Taming my new girls - Help needed!

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Romeo Flahoy

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Hi,
I'm new to keeping guinea pigs. I have had my two 8 week old sisters for 6 days and I'm worried they are never going to bond with me and let me pick them up. So far I've been sitting near hutch talking softly for few hours a day. I take fresh grass and veggies twice daily and slowly put them in hutch. I stay to watch girls. They are slowly starting to come out to eat when I'm near hutch watching (one is more sociable than the other) but as soon as I move slightly they frantically run back to they sleeping quarters. I read that I should get them used to my voice, then my hand through feeding and letting them sniff it, then stroking with one finger and then eventually pick them up. Is this correct and how long does this take on average because I think my girls are going to take months. I'm worried I'll never be close to them. I can't wait for cuddles. I haven't attempted to pick either up yet as I'm scared of getting bitten and of them squirming and me dropping them. Can anyone give me any advice or reassurance. Am I doing it right. Has anyone else had this with a happy ending?
 
I was in the same boat as you. We bought two boys on Monday and just today I managed to stroke and pick them up. Just be patient and no sudden movements I think. I put them in a playpen with the aid of some plastic tunneling. Once they'd got used to the playpen they seemed much more receptive. I stroked and fed them for about 10 minutes and then gently picked them up one at a time.
Hope this helps.

Shary
x
 
I waited one day before I started to pick mine up, that was only to let them settle into their new home. I was also scared of being bitten but I got over that as they never actually bit me while I was catching them - I will confess two have tried during cuddle time but I stopped them before they actually bit.

Just keep doing what you are doing and handle them regularily. Mine have been with me for 3 months and are slightly skittish which is an improvement from very skittish. They still dont like being caught but all are happy to be handled and cuddled for a short time, even the baby of the group is getting much better and she was a right fidget rolleyes

ETA - I started this thread to help people that are worried their piggies might never be tame http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65743
 
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Some pigs don't like being picked up full stop, none of mine do! Peter comes to the bars to see me but when I try and pick him up he legs it again yet once he's on your knee he's the worlds cuddliest piggy. They are funny critters but they do take time to settle, some pigs will settle within hours whereas some take months. I have one older one that is a lot more timid than the others but then I don't know the history behind them and why they ended up in the rescue in the first place.

Be patient and if you are going to pick them up try using an upturned pigloo or a cuddle cup or a box with one of the short sides cut off and padded with towels or a blanket and let them climb into it before lifting them as this takes some of the stress out.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm worried that if I pick them up now it will ruin my progress to date. Has anyone ever dropped a piggy? I'm worried that if I try and pick one up it will wriggle and jump out of my hands and stress it out. I suppose I wanted to know if others have taken months, because they haven't even sniffed my hand yet, let alone a stroke or attempted pickup. I'm happy to wait months or as long as it takes. I just want to do it properly. I don't like seeing creatures in distress. My other pets (chickens, cat, hamsters, dog) have all come round much quicker. I have read up on GP's and understand that they are naturally weary of predators. Thinking about one of the replies, could I pick up a box/tunnel with a piggy in and place that on my lap? Although they'd probably jump out before I got it on my lap. I'll keep * all updated on our progress. Thanks again.
 
You're doing all the right things by letting them get used to you. It all takes time. :)

I would recommend investing in a fleece cosy for laptime as this will make your nervous piggies feel more secure and it will be safer and more comfortable for you to handle them. Your piggies will feel as if they are hiding but at the same time you can cuddle/ stroke them.
Pollie makes cosies and is a member of the forum (threelittlepigs); her items are excellent- this is her website. http://www.cavycozies.com/apps/photo...otoid=66271768

I also found that I could coax/ herd my pigs into the cosy when I wanted to pick them up and it is much less stressful for them and me than trying to grab hold of them. Very quickly they learned to pop into the cosy when it was put down for them.
 
