Pigs Depressed When I'm At Work?

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Beans&Toast

Beans&Toast

Adult Guinea Pig
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Okay so this might sound a bit odd but stick with me...

I've been off work for almost a month so I've been spending looooads of time with the pigs, whereas usually I work 5 days a week. I still spend lots of time with them (and my Mum is here all day with them when I'm at work) but obviously I've spent far more time that normal with them while I've been off.

I've always had a close bond with my girls but they seem to have become very attached to me this past month, they don't like anyone else holding them and they won't come to anyone but me now. When they hear my voice they eek like mad and don't stop until I pay them attention then when I stop they follow me around (if they're out their cage) or they will sit and stare at me, begging for attention.

I was back at work today and my Mum said they seemed really depressed, not really doing much and kept calling out like they were looking for me..

I feel really bad, should I not have spent so much time with them while I was off work? And now that I'm back at work will they get used to it again and stop pining for me?
 
I'm sure they will get used to you not being there so much again, and return to how they used to be. It was lovely you had extra time with them when you were home, you shouldn't feel bad about that. My boars are used to me being around and going in and out most days as I'm retired and have lots of wonderful time to myself. When I have a day out they sulk, barely touch their nuggets or hay. They and lie quietly in a hidey and ignore me when I return, this lasts till the next day then all is back to normal. Goodness knows what would happen if I went on holiday!
 
piggieminder said:
I'm sure they will get used to you not being there so much again, and return to how they used to be. It was lovely you had extra time with them when you were home, you shouldn't feel bad about that. My boars are used to me being around and going in and out most days as I'm retired and have lots of wonderful time to myself. When I have a day out they sulk, barely touch their nuggets or hay. They and lie quietly in a hidey and ignore me when I return, this lasts till the next day then all is back to normal. Goodness knows what would happen if I went on holiday!
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Thanks :nod:
I do spent a lot of time with them anyway. Usually all my days off are spent with them but the past month I've been with them all the time. I actually found myself really missing them at work today :P

They give you the silent treatment! That's so funny, they're like little humans sometimes :P
 
Piggies are extremely pragmatic. They will adapt to whatever circumstances they find themselves in. Just enjoy the time you spend with them and don't worry about leaving them while you go to work. They will cope without you for a few hours.
 
VickiA said:
Piggies are extremely pragmatic. They will adapt to whatever circumstances they find themselves in. Just enjoy the time you spend with them and don't worry about leaving them while you go to work. They will cope without you for a few hours.
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Thanks, I was just worried incase they would be "upset" with me for not being there... :doh:
 
I think they will get used to the new routine soon enough. Mine deal with changes depending on the day of the week, time of the year, etc. I work from home but the three kids are home on the weekend and on school breaks and over the summer (big difference in noise/activity level when the kids are home!) and in the summer we pack the whole cage up and take it to the cottage. It takes them a couple days to adjust, but they always do.
 
Beans and toast sound like right little characters. :roll::inn: They will be back to normal soon enough. I only have one animal that sulks and that's my Jack Russell Terrier Max. He actually huffs and then ignores me. :evil: Lol. Happened once in a dog training class, sat down and refused to move as I had told him NO for barking at another dog. The trainer took him, completed the exercise with him no problem. Gave him back to me and yep he sat down again and wouldn't look at me. Kept turning his head away. Lol.
 
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