Welcoming Sookie to her new home. Advice please!

[debbierudd]

A week ago I got Sookie - a rescue pig, she came from a terrible background, she was rescued from an evil breeder who was breeding for a big pet store and did not look after any of the piggies. Some of them died, but lots were rescued and are being rehomed. Anyway, Sookie is 6 months old, and I have taken her home as company for my Trixie who's sister Ginger died recently.

Sookie and Trixie get on fine, and she seems to love her new home - but she is still very nervous with people. I make a point of having at least one cuddle with her per day and she has a sort of comfort blanket which calms her down and has stopped her from trying to run away. She is very skittish, and has very sharp, small claws! She has lots of hidey holes and tunnels to play with, and she is eating well, and seems to enjoy running around with Trixie, I just wondered if there is anything else I should be doing to make her feel welcome, and less scared. I know it will take a while for her to get used to me and I am happy to wait, but if there is anything else I can do for her I'd like to know.

Any hints or tips, would be great!

 

[Wiebke]

I have written a reference thread, perhaps that might help?
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

Unfortunately, some piggies that have never been handled before take time to get used to us lumbering predators... Patience, persistence and lots of time is the key to build up her trust! You will get there, and every small milestone will be a major victory and all the more precious for it!

Wishing you the best of luck with Sookie!

 

[Niki]

A week ago I got Sookie - a rescue pig, she came from a terrible background, she was rescued from an evil breeder who was breeding for a big pet store and did not look after any of the piggies. Some of them died, but lots were rescued and are being rehomed. Anyway, Sookie is 6 months old, and I have taken her home as company for my Trixie who's sister Ginger died recently.

Sookie and Trixie get on fine, and she seems to love her new home - but she is still very nervous with people. I make a point of having at least one cuddle with her per day and she has a sort of comfort blanket which calms her down and has stopped her from trying to run away. She is very skittish, and has very sharp, small claws! She has lots of hidey holes and tunnels to play with, and she is eating well, and seems to enjoy running around with Trixie, I just wondered if there is anything else I should be doing to make her feel welcome, and less scared. I know it will take a while for her to get used to me and I am happy to wait, but if there is anything else I can do for her I'd like to know.

Any hints or tips, would be great!

I adopted a boy earlier this year who was so terrified of human hands i'd to wrap him in a fleece just to keep him still. If he could've turned himself inside out to get away from me he would have.
I bought a cat igloo; this enabled him to feel safe whilst i could stroke/talk to him without the danger of him leaping off my knee/out of my arms.
I used to have him in the igloo at the side of me every night whilst i watched tv & 2wks later i could hold him out of his igloo & he would lay on me, quite happy & contented to be stroked x)

Patience & time do pay off

 

[Abby'sMom]

one of the best things you can do....is talk to them all the time....about anything and everything in a nice calm voice. Make them crave your voice...anytime you hold them, maybe give them a small treat...calm and quiet and loving cuddles when they are ready seems to be the best. Let them know you are around and are the source of love and food! It shouldnt take too long.
Good luck!