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07-10-2017, 02:23 PM
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#1
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 151
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The guinea pig Dilemma
My sister adopted two brother guinea pigs from PAH a few days ago and she's a bit scared of them. They're in her room and they're a bit nervous and she doesn't know how to handle them or tame them.
Any advice is welcome as I have no clue with guinea pigs.
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07-10-2017, 02:48 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bath, UK
Posts: 3,640
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
Some Guinea pigs can be quite reluctant to be picked up and seem skittish around people and I've found that encouraging them not to see you as a threat by offering them a treat (such as their favourite vegetable) whilst you gently build up to stroking them can be helpful.
I've also found that they're more likely to allow you to pick them up if you get them to climb into a cuddle cup, snuggle sack or even something like a cardboard box (mine seem to love cardboard boxes and tubes).
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07-10-2017, 02:57 PM
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#3
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
I know nothing about Guinea Pigs - lol. There's info on here about caring for Guinea Pigs and it says they are happy to be handled once they've settled into their environment but they prefer being picked up with two hands.
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-adv...our-guinea-pig
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07-11-2017, 10:25 PM
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#4
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 151
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
Thanks everyone.
It's not going well but I've told her to stick at it, explained that it can take months to tame an animal. Plus these are rescue pigs, they were taken to PAH from rather crappy conditions so we don't know what happened to them. She's nervous handling them which is making them more nervous I think, they're actually a lot better with me because I was born without the fear gene and I'm not scared of them.
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07-12-2017, 12:21 AM
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#5
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Hamster Hugger
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
Well done to your sister on adopting! I had a guinea pig who was just the loveliest cuddliest little thing... Once he was fully tamed! Before that, he was so jittery and skittish. He would dash away every time anyone tried to pick him up. What worked for me was the "towel trick". You can search it online. Basically, you wrap the guinea pig up in a big towel like a sausage roll with their head facing up and looking out at you. Then, you hold them against your chest and you can go about your day for an hour or two at a time holding them like this. They feel safe and secure in the towel because it mimics long grasses and over time they get used to your smell and voice. It may take weeks or even months (in the case of my late gp) but eventually they do tame. It just takes patience. I'm sure there will be lots more advice on a guinea pig forum.
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07-12-2017, 02:11 AM
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#6
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Fluffy Hamsters
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 4,231
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
The guinea pig forum is a wonderful mine of information (and cute guinea pig pictures).
They do take a while to tame. Picking up using a cuddle cup or similar is good as is hand feeding and chatting to them.
Mine dont really like being handled even after nearly six months but will happily take food from my hand. One of them will sit and eat on my lap (the other one just freezes).
They very rarely bite. I have had many guinea pigs over the years and never been bitten.
__________________
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07-12-2017, 03:28 AM
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#7
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: England
Posts: 69
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
To be honest when I got my newest Guinea pigs who were quite skittish, I just dove straight in, baring in mind I already had 5 and was very used to how to hold them and such,
Some people will wait and try to get them used to be hand fed and such,
But I just picked them up and sat with them for a few minutes each day, gently stroking their head while keeping a firm hand on them so they couldn't run away,
Within about a week and a half they were easy to handle they would try to get away straight away when I held them. I had to 'chase them round the cage a little to get them but I just used to turn over their huts and get them in a corner so I could grab them with very little running around scared of me.
But I did have to handle them lots in the beginning because they had some health problems that needed sorting straight away.
One was a little nippy but I learned to angle her so she couldn't get me for the first few days.
Sometimes with Guinea pigs it's best to just get them used to being held by holding them but that's just my guinea pigs personally.
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07-12-2017, 08:55 PM
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#8
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Hamster Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland
Posts: 15,575
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
So great that your sister adopted the 2 piggies, with patience, love and taking things slowly, you'll adjust.
__________________
Mom To Gorgeous Noah
Over The Rainbow Bridge - Master Harvey 2 years & 5 months, Twinkle 'The Diva' 1 year & 8 months, Archie 2 years & 3 months & Xena 2 years & 9 months. Forever loved by T-Liz.
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07-12-2017, 10:38 PM
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#9
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 151
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissJeliza
To be honest when I got my newest Guinea pigs who were quite skittish, I just dove straight in, baring in mind I already had 5 and was very used to how to hold them and such,
Some people will wait and try to get them used to be hand fed and such,
But I just picked them up and sat with them for a few minutes each day, gently stroking their head while keeping a firm hand on them so they couldn't run away,
Within about a week and a half they were easy to handle they would try to get away straight away when I held them. I had to 'chase them round the cage a little to get them but I just used to turn over their huts and get them in a corner so I could grab them with very little running around scared of me.
But I did have to handle them lots in the beginning because they had some health problems that needed sorting straight away.
One was a little nippy but I learned to angle her so she couldn't get me for the first few days.
Sometimes with Guinea pigs it's best to just get them used to being held by holding them but that's just my guinea pigs personally.
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Thanks but I'm not doing that.. that's going to cause unnecessary stress and they've come from a bad start as it is. I prefer a gentle approach not chasing them around their cage but each to their own.
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07-12-2017, 10:41 PM
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#10
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 151
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Re: The guinea pig Dilemma
They're doing a lot better, she had to clean their cage yesterday so had no choice but to get them out, it took over an hour but eventually with a lot of carrot coaxing they came out on their own and sat around the bedroom even deciding that our laps where a good place to nap.
Thank you all (again) for all the sound advice.
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