Romeo Flahoy said:
Thanks everyone. I'm worried that if I pick them up now it will ruin my progress to date. Has anyone ever dropped a piggy? I'm worried that if I try and pick one up it will wriggle and jump out of my hands and stress it out. I suppose I wanted to know if others have taken months, because they haven't even sniffed my hand yet, let alone a stroke or attempted pickup. I'm happy to wait months or as long as it takes. I just want to do it properly. I don't like seeing creatures in distress. My other pets (chickens, cat, hamsters, dog) have all come round much quicker. I have read up on GP's and understand that they are naturally weary of predators. Thinking about one of the replies, could I pick up a box/tunnel with a piggy in and place that on my lap? Although they'd probably jump out before I got it on my lap. I'll keep * all updated on our progress. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Probably not the bit of advice you want right now, but quite near the beginning Wheat wriggled and I dropped her. (She HATES being picked up with hands but will consent with a towel, but obviously that reduces traction!) She'd only just recovered from an under-the-bed adventure, and was obviously pretty confused and shaken up, but in two or three days she was right as rain again. So even if you do get it wrong and she wriggles it won't be a major crisis.

You mentioned a box - when mine were being a pain coming in from their run, I let them both hide in a cereal box and then picked it up with them inside :))

Like I said, Wheat is much much happier with a towel than hands so it might be worth a try.

If you're trying to get them used to coming to eat from your hands then get yourself some dandelion leaves. Dandelions are like crack for guinea pigs. They will do anything to get them, including coming near scary humans!
 
Thanks everyone. I feel better about it all now. I'm going to get a snuggle cozy thing as I think my girls would appreciate it. I'm going to continue with our current strategy and hopefully time will naturally help to build piggies confidence and we will progress to lap cuddles in time. I'm going to try to feed from my hand. They love grass and it's long so I can reach piggies without being too close. I think one will always be very skittish so maybe I have to change my expectations and aim for lap cuddles in a fleece cozy, instead of hand cuddles. I really appreciate everyone's comments. I know I'm worrying too much but that's me. I do the same for my cat and chickens.
 
Romeo Flahoy said:
Thanks everyone. I'm worried that if I pick them up now it will ruin my progress to date. Has anyone ever dropped a piggy? I'm worried that if I try and pick one up it will wriggle and jump out of my hands and stress it out. I suppose I wanted to know if others have taken months, because they haven't even sniffed my hand yet, let alone a stroke or attempted pickup. I'm happy to wait months or as long as it takes. I just want to do it properly. I don't like seeing creatures in distress. My other pets (chickens, cat, hamsters, dog) have all come round much quicker. I have read up on GP's and understand that they are naturally weary of predators. Thinking about one of the replies, could I pick up a box/tunnel with a piggy in and place that on my lap? Although they'd probably jump out before I got it on my lap. I'll keep * all updated on our progress. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I was using an open topped box to bring the girls in from their run on the grass once and Bumble climbed on Bea and used her to jump out the box, smashed her face on the patio and everything. I was an absolute mess after that and will never use an open top box for it ever again. She's fine btw but I now have a crash pad so I can cover the gap with my body and they can't escape http://pimpmypiggy.homestead.com/crashpads.html
 
Hello! I have 2 8 week old boys GPs and they are nervous just like yours!
I am not handling them much but they are getting braver. Somewhere I have read the 3 step rule and it is working for us ie
1) Hand feed them, talking all the time - I find long grass is really good for this
2) Stroke them in the hutch at snack time so they get used to your hand
3) When they are braver, slip your hand under their bottom to support them and pick them up

We are still only trying stage 2 with our boys. We have to pick them up to clean the hutch which is a bit stressful but then they are OK in our arms - they seem to calm if they can feel your heartbeat - like babies!:)

Hope that helps:)
 
Update

Feel like we had a break through today. Both piggies came out of their sleeping quarters to feed on veggies when my hand was still in hutch. I stayed very still and the shyest one even eat a celery leaf from my hand although I think she hadn't realised I was holding it. When I had to move due to cramp they both scarpered tho. I'm feeling less anxious about it now and I'll just go with their pace.
 
