Help Bonding

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laurenwillblake

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We recently adopted 3 guinea pigs from a petshop 2 weeks ago they were very skittish and we got told to build up trust for a week before trying to cuddle them. 2 weeks on and we still havent been able to pick them up they fly around their hutch so we stop trying so they dont get too distressed. They are more than happy to come out and look at us and feed from our hands though 1 of the piggies even plays peek a boo behind a tunnel and if we walk away he wheeks until we come back and play again but still runs if we try to pick him up. Any suggestions to overcome this? Someone told me they would become feral if we dont hold them soon and I'm worried about that!
 
Hi there, welcome to the forum. This is an entirely normal situation. Please don't worry about it. Piggies are prey creatures. They have acute reflexes that even very tame piggies can't suppress so shadows, sudden noise or movement scare them off. You have to build a level of trust with each of them. Establish a routine of talking gently all the time while you're near them so they learn your voice, talk gently and move slowly while moving things in their cage. Keep same routines so they learn when it's pellets time, hay time, veggies time. If they are taking food from you that's an excellent sign.
Not all piggies enjoy being picked up and / or cuddled. Even those of us who've kept piggies for years may have to chase a pig into a cage corner to pick them up for nail clipping/cage clean etc -one of mine squealed blue murder for the entire 5 1/2 years we had her.
There are superb links on here about settling piggies in and building bonds. I will post them for you.
 
Feral? o.O

I know that one of the boys we adopted to go with Big E bites, but it's more like pinching and we think that's because he wasn't really handled, but I don't think they'd go feral that fat, do they even go feral? :hmm:

Anyway @VickiA has given you some good advice. Not all of mine like to be picked up.
 
Good point @Kerrie74 our latest adoptee Miss Mollie is still settling in and nips with her teeth too. Not vicious, just doesn't seem to know how to be friendly. We're used to it now, but it was a shock at first.
 
Please read the links that @VickiA as given you. They contain lots of useful tips on how to make friends in a way that works with their natural instincts.

Most people don't realise that the guinea pigs they buy from a shop or a breeder have virtually not had any friendly interaction with humans. Guinea pigs are prey animals, not living cuddly toys! Settling them in and building up trust takes time and patience, but it can be done. ;)

Guinea pigs "don't go feral"; they can be made friends with at any age. I have several adult guinea pigs that were rescued from horrible conditions and that deeply appreciate the tender loving care they getting from me! Not every piggy is a natural cuddler, though; you have to accept that. The more time you invest to interact with them and to listen what they have to say to you, the greater a relationship you will have. Guinea pigs are very interactive, big personalities, so it well worth it - you will get a lot back!

May I just say that most of the overall rare biting happens either in defense, from a guinea pig that is feeling well out of its comfort zone, or as tweaking in young guinea pigs as a way of exploring the world. Tweaking hard can also be a way of expressing serious displeasure, as in Kerrie's boy's case.

PS: Here is a video that shows you how to best pick up a guinea pig so you don't have to stress it out by hunting it down: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-pick-up-your-guinea-pig.126359/
 
Thanks everyone for the tips! Yep i have read the links and feeling much better. I have a 5 and 2 yo boys and have found the guinea pigs respond much better to them which makes sense as when they sit in front of the hutch they r alot lower than me so looks like i will be getting down on all fours from now on!
 
Should I be waiting until they arent so scared before picking them up or will it help if we are cuddling on a regular basis?
 
You could very slowly increase the time they are in contact with you. When I foster new piggies, of whatever age, I always pick them up once a day( even if it is just to pop them into a carrier while I clean out their cage!). Once the cleaning is done I then give them a short spell on my knee, stroking and checking them over, chatting away to them, then place them gently back into their cage. This knee time gets increased by maybe 30 seconds a time, but never pushing the piggies longer if they are really frightened. Sometimes allowing them to hide under a small towel while you have them on a lap will help! Have always found lifting in a cosy or tunnel( hands over both open ends of course!) makes life less stressful for very shy piggies. Some pigs can be trained to walk into a small open fronted carrier( with a favourite veggie lurking inside), which you can then lift out of the pen/cage. Patience is the key, however slowly you feel you are making progress.
 
I have owned quite a few that actively disliked being overhandled - I have always respected that and tend to let my guinea pigs be guinea pigs. Two of my current four tolerate being picked up and moved - they don't enjoy it but that's fine with me, I wouldn't want to be cuddled by a giant guinea pig! :nod:
 
laurenwillblake said:
Should I be waiting until they arent so scared before picking them up or will it help if we are cuddling on a regular basis?
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I find that the best time for picking up is when they have lost their fear and are moving around happily, ideally starting taking food from your hands. Be effusive in your praise to encourage them every little step of way. I also find a walk-in lidded cardboard box with a little bit of soft fresh hay ideal for picking up new guinea pigs for weighing and handling.
 
Just a quick update on the piggies i have made some progress with 1 of the boys he has lost all fear towards me started with eating some lettuce leaf from my hand then not running and hiding when i walked near the hutch to this morning i went out with no food and put my hand out and he hopped on and was quite happy to cuddle for 5 minutes! 1 of the other boys will come out to eat from my hand but lets out a growl if i try and pick him up so i wont force that. The last 1 is still very skittish and doesnt come out at all if i am out there yet but I'm not giving up hope!
 
laurenwillblake said:
Just a quick update on the piggies i have made some progress with 1 of the boys he has lost all fear towards me started with eating some lettuce leaf from my hand then not running and hiding when i walked near the hutch to this morning i went out with no food and put my hand out and he hopped on and was quite happy to cuddle for 5 minutes! 1 of the other boys will come out to eat from my hand but lets out a growl if i try and pick him up so i wont force that. The last 1 is still very skittish and doesnt come out at all if i am out there yet but I'm not giving up hope!
Click to expand...

Be patient and persevere; building up trust is not a quick process and often takes months rather than weeks. It is worth taking your time, as once trust has been given, it is given full-heartedly.
 
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