Ruffle

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SarahAllaway

Hello!

I'm one of Cavy Rescue & Retreat's fosterers in Bristol.

I am currently looking after a boar called Ruffle. AFi will be able to give you a bit more detail about his background but as far as I can tell, was never handled very much.

Until Saturday, he lived with his brother Ewan - we seperated Ewan as I could tell he would make better progress without Ruffle. They would run away from you - not just "I don't want to be picked up" run away but seriously frightened "I might die" sort-of-run-away, were constantly anxious and, this bothered me more than anything else, never made a sound.

At one point, they were housed in a room (but seperate cages) with three other guinea pigs (male and female) who would wheek to their heart's content every time the fridge opened or you called their names. Other foster pigs have come and gone who all made superb progress.

Ewan was seperated on Saturday and was excited to be on his own - wheeking to himself (unneutered boar), answering to his name - astonishing difference.

Ruffle, however, has remained the same. Barely making a sound, not moving from his hide, kicking when he's handled ... I took him out on Sunday, for example, and sat him on the table in front of me. The table giving him full support so he was "safe" physically. He was very close to me so I made sure he could feel my warmth and smell me. I was brushing him gently and talking to him. BUt he either froze or tried to bolt.

I've had him for about 5 months now and I am at a loss at what to do next.

I've tried having on my lap with a towel covering him, he's been in a room full of noisy guinea pigs, I've tried playing music (of all kinds!) throughout the day (constantly and periodically) in an effort to get him used to sounds, I've tried coaxing him out with food but he just runs away (he'd rather run away than eat food) - I am literally at a loss of what to do next.

Fi (owner of Cavy Rescue) would like me to move Ruffle outside as its getting colder but I'm just not sure that removing him from more human contact is the right way to go (although he'd be outside so not a million miles away) but where he is at the moment, he gets us walking through to the kitchen on a regular basis. When he's outside, he'd get significantly less time than he has already.

Do you think putting him outside away from us is a good idea? Should I move him to a room that has higher human traffic i.e. in the living room?

Thing is, I suspect there is a terrific and loving little lad in there but I don't know how to coax it out of him.

Can anyone suggest anything to make this little guy trust us more?
 
Just to clarify I wanted him outside before it got any colder so he would acclimatise as Indoor space he is only 4 hutches.

In Sarah's garden are other hutches with guinea pigs so he would have piggie company. I am at a loss and both Sarah and I would really appreciate any advice.

He was bought from a pet shop and has been looked after although not really handled so as far as I am aware no trauma other than regular pet shop stuff.
 
Thanks Fi - that was what I was trying to say about him being outside just not very eloquently!
 
I have never had such a scared piggie as that but it sounds as though you have tried all the right things. I wouldn't put him outside, the more human contact without harm the better.

I have had good success with having piggies near to my face for a while and also close to the neck. If they can feel your heartbeat and hear you breathe then they slowly relax. Do you have anything that you can put Ruffle into to keep him close to you - ie resting on your chest - for a long time? Like a soft handbag placed around your neck so that he is just below your chin? Then carry him about as you do things, just normal but quiet things like reading or using the computer or something. I know a piggy gets very heavy after a while, but that really is the best idea I've got. You need to 'bond' with this piggie, he needs to learn to really trust you and if you keep him close to your breathing then he will start to relax. He really needs to know it's you as well, so chat to him or sing softly if he can't periodically check on you. Use a towel or something like that to contain wees as you need to carry him for a long time. Half an hour or more.

On the shoulder tucked closely into your neck is the best place. But this carries the risk of rather painful nips and is difficult to keep up for any length of time. If you had a beard then I would suggest simply tuck him under your chin - beards are really good for calming and reassuring piggies!

I haven't any other advice apart from put yourself into 'prey animal who gets attacked from above' mode to guess what he's thinking and never give up!

Wishing you and Ruffle all the best, Sarah
 
I am so sorry; he is really extreme and you have been trying your very best.

I was going to suggest to have him under your pullover until he starts to relax with the darkness/warmth/smell of your body. But carrying him around in a sling is probably a good idea as well!

Unfortunately, you can't have him with another piggy (preferably female) who can teach him. My Taffy has come along well by having her on the lap together with big, placid Nerys to show her the ropes of being medicated and petted.
 
I have had a piggy so terrified of human hands the only way i could keep him in one place was to wrap him in a fleece & even then he would burrow his head into his body to disappear or turn round in the fleece just to get away from me.

I overcome his fear of me by buying a cat igloo; this enabled me to stroke him whilst ensuring he felt safe & also meant he couldn't dive off the sofa & injure himself.
Each evening i would bring him downstairs in his igloo, i watched tv with him at the side of me & i would talk to him & stroke him & when he'd had enough i'd cover the igloo front with a towel, leave him half hour & then stroke him again. I'd do this for about 2 hours every night, approx 2-3 weeks later i could hold him out of his igloo & now he's quite happy to just lay on me x)

From this
Haggis23119.jpg


In his igloo
Haggis1129.jpg


Getting braver
Haggis2529.jpg


How he ended up, without a care in the world! :))
HaggisCheese928.jpg


If Haggis could do it i'm sure Ruffle can, i wish you all the best with him :)
 
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My suggestion is to cuddle him for at least half an hour twice a day. Bring along a cucumber or carrot to act as a bribe/ reward, though if he's too scared to eat, this may not work yet

To help extend your time with him, read a book or watch TV, while he's on your lap. If he likes his ears or chin scratched, it may also help. Bring a towel, so you don't worry about the pee or poo.

I got a couple of piggies a few months ago, who had rarely been handled. The male (Micky) was especially shy, and sounded a bit like Ruffles - he'd freeze whenever I held him. Micky's much better now and will eat while on my lap. But he still tries to run away when I get near. I hope he'll be better with more handling.

Good luck
 
i havent got any advice to offer but others have given you sonme good advice and i really hope it works poor ruffles
Niki haggis is so cute
 
Thank you - I'll get a fleec-type blankie for him in the next couple of days which can be just his and see how he gets on - I'll also keep everyone updated as he progresses so anyone can add any extra helpful hints, if that's okay? :) Thanks again
 
Sarah,

I have a fleece blanket you can have for him and an igloo. The igloo needs washing. I am thinking of doing it at the laundrette so I don't clog my machine up. lol
 
Hi Sarah,

I am watching this thread with interest.

One of my piggies is particularly unsure of people. I have been handling him every day but it is clear he doesn't enjoy it and I have been wondering wether he would be happier if I avoided doing it unless really necessary.

We have made some progress in the last year but it has been very slow. Originally he would scream every time you touched him. Now he no longer does this and will relax a bit after the first 10mins or so. Sometimes he is happy to have his head scratched but nowhere else.

Unfortunately he is paired with another boar, although no fighting there has been phases of dominance lately from the other piggy and I am unsure if this is making the whole thing worse. I do not have room for more piggies but sometimes I do wonder whether piggies of this nature would be more suited to a herd enviroment where they are not so much a pet and can act as nature intended.
 
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