Strangely attached guinea pig

[Cue]

Oh it’s been… a couple years I think? I am the user here who pulled a young piggie out of a blackberry shrub in 2022. Cheese Stick is now officially three, but I have noticed an odd behavior that never really went away: she’s really, really bonded to me. A human. She tolerates other pigs, but not in her cage (she has a shared wall with our other two for company, that she’s fine with.) She actually likes them, treats them like a herd, etc. etc. but only outside the cage. If she’s getting free range time with the others and she gets spooked, she comes running to me. Not to a hide, or to the herd (which on multiple occasions have been the closer options), right to me and climbs up my chest to sit on my shoulder and honk in my ear. If we’re sitting together and someone who is not me tries to move her, she rumbles them.
This isn’t a regular thing, I know that much. Like, this pig is weirdly sentient about the fact that she likes me, and me specifically, and everyone and everypig else is acceptable but also not Her Person. Why is this? Is it because I was the first person to hold and comfort her when she got home? Does she not even recognize me and just thinks my shoulder is the ideal perching spot and the weird lettuce looking thing next to it amplifies her yells nicely? Is she just weird?

Picture of Cheese making a ghillie suit out of hay for prosperity

 

[Wiebke]

Oh it’s been… a couple years I think? I am the user here who pulled a young piggie out of a blackberry shrub in 2022. Cheese Stick is now officially three, but I have noticed an odd behavior that never really went away: she’s really, really bonded to me. A human. She tolerates other pigs, but not in her cage (she has a shared wall with our other two for company, that she’s fine with.) She actually likes them, treats them like a herd, etc. etc. but only outside the cage. If she’s getting free range time with the others and she gets spooked, she comes running to me. Not to a hide, or to the herd (which on multiple occasions have been the closer options), right to me and climbs up my chest to sit on my shoulder and honk in my ear. If we’re sitting together and someone who is not me tries to move her, she rumbles them.
This isn’t a regular thing, I know that much. Like, this pig is weirdly sentient about the fact that she likes me, and me specifically, and everyone and everypig else is acceptable but also not Her Person. Why is this? Is it because I was the first person to hold and comfort her when she got home? Does she not even recognize me and just thinks my shoulder is the ideal perching spot and the weird lettuce looking thing next to it amplifies her yells nicely? Is she just weird?

Picture of Cheese making a ghillie suit out of hay for prosperity
View attachment 268287

Hi

It can well be that your piggy is one of those human orientated singles that were separated from their kind too early and that do not really see themselves as guinea pigs because a large part of socialisation with their own kind has never happened. Piggies like these are more frequent in places where it is still more common to keep singles from a very young age.

My Beryn (Welsh for 'Candytuft') was another dumpee that must have been a much loved single beforehand. She was found wandering the grounds of a cricket club in North Wales. I suspect domestic abuse or some major health/economic issue as the trigger.

For more information, including human-orientated singles and how it can look when a single transfers their social needs onto you: Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[Cue]

Hi

It can well be that your piggy is one of those human orientated singles that were separated from their kind too early and that do not really see themselves as guinea pigs because a large part of socialisation with their own kind has never happened. Piggies like these are more frequent in places where it is still more common to keep singles from a very young age.

My Beryn (Welsh for 'Candytuft') was another dumpee that must have been a much loved single beforehand. She was found wandering the grounds of a cricket club in North Wales. I suspect domestic abuse or some major health/economic issue as the trigger.

For more information, including human-orientated singles and how it can look when a single transfers their social needs onto you: Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Wow, I had no idea this was a thing! She definitely can bond with other pigs, as far as we know she’s done so twice (once with us, once with the other dumpee who unfortunately did not make it). So she’s definitely had pig exposure, although she was approximately six months when we got her and may have not had proper piggening beforehand.

 

[Wiebke]

Some piggies can focus on (or specifically prefer) certain humans while other piggies will never enjoy interacting with them. There is a whole spectrum out there.

You can use her human focus on with doing little tricks or enrichment activities with her. As long as it is fun for her, it is fine. It is not something every piggy is suited for while others thrive on the challenges (especially with plenty of praise).
My Minx, the red and white aby in many pictures, was more like a little dog, following me around the house, climbing our stairs and demanding her daily lawn trip (or three...)
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Cue]

Some piggies can focus on (or specifically prefer) certain humans while other piggies will never enjoy interacting with them. There is a whole spectrum out there.

You can use her human focus on with doing little tricks or enrichment activities with her. As long as it is fun for her, it is fine. It is not something every piggy is suited for while others thrive on the challenges (especially with plenty of praise).
My Minx, the red and white aby in many pictures, was more like a little dog, following me around the house, climbing our stairs and demanding her daily lawn trip (or three...)
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Well she definitely gets plenty of attention, I’m as attached to her as she is to me. We sit and chat while I work and I give her head skritches, and she gets out with the other girls every night. She also gets time on the lawn and I’m sure I can make her some toys.

 

[Wiebke]

Well she definitely gets plenty of attention, I’m as attached to her as she is to me. We sit and chat while I work and I give her head skritches, and she gets out with the other girls every night. She also gets time on the lawn and I’m sure I can make her some toys.

It is less about toys when you have a look at the link but shared activities that make you smile or laugh outright. Enrichment is a concept that is so much wider than just 'toys' - which guinea pigs usually don't play with. But it is a great way of entering their world.

 

[Cue]

It is less about toys when you have a look at the link but shared activities that make you smile or laugh outright. Enrichment is a concept that is so much wider than just 'toys' - which guinea pigs usually don't play with. But it is a great way of entering their world.

Oh absolutely! We’re sitting right now. She likes taking naps on me.

 

[Freela]

I do think sometimes pigs will just decide that a person is 'theirs.' My husband is really not a pet person, but our pig Misa has decided he is her favorite person in the world. If she hears his voice she will perk up and look for him, even if he's not home she will run over to his habitual spot on the couch and look for him, if he's on the couch, she will beeline for him, sit in his lap, and kiss his fingers. She's fine with the rest of us too, but he is clearly her number one for reasons known only to her! I do think she's slowly managed to win him over to being more involved with the pets though, so good for Misa!

In your case, it sounds like you piggie likely had a rough, scary start to life and you're the one who saved her. She may not have had the chance to develop piggie social skills before she ended up in that shrub. She may not have had many positive experiences before you came along. I do believe that a lot of rescued animals understand who saved them and appreciate that. It's a really special bond to have with an animal!