How long does it take for your piggies to get used to you!?

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WendyWoo

I am a little worried although I know my piggies seem happy they are active and seem to be happy together cause they a forever popcorning and running about daft! I have just left them playing for about 2 hours and I am little worried about how I am bonding with them just because they seem to kick away with their hind feet or run away when trying to pick them up for a cuddle or stroke them - I make sure I get down to their level too. Its been two weeks since we have them. I just trying to go in and give them a wee cuddle which is something I have been trying to do everyday if not at least give them a wee stroke! They are ok taking food out of my hands and they are ok playing about in the pen while I go about doing my cleaning etc and I speak to them and my hubby reckons that they starting wheeking really loudly when I am not in the room (I have to take his word on this). But trying to pick them up and sometimes even getting them to sit in one place for a stroke is being a bit of a nightmare. They are starting to know their dinnertime and breakfast cause they get it the same time every day. Is there any tips about how this can be made easier! I just want them to love me as I love them I know that sounds selfish but I really want to bond with them! Sorry for the lengthy post!
 
Hi :) I wouldn't worry if I were you as they sound perfectly happy to me. Guinea pigs are prey animals therefore, It is their natural instinct for them to run. I've had my 2 for nearly a year now and they are still a bit skittish and I think that they always will be. When we first had them, I was always worried about trying to pick them up as they were so skittish. Even now, they will sometimes run around their hutch and pen. They have however, settled down a lot and will sometimes even sit and wait to be picked up :) All guinea pigs have different personalities and some are more wary than others. It just takes persevience. xx
 
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You are doing all the right things but it takes time, much more than the few weeks you've had them. The fact that they are taking food out of your hands is brilliant.

Some piggies just like to have us around but don't enjoy the handling, I'm afraid with guinea pigs they make the rules and we just have to love 'them for who they are.

I'm sure they'll come round, just give them time :)
 
Hi Wendywoo

You are doing all the right things. You obviously adore your piggies.
Guinea pigs are naturally timid and some will always run away when you approach them. It is their instinct.

When they trust you enough to eat out of your hands and enjoy a cuddle when you do manage to catch them, then don't be worried. Even if they take even a tiny blade of grass from you, they still might run away and hide if you try to pick them up. It can be frustrating, but you have to remember they can't help it.

Piggies, eh?! :{xx>>>
 
Corrr it took my 3piggies 5 months to get to the point they are at now! :))

They now wait at the cage opening when i bring food and will hang around and eat with me there. 1 still hides when i am near though. They dont like being stroked and will peg it and are ok being picked up if they are in a small carrier so now i have to get them in there and then pick them out for a cuddle...

Mine are never going to be people piggies and to be honest i prefer them to be independant from me because it makes me feel less guilty if i havent spent masses of time with them on occasion... As i know they are much more happy making tunnels in their hay than being stroked by me! (apart from my wussy boar Bigbum who loves his mum as long as she has spinach leaves...):))
 
My Fizz ... who is no longer with me as she passed away in April ... was a homebred and homefed mini pig. Her mum won't feed her, so I had to syringe feed her.

Even though Fizz was hand-reared and spent her life with me, she was extremely timid. She then lived with a neutered boar and another sow, but she would only come out to feed when she thought I was gone. She would pop her head around the bedroom divider, and if the coast was clear she would come out! Weird, but that my Fizz! :)
 
It's strange to think how different they all are, ruby likes a cuddle, but only on her terms, pheobe loves a good stroke in the cage, but hates being picked up, bethany sometmes likes to be stroked in the cage and be picked up, maggie-may hates being stroked and picked up, but once you've got her she doesnt want to be put back down! and little Sonny loves his cuddles and we've only had him since sunday!
 
some of mine piggies after a year, still hate being picked up and its like they think i am going to hurt them, which i would never, so out of 14 i think two dont run away and are not scared of me!
 
WendyWoo said:
I am a little worried although I know my piggies seem happy they are active and seem to be happy together cause they a forever popcorning and running about daft! I have just left them playing for about 2 hours and I am little worried about how I am bonding with them just because they seem to kick away with their hind feet or run away when trying to pick them up for a cuddle or stroke them - I make sure I get down to their level too. Its been two weeks since we have them. I just trying to go in and give them a wee cuddle which is something I have been trying to do everyday if not at least give them a wee stroke! They are ok taking food out of my hands and they are ok playing about in the pen while I go about doing my cleaning etc and I speak to them and my hubby reckons that they starting wheeking really loudly when I am not in the room (I have to take his word on this). But trying to pick them up and sometimes even getting them to sit in one place for a stroke is being a bit of a nightmare. They are starting to know their dinnertime and breakfast cause they get it the same time every day. Is there any tips about how this can be made easier! I just want them to love me as I love them I know that sounds selfish but I really want to bond with them! Sorry for the lengthy post!
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I am having the exact same thing happening with my two boys. We have had them around 3 weeks now. Marley is more confident than Ozzy, but as soon as i walk into the room they both bolt for their bed! I find that if i start talking to them as i walk in they relax a little. They will take treats from my hand (on occassion! it is very much a case of if they want to they will) My boyfriend is gettin very agitated with them as we both thought that piggies would be loving animals that want to spend time with you but it is turning out to be a lot harder than i expected. It is impossible to catch them too. Which makes things difficult cos if i try to clean the cage with them in it they go crazy but won't let me move them out of the way. I have managed to corner Marley a couple of times for a quick cuddle but he really just wants to go back to his cage. I read a lot of websites and stuff before purchasing the piggies so i knew what to expect but it seems like no matter how much i've read it still doesnt make sense. People say "my piggies run when i try to pick them up but when they are out they're ok" I have just one question - "how the hell do * manage to pick them up?! They run so bloody fast that its virtually impossible to get near them and i am really trying not to spook them more than is necessary. Is there an idiots guide to owning guinea pigs? IF so i need one!
 
