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Fiona*

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all
I've had a skittish pig for 6 weeks hes come a long way comes up to me for food, treats and sniffing hand but has no interest in cuddles.
Had to force him out using tubes, boxes and in the end just grabbed for nail clip and check up at vets!
Hes not vicious just not very social. I dont want to stress him out by trying to force him out but not sure how to progress, I've tried picking up in a tube and in a box they dont work on him.
Do you think he just needs more time or is he only going to come out when I have to force him out for welfare issues?
:)
 
He sounds like he is doing brilliantly with the fact that he will come and take food from you already. Most piggies don’t like being picked up and cuddled, some come round in time but a lot won’t. It goes against their prey instincts.
I’ve had my boys for 18 months. Dexter took just a couple of months to take food from me and likes a tickle under the chin. Popcorn only started taking food from regularly a few weeks ago but hates being touched. Neither like being picked up and I only get them by herding them into a carrier and picking them up from there. Dexter is ok when I’ve got hold of him and I can do his health checks etc relatively easily, but Popcorn hates it, screams like mad and goes rigid. I have to work carefully with him but basically just get it done as quickly as I can to minimise his stress.
 
I agree that he sounds pretty normal for his age.
Also does he have a companion - piggies are very social creatures, and ideally must be kept as part of a pair or group.
Lone piggies have no one else to turn to, and tend to be more fearful due to being alone and not having a member of their own species to turn to for comfort.
 
Piggies&buns said:
He sounds like he is doing brilliantly with the fact that he will come and take food from you already. Most piggies don’t like being picked up and cuddled, some come round in time but a lot won’t. It goes against their prey instincts.
I’ve had my boys for 18 months. Dexter took just a couple of months to take food from me and likes a tickle under the chin. Popcorn only started taking food from regularly a few weeks ago but hates being touched. Neither like being picked up and I only get them by herding them into a carrier and picking them up from there. Dexter is ok when I’ve got hold of him and I can do his health checks etc relatively easily, but Popcorn hates it, screams like mad and goes rigid. I have to work carefully with him but basically just get it done as quickly as I can to minimise his stress.
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Thanks for that :)
 
Swissgreys said:
I agree that he sounds pretty normal for his age.
Also does he have a companion - piggies are very social creatures, and ideally must be kept as part of a pair or group.
Lone piggies have no one else to turn to, and tend to be more fearful due to being alone and not having a member of their own species to turn to for comfort.
Click to expand...
Hi no hes a lone pig on vets advice as he was beaten up by pigs he was
 
Fiona* said:
Hi no hes a lone pig on vets advice as he was beaten up by pigs he was
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A successful bond comes entirely down to character compatibility. If he was fighting with other piggies, then it is down to the fact that they weren’t compatible. That doesn’t mean he should be kept alone. Perhaps neutering and finding him a suitable female is the way forward if he has issues with other males.
 
Fiona* said:
Hi no hes a lone pig on vets advice as he was beaten up by pigs he was
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Hmm, that isn't great advice to be honest.
Bonding an be tricky and some pigs are easier to pair than others, but depending on his age and your location he has a great chance of finding a commpanion he can live with.

Please let us know where you are located (roughly) and the age and background of your boy.
Maybe we can help direct you towards a rescue who will offer a dating service to help your boy choose his own companion.
 
Fiona* said:
Hi all
I've had a skittish pig for 6 weeks hes come a long way comes up to me for food, treats and sniffing hand but has no interest in cuddles.
Had to force him out using tubes, boxes and in the end just grabbed for nail clip and check up at vets!
Hes not vicious just not very social. I dont want to stress him out by trying to force him out but not sure how to progress, I've tried picking up in a tube and in a box they dont work on him.
Do you think he just needs more time or is he only going to come out when I have to force him out for welfare issues?
:)
Click to expand...

Hi!

Your boy needs more time; he is coming along quite nicely, actually. Most people underestimate the time it takes for a prey animal to settle in a strange and very frightening home environment.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

Is he a single or does he have a companion of his own kind to help him settle in?
Companionship
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
 
Fiona* said:
Do you think I should try every day or a couple of times a week?
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You need to take things at his pace - it’s really whatever you think he can handle.

It is very important you look into finding a rescue centre who can help you find him a friend though. He will settle better if he isn’t by himself
 
Merab's Slave said:
My boy Micah was badly bullied as a baby and had been labelled as having to live alone.
He is now a lovely, healthy and very happy boar living with my 3 sows (neutered).
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Our Theo was also a bullied lone male piglet, he is now neutered and living happily with 5 lady friends- there's somepig out there for everypig, and if your piggy is a young lone male who hasnt had much luck bonding with other boars then having him neutered and finding him some lady friends is a good plan. Piggies often gain confidence when there are friends around, I think lone piggies are probably much more likely to be nervy and skittish!
 
Several of my 'husboars' (neutered boars living with sows) have been boars that were either bullies or badly bullied teenagers that are now having a very happy and fulfilled second life.

However, neutering/de-sexing cost can vary enormously from country to country. You also have to factor in the experience in guinea pig neutering of the vet you are using; that can have a massive influence on the risk of post neutering complications. And then there is a mandatory 6 weeks post op safety wait before a boar can be introduced to sows.
Here is more information on neutering when you click on this link here: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

A few US rescues have spayed/de-sexed sows to live with unneutered single boars; but there are none in the UK.

