Troubled

[concehearts]

Hello, my name is Connie and I need some help with my guinea pig. Her name is Jojo. She was given to me by a friend almost two months ago. I was told she was only 6 months old. Okay, Jojo is scared of me. I am afraid she might have been mistreated with her previous owner. When I pet her she cries a little. She runs away from me every time I try to touch her. I thought that with time this behavior would slowly go away but I am afraid it's gotten worse. I don't want my Jojo to be afraid of me. If anyone knows why she is acting like this please help. Also, if anyone knows ways I can show my guinea pig that she is safe with me that would be great. Thank you for your help

 

[Julesie]

Aww I'm sorry Jojo is so scared. It's hard not knowing a guinea pigs history. I have a guinea pig who is the same way. He's gotten a lot better with a ton of persistence from me. My biggest advice is to sit by her cage, just talk with her, offer her vegetables from your hand so she starts to think of you as something that brings goods. Wait and wait and wait until she takes it from your hand, don't give up and just place it in the cage otherwise she may learn that eventually you will give up and go away.
When you approach her too, try keep yourself lower to her level, it makes you look less like a predator and get her used to your sounds. This will make her think of you less as a predator because predators won't make a ton of noise. This is why I advice talking to her whenever you enter the room.

I'm guessing shes an only guinea pig? Guinea pigs are herd animals so best kept in pairs. If you can get to a nearby rescue then you could try and get her a friend to live with. Usually rescues have guinea pigs that are more relaxed and used to handling so should be a good choice as a friend for your piggie. She will learn from the other piggie that you aren't terrifying and she won't be as scared because she will have someone there.

 

[concehearts]

Aww I'm sorry Jojo is so scared. It's hard not knowing a guinea pigs history. I have a guinea pig who is the same way. He's gotten a lot better with a ton of persistence from me. My biggest advice is to sit by her cage, just talk with her, offer her vegetables from your hand so she starts to think of you as something that brings goods. Wait and wait and wait until she takes it from your hand, don't give up and just place it in the cage otherwise she may learn that eventually you will give up and go away.
When you approach her too, try keep yourself lower to her level, it makes you look less like a predator and get her used to your sounds. This will make her think of you less as a predator because predators won't make a ton of noise. This is why I advice talking to her whenever you enter the room.

I'm guessing shes an only guinea pig? Guinea pigs are herd animals so best kept in pairs. If you can get to a nearby rescue then you could try and get her a friend to live with. Usually rescues have guinea pigs that are more relaxed and used to handling so should be a good choice as a friend for your piggie. She will learn from the other piggie that you aren't terrifying and she won't be as scared because she will have someone there.

Okay, I put her cage up on the desk so that she is not on the floor anymore. I fed her some lettuce from my hand for about five minutes. She was very exited about that. Thanks for the advice. I am never going to give up on her. And I was thinking about getting her a pal. I will most likely do that by next week. I am gonna take it day by day. I just want her to be happy and not scared. So thank you again!

 

[Julesie]

You're welcome. ^_^ Slow steps and she'll feel much better with you in no time I'm sure.

 

[AbiS]

I have had my boys since May when they were 8 weeks old. They are hilarious - they follow me around the house (free-range), I will kneel on the floor with their food and they clamber all over me to get some. When I am sat on the sofa they will wander over and nibble my slippers or try to climb up my leg if it is nearly teatime. They are clearly not scared of me. BUT if I dare try to touch them it is like I am trying to chop their heads off. All I have to do is say to Toby 'can I have a stroke' and he gets a look that suggests he is being approached by a herd of zombies! Sometimes a get as far as being able to put a finger on his back - he freezes while I do it and as soon as my finger touches him he squeaks and jumps away. They are a pair of drama queens!

If Barney has a face-full of food I can stroke him, but he hates being cuddled. Cant touch Toby but when we catch him for cuddles he settles down straight away, chucks a chooken out and goes to sleep. The problem is their prey instinct. They don't like hands coming towards them, they don't like the act of being picked up - I doubt that they ever will. It is something we will keep working on and hope that they get better but it's also OK if they don't. They are such little characters who have their own likes and dislikes and so long as they are happy then we can deal with the rest.

Keep handfeeding Jojo with tasty veg and talk to her gently. You will find that she will stop looking scared and will take food from you happily, she may always run away from your hands though!