Progress over a year

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi!
I have a quick question about bonding and wanted to know what you guys think!
I have had Mo and Stubbins for fourteen months now and Vani for twelve months. Despite constant efforts to bond with them, they aren't very comfortable with humans. If someone besides me walks into their room, they run and hide. Vani and Stubbins will willingly let me pet them on their heads for a few seconds, but Mo will not really let me touch her at all (unless I'm holding her). Vani often screeches when I pick her up (only for a few seconds), and Mo will bite if I hold her for more than about a minute.
I have been discouraged in the past about bonding, but with their one-year anniversary passing, I am extremely sad about how far we have come. I rescued them as babies and have spent every day with them for the past year; I attempt to bond with them at least once a day. Although they do run up to me and are comfortable with the occasional pet, I am worried about our progress. I know that guinea pigs are prey animals and are naturally fearful of humans, but I am concerned about what could potentially happen if I needed to gather them quickly in an emergency.
Any thoughts?

 

[Piggies&buns]

What you are describing sounds entirely as to be expected For prey animals.
they clearly do trust you if they let you touch them. Mo not wanting you to touch her is normal also - she doesn’t like it.

mine have been with me for over two years and while Dexter is more comfortable to be around me, popcorn is always more wary. Dexter will let me give him a little chin tickle, but popcorn bolts if I try to touch him unexpectedly. if I go to him very slowly and he can see my hand coming then i can get the occasional little head stroke but those times are few and far between - he just doesn’t have the confidence of dexter. Yesterday morning both piggies were loose in the shed eating their breakfast while I was stood in there. I very carefully i crouched down to pick something up (I always avoid sudden movements when popcorn is in eye line as he is more anxious), but even this sent her hurtling back into the hutch.