Do you ever see people go to a shop to watch which baby piggies are hanging out together instead of choosing the two that look prettiest to take home without any consideration whether they are actually a personality match or not? This is very often cmpounded by keeping them in far too small cages - that is the kind of situation that your boy has most likely ended up in. Not all piggies can stand up for themselves and some don't know when to stop pushing. It is not their fault; just their personality...

But you want to look for either a very laid back older boar, a submissive/gentle spayed sow or - when neutered - a pair of sows that will accept him. By far the best place to find a personality match is a good rescue that allows you to bring your boy for bonding, so you come home only with a new companion if acceptance has happened and you have the rescue to fall back on if the pair is not working out.

Which country are you in? Rescue and vet access vary massively around the world. Your options are often dictated by what you have within your reach.
 
If he doesn’t like lap time then I would leave him to it. You do have to take him out for the weekly health check and weigh-in. I would try herding him into a (one exit) hide, tunnel or box then pick him up from there.
 
Although many people believe in a very hands off and let the pigs come to you approach I believe it is necessary to handle your piggies outside of health check time in order to tame them as health checks can be stressful and your piggie is unlikely to love being handled if they only associate it with being poked and prodded rather than cuddles and nom noms. piggies will run away when you go to pick them up as they are prey animals and are programmed to run away from potential predators but the more they are handled the more they will get used to it and many piggies (mine included) will run away from you but once picked up will love being petted and stroked. Taming piggies does take time and you have made a lot of progress already in relatively little time there are may ways to tame a piggie and I'm sure you will find something that works for you.

Finding him a friend will definitely help, depending on how many failed pairings he has been a part off I would be hesitant to rush into neutering to pair with a female as there is probably a perfect male piggie out there for him somewhere and just because one or two parings has gone wrong doesn't mean he should be written off.
 
Swissgreys said:
Hmm, that isn't great advice to be honest.
Bonding an be tricky and some pigs are easier to pair than others, but depending on his age and your location he has a great chance of finding a commpanion he can live with.

Please let us know where you are located (roughly) and the age and background of your boy.
Maybe we can help direct you towards a rescue who will offer a dating service to help your boy choose his own companion.
Click to expand...
Thanks
Wiebke said:
Several of my 'husboars' (neutered boars living with sows) have been boars that were either bullies or badly bullied teenagers that are now having a very happy and fulfilled second life.

However, neutering/de-sexing cost can vary enormously from country to country. You also have to factor in the experience in guinea pig neutering of the vet you are using; that can have a massive influence on the risk of post neutering complications. And then there is a mandatory 6 weeks post op safety wait before a boar can be introduced to sows.
Here is more information on neutering when you click on this link here: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

A few US rescues have spayed/de-sexed sows to live with unneutered single boars; but there are none in the UK.

Do you ever see people go to a shop to watch which baby piggies are hanging out together instead of choosing the two that look prettiest to take home without any consideration whether they are actually a personality match or not? This is very often cmpounded by keeping them in far too small cages - that is the kind of situation that your boy has most likely ended up in. Not all piggies can stand up for themselves and some don't know when to stop pushing. It is not their fault; just their personality...

But you want to look for either a very laid back older boar, a submissive/gentle spayed sow or - when neutered - a pair of sows that will accept him. By far the best place to find a personality match is a good rescue that allows you to bring your boy for bonding, so you come home only with a new companion if acceptance has happened and you have the rescue to fall back on if the pair is not working out.

Which country are you in? Rescue and vet access vary massively around the world. Your options are often dictated by what you have within your reach.
Click to expand...
In the uk, dont have any rescue places near me
 
Thanks for the advice everyone I really find this forum good
 
Fiona* said:
Thanks

In the uk, dont have any rescue places near me
Click to expand...

There is April Lodge in Sandwich and East Peckham Guinea Pig Rescue just outside London if you are willing to travel. Both are very experienced and good at bonding.
East Peckham offers residential bonding, which means your boy is coming home with a boarmate until the bond is solidly in place and healthy. They do have a waiting list as it is a time consuming job that no every rescue can afford but it if you can get there, then it would definitely be worth it.

These are the rescues that operate to a good standard and where you are in safe hands; we can guarantee for any others. The RSPCA doesn't do any boar-boar bondings and by far not all branches are piggy savvy. Compared to other countries, the UK has got a high density of good rescues, but it still means that we mostly rely on people willing to start up a private rescue that is entirely relying on fundraising and donations; it is a demanding undertaking! That is why there is isn't a good rescue around every corner and why in some areas you may have to travel further.
Please note that in this country anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without licensing and control; and the results can be accordingly and any shade in between breeding and rescue or of any standard (or lack thereof) of welfare.

Thankfully piggies tend to travel well. I brought home new ones on over 3 hours long journeys on more than one occasion and have travelled for 2 hours for piggy dating when I didn't have any suitable rescue any closer by.
 
I also recommend Putlands vet in paddock wood if you’re anywhere near there. And if you live within reasonable distance of Orpington, there’s also Anderson bet in Bromley.

Hope you find him a friend soon.
 
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