Paranoid piggie owner

[Lizzie.1987]

Hey, I was watching a video where the woman has had 4+ guinea pigs and she spoke about the journey she had until her piggies trusted her enough. And I’m starting to worry as I look at my twos behaviour: they don’t trust me one bit. She said it was normal to take years for a piggy to trust fully but I kinda feel like I’ve messed up right from the start.


It’s probably my paranoia setting in but I do kind of feel like I’ve messed up and Speedy and Donald will never trust me.

 

[Eriathwen]

Don't panic! Piggies are very forgiving little creatures you will not have messed up your bonding. I have 12 pigs at the moment and they all have varying levels of trust with me, some tame quickly, some slower. It's all individual to the pig and their person. And even the ones I have the closest bond with still run away from me when I go to pick them up, it's instinctual, nothing personal!

 

[Seven7]

Have you tried feeding them by hand? Mine are very easy to convince when I have their favorite veggies and fruits in my hand.
Mine love it when I feed them by hand, and it works every time. They run towards me when I come closer, and greet me.

 

[rhymer]

Try not to worry. I've had piggies who ran and hid every time I went near and some who ran to greet me. It does take time and depend on the piggy. Try tempting them with a few fresh washed dandelion leaves. I never had a piggy who could resist . Xx

 

[sport_billy]

We have all been there, believe me. After 1.5 years

We always start off by trying to hand feed a few veggy treats in the cage by offering some nice veggies to the piggy when they are in their hidey, hopefully they will take it off you as you hold it in for them... after a while try offering it a little further from the hidey so they edge out and take it from you.
Food is the best way to bribe, use food when you get round to lap times also. Start lap time for a short amount of time at first and build up. We started off we laptimes for 1 minute with new piggies then pop them back, slowly increasing the time. They will soon associate you with food and good things but at first it takes a while to gain their trust.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Couldn’t agree more with the comments. Hand feeding and small steps at a time. A soft snuggly pouch for lap time is helpful for nervous piggies, encourage them into it at lap time. They will feel safer than on an open lap. In my experience cupboard love always wins out in the end, so don’t fret, they will become tamer and more trusting, it just takes time x