Are your piggies kept indoors or out?

Pigs are prey animals so it's in their best interests to run and hide rather than get eaten (in their minds!). It can take time for them to get used to you, but they will get better. Talk to them when you go into the room, even if you're not going to pick them up. Feed them tasty food from your hands (greens, whatever their favourite thing is). If they keep bolting to their hide-away, you could try taking it away for a bit. I do this with indoor pigs if they're crazy, they then learn that you're not a threat.

As for catching them - talk to them first, try to get them in a corner, use two hands - one on the shoulders to stop them going forwards, one under their bum to support the weight - to lift them, and then hold them against your body.

Try having cuddle time whilst watching telly, with pig on your lap on a blanket. Comfort blankets can help too!

Good luck

Sophie
x
 
They are kept indoors, were in the living room at first i think all the noises freaked them out so we have them in the dining room now. I go in every time i walk past to say hello to them. I have to say they do let me get closer to them than my boyfriend justing. They see him and just wont come back out but they will come over to me to have a bit of a sniff and i can get a bit of a nose stroke in. I guess it just takes a lot longer to build a rapor with them than i expected it to. They are very entertaining to watch but i am finding it hard to be patient with them! Is it better to keep trying to pick them up and hope they will bond with me over time or not to push them and just keep feeding them treats and stroking them when they let me? I really want cuddles from them but i know that it could take a while to get to that stage and i dont want to upset them in the meantime!
 
Regular handling i.e actual picking up / cuddle time as well as the feeding / stroking in their cage would be best. They need to learn to associate you with good stuff!

Good luck, let us know how you get on

Sophie
x
 
Ok so i just got to keep perservering and tempting them with lovely food! I can do that! Is there any sort of timescale as to how long it will take for them to bond with you?
 
I have mine since april and they now stay out of the house when i go towards the cage they come to the bars and like a cuddle but only on there terms they much rather be running round like mad than having a cuddle. I had some older gps stop over night and they loved there cuddles falling asleep in my arms. They were a year and a half and werent as mad as mine who are quiet young oldest is 8 months ish.
 
Ozzy&Marley said:
I am having the exact same thing happening with my two boys. We have had them around 3 weeks now. Marley is more confident than Ozzy, but as soon as i walk into the room they both bolt for their bed! I find that if i start talking to them as i walk in they relax a little. They will take treats from my hand (on occassion! it is very much a case of if they want to they will) My boyfriend is gettin very agitated with them as we both thought that piggies would be loving animals that want to spend time with you but it is turning out to be a lot harder than i expected. It is impossible to catch them too. Which makes things difficult cos if i try to clean the cage with them in it they go crazy but won't let me move them out of the way. I have managed to corner Marley a couple of times for a quick cuddle but he really just wants to go back to his cage. I read a lot of websites and stuff before purchasing the piggies so i knew what to expect but it seems like no matter how much i've read it still doesnt make sense. People say "my piggies run when i try to pick them up but when they are out they're ok" I have just one question - "how the hell do * manage to pick them up?! They run so bloody fast that its virtually impossible to get near them and i am really trying not to spook them more than is necessary. Is there an idiots guide to owning guinea pigs? IF so i need one!
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Aww its great to have someone in the same situation has me! My hubby sounds exactly like you boyfriend! Since I have asked this question I have made some progress! They are starting to know when its breakfast time and they go mental and wheek loads when they hear me chopping up their veg! However, the picking up and cuddling thing yes I am still having problems with! Obama is easier to catch but has devoped a tendacy to nibble! Gomez hates being picked up but I bought a snuggle cup and when they get cosy in their I try and stroke them and if I am lucky I can grab for a cuddle! Gomez is more calm with me now and allows me to stroke him. Obama is the livelier one of the duo and kicks out his behind legs and also bite me once (although I think he smelled food of my hands plus he just been to vet to get his nails clipped and his front teeth looked at - so bad mood). I am starting them to notice progress but like you I thought it would be an instance bond but I got to admit I have a noticed a difference between me and them last week to this week and it is better but I do wish pick up and cuddling was an easier progress! We does have to hang in there I suppose! Keep me updated!
 
I've found that their behaviour towards and around humans can vary greatly and usually depends on their previous circumstances. It often depends on the age they began being handled - those first few weeks are really important as they're learning all the normal behaviours. Mum's personality can have an affect too. Having said that I've got pigs who have been handled since birth but still don't sit still for a cuddle, so it obviously depends on the individual too. Frequent, little and often cuddles and handling is usually what works best. Handle them five or six times each day for perhaps ten minutes at a time. Bribe them with food if you have to, eventually they'll realise that mommy = food! and look forward to being handled. It sounds like you're doing a great job with them though, just keep doing what you're doing and I'm sure you'll see an improvement soon!
 
i think we both just have to be patient! I am possibly the most impatient person though so its hard! I have noticed a change in them from the first 2 weeks or so they are more inquisitive now i had them both sniffing at my hand at the same time yesterday which is a miracle! The problem i have is that Marley will let me stroke him but then if i move a bit Ozzy gets startled and runs which in turn means Marley runs too! You will have to keep me updated on how your babies are doing and if you pick up any good tips!
 
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