Many people are telling me that handling often will tame gp's. Should I just get a cozy fleece and start catching both each day or just continue with softly softly approach? Last owner handled them and they ran when being caught but were ok in hands for few minutes. will them not being handled make them more nervous when I eventually hold them? What would you do? mallethead
 
I am new to GPs as well so maybe not the best person to reply but I would say that your update shows that you are gaining their trust. If you have to chase them around the cage to hold them at this stage that might undo that good work. My instinct with my Guineas is to go slowly:) . But why don't you get a cosy ready and so if they have a confident day you are all ready for holding and it might feel like progress?:)
 
Handmade cozy

I've just made 2 snuggle blankets or cozies for pip and squeak. Very rough design but I plan to get more fabric and make a range of sizes and colours. That way I'm ready for cuddles when they are!
 
Hurray for utube!

Hi,
I had a look at some utube videos on taming your guinea pig. I found lots of good tips and they show * what they mean. It was pointed out that * should not approach your piggy at first but encourage him to come to you with a treat in your hand. So this morning I held some dandelion leaves in my hand and they both came up to me and ate from my hand. I talked softly and they stayed their for ages. Usually I try and approach them but they run and hide. Couldn't believe how simple it was. Obviously need to keep it up to build their confidence.

So if that wasn't good enough, they then started popcorning like maniacs! It was lovely they were jumping all over the place, squeaking and jumping in sync :))
 
My pigs took around 3 weeks to get properly used to be, but of course each pig is different. Still now after 2 months, Tallulah is still a little aware of me, but she is getting better every day. :D

You just have to be patient.
At first, I just put my hand in the cage, and one day when they were brave enough, Penelope sniffed it. Then I tried to stroke her, but no luck. Now, she's ever so confident around my hand, but still doesn't like being strockied on the back. Lily wasn't brave either, to start with, but now she just runs straight up to my fingers, and I rub by the side of her cheekbone, and she closes her eyes...
Tallulah doesn't exactly come to my hand, but if I hold a stick up for her to chew on, she'll come right up close. She is also very brave (probably the bravest) at letting my stroke her.

Don't worry, they'll get there in the end! :)

___

Best regards,
Isabella, Tallulah, Penelope & Lily.
x
 
Glad that Romeo is having some success with the hand taming:) And has got fleece ready - v organised! My 2 seem to vary on the time of day as to how open they are to being stroked!
And how much food i have with me at the time....:))

Sorry to hijack the thread (Am I allowed to?:red)but if you are trying the slow approach to hand taming eg like Romeo is and I am trying to do, how do you pick them up when you have to eg for hutch cleaning without undoing the previous taming work? I had been doing v well with the hand feeding but then freaked them out again when I had to take them out of the cage for cleaning:(
 
Update

Hi,
Just wanted to say that I've finally held both my little piggies and they've enjoyed their new run. A little chasing was involved but once caught they were fine considering. I put them in my snuggle sac which calmed them right down. I'm still obviously trying to feed by hand but they are getting braver by the day. I feel much better now and know that they will be fine and happy. I look forward to many more cuddles. It was lovely seeing them in their run. Pip the most nervous one came right out of her shell and they enjoyed the grass and some apple. Can't wait for better weather so they can enjoy some exercise again. Thanks to everyone for their comments and advice. It really helped me. :))
 
I used to sit outside in the run with my babies, I had a large square run with a removable top. I would pick some grass for them & feed them by hand for ages. Guineas are pretty lazy & will eat grass that has been picked for them rather than go to the effort of grazing lol! I would put the cuddle sac thing down for them to run into, then gently pick it up with them inside. Just be careful they don't jump out though!
 
Here are some of my tips...

