Taming ..

[Rachel2709]

I have 2 boys and 1 is as friendly as can be the other is a scaredy cat. How can I tame him?

Frank is absolutly lovely. As soo as I walk past the cage he's up the bars squeeking and loves a cuddle. He's not fussed about me sticking my hands in the cage and poking him or stroking him. I can pick him up any time and he doesn't mind.

... Now Fang is the total opposite. I've had since february and he was 6 weeks old. I've done exactly the same with him as I have with Frank. I always talk to him & give him cuddles but there is just no improvement.
When I put my hand in the cage he runs off and hides. Sometimes he doesnt mind a little stroke as long as I move slowly. When he takes any food off me he snatches it away and runs off to hide.

How can I tame him?

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

I have 2 boys and 1 is as friendly as can be the other is a scaredy cat. How can I tame him?

Frank is absolutly lovely. As soo as I walk past the cage he's up the bars squeeking and loves a cuddle. He's not fussed about me sticking my hands in the cage and poking him or stroking him. I can pick him up any time and he doesn't mind.

... Now Fang is the total opposite. I've had since february and he was 6 weeks old. I've done exactly the same with him as I have with Frank. I always talk to him & give him cuddles but there is just no improvement.
When I put my hand in the cage he runs off and hides. Sometimes he doesnt mind a little stroke as long as I move slowly. When he takes any food off me he snatches it away and runs off to hide.
How can I tame him?

Some pigs are just more skittish than others. Some will let you touch them etc and others won't. All I say is keep persevering, keep feeding him veggies from your hand and soon you should start to notice him calming down. Also, i have found with my piggies that as they get older they get less skittish

 

[SpinningNickel]

Haha, sounds a lot like mine. Some of it is just temperament and personality.

The DAY I brought my two boys home I knew I had two very different pigs. They were in separate cardboard carriers on my lap. Picchu was running around the perimeter of his carrier, chewing the box, sticking his nose out of the airholes, wheeking like mad... Machu had promptly buried himself in the hay and didn't move or make a peep. Until they had real names, I dubbed them "Ginger-face" and "Scaredy- cat" the latter of which was a reference to this behaviour!

True to form, Picchu was always a little terror, trying to leap out of my arms, biting my finger tips in case they might be food, never sitting still... Machu is absolutely lovely, very sweet and laid-back, but to this day a bit timid. He does exactly what you said with veggies if I hand feed him -- yanks them with surprising force out of my hand, then runs away to eat them in a hidey hole!

A lot of pigs never do well with being picked up. Mine never have, but were fine once you got hold of them. With Picchu it was almost like it was a game. He'd come right up to me like he wanted to be picked up, then popcorn (the only time he ever popcorned!) and run away when I reached for him, stop, then run when I tried again. Machu will always try to evade being picked up unless he's been sleeping and is dozey, but once I have him in my arms he's perfectly comfortable and will sit very happily for ten minutes or so before he decides he's bored and wants to explore.

It seems to be the picking up that most of them resist, not the being held itself. If this is true for Fang, maybe start trying to pick him up every time you pass his cage, and give him a little treat WHILE you hold him. Help him realise that, although you might be big and scary and reaching for him, only good things will follow! He might never be as OK with it as Frank though.

 

[Rachel2709]

thank you both

yeah Fang is perfectly happy once he is in my arms, he sits there quietly and squeeks while I stroke him but he is a wee'er so I dont have him out to long.

The other thing I noticed is he doesn't popcorn at all.

But he is always the 1st to start wheeking when a packet is rustled or the fridge door is opened |)

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

thank you both

yeah Fang is perfectly happy once he is in my arms, he sits there quietly and squeeks while I stroke him but he is a wee'er so I dont have him out to long.

The other thing I noticed is he doesn't popcorn at all.

But he is always the 1st to start wheeking when a packet is rustled or the fridge door is opened |)

I wouldn't worry about him not popcorning, mine don't popcorn much either! Oh, and great names for them by the way!

 

[Wiebke]

Give him time - you always get a bolder one and a quieter one. Guinea pigs are as individual in character as humans are.