety of GPM and is being shared on here with the magazine's permission. Guinea Pig Mag

1 Dominance and hierarchy: Who’s the boss?
Guinea pig society is based on inclusion into a group that is strictly hierarchical. Inviting new piggies into your human led group by fondling the ears...
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Wiebke

Thread '" Biting" And What You Can Do (Biting, Tweaking, Nibbling and Nipping)'

1 Serious defence bites
- On edge, spooked or cornered
- During cuddle time
- During bonding
2 Nibbling and accidental bites
3 Tweaking
4 Nipping other guinea pigs


Biting can be a worry or a problem for new owners, especially those with small children. However, there are some very different issues lumped together under the broad umbrella of “biting”, sometimes with fatal consequences for the poor, misunderstood and not appropriately handled guinea pig that...
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All the best. I am sorry for your challenge. Try to emphasise hands-off interaction and concentrate on compliance with regular grooming, which is mostly achievable.
Wiebke

Thread 'Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs'

1 Company and interaction
- Company of their own kind is the best enrichment
- Human interaction
2 Excercise
- Daily run time and exercise
- Race and obstacle courses
- Outdoors time and how to bring it indoors
3 Sensory enrichment
- Things for the nose and the palate
- Working to get their daily food
- Romping and burrowing in soft...
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