What I do with my 2 4 month old pigs:

I 'herd' them into their pigloo, then I can slide my hand in and gently pick them up one at a time. I put my hand under their bodies and hold their front legs up just before I take them out of their pigloo.. this stops them bolting and so that they can't jump out of my hand as I'm lifting them up.

- If you hold your piggies front legs up off of the groud, it's alot harder for them to jump or run away.


What I do with my very nervous 1 year old pig:

Once I get him up on the top level and in the 'bedroom' of his hutch I block the entrance/exit off with either my hand or bag of piggy food. This stops him running down to the bottom level, where it's much harder for me to get him. I stroke him on his head for a couple minutes, then I quickly (but gently) pick him up by putting one hand under his body (lifting his front legs up) and my other hand under his bottom.

His hutch mate Leo, is quite easy to pick up as he seems to like it :p

I myself now have two very nervous 6 week old piggies, they arrived yesterday. They have a 'snuggle-oo' cosy/bed to sleep in which they like to hide in at the moment. This is making them feel nice and safe, making it easier for me to just reach in and pick them up. I've already picked them up 4 or 5 times before, when they were at my friends.. which is making it a little easier at taming them.

- Hand feeding is a huge part of bonding, once they take food from your hands.. this means they are settled and very relaxed around you.
- Stroking them lots and lots before you even try and pick them up shows them you mean no harm.
- Let them sniff your fingers/hand so they get used to your scent.. they will still be getting used to all the scents in their new home.
- Make no sudden movements around them, move slowly and calmly.
- Piggies don't bite unless they feel very VERY scared, need the loo while your holding them or they have a skin condition which is making them feel very uncomfortable.


Just remember that most piggies will run when they know your going to pick them up, it's a 'piggy thing' :))
 
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This thread has helped me too, thank you! I got my two babies 4 weeks ago and they still don't like me picking them up. Fozzie is very nervous when I approach the cage but Rolf is more amiable. They'll both get excited when I'm around though as they know I am The Provider Of All Things Edible and wheek and go mad when I'm preparing their food (or my own, hilariously). They'll both eat out of my hand, fairly happily (Fozzie prefers to run off with his food but he sometimes eats beside me), but they hate being picked up.

I've tried sitting in the run with them and that helps a little - they'll come up to me and sniff around me - and I can stroke them a little. Fozzie will only let me touch him if he's safe in his bed and I just tickle his nose, Rolf loves me stroking him under the chin... but only on his terms.

I can't decide if I should be persisting with the handling or give them a break. It's heart-breaking when they get panicked when I pick them up :(
 
Gosh I think you are doing pretty well if they let you tickle them under their chins already lol! Be patient, from the sounds of things you are doing very well & will soon be picking them up easily! I only just lost my oldie, who was 7, even she didn't like the actual picking up bit but once on my lap would make purry sounds as she loved being stroked. Use a cuddle cup or cozy thing as suggested, that would make them feel a bit more secure perhaps
 
I became a new piggy mum in December and spent the first 6 weeks staring at an empty cage hoping that my 2 boys would make an appearance! like you I made sure I spoke to them softly and handled them
every day. I honestly thought they would never get used to me, but then one day they came out when i was with them. I'd never felt so happy (I think I may have even done a little dance!) they are still quite timid piggies and will hide if I try and pick them up but fine once in my lap. I have since had them neutered and got them a girlfriend each, blossom and peaches, who have been a breeze compared to the boys, niblet and fidget. keep perservering and don't get disheartened - they will love you eventually x
 
Thanks, folks! I'm encouraged by your comments :)

I tried picking them up in their cosies today and I think it went okay. I sat Rolf in his bed on my knee whilst I stroked around his nose and he seemed uperturbed. Fozzie wasn't as happy and I could feel his wee heart beating fast but he didn't scream or try to bite. As soon as they were both back in their cage they burred at each other, did their slow wavy walk then leapt about, happily.

Incidentally, I brought them out in the first place cos one of them is sneezing a bit but they seem fine otherwise. I'll turn to another thread for that.
 
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