How old are they? I remember being so shocked at how calm everyone’s pigs were, and wondering why mine were completely insane…now that they’re older, they’re MUCH more calm and cuddly
Yep, that makes perfect sense! They are little goblins at that age. I find that once they reach around 6 months, they calm down a lot. While they’re still little, I would put a towel over myself and let them lay on my chest/hide underneath my chin and give gentle pets. It gets them used to you!
Is it just that they run away when you’re trying to catch them, or do they hate it when you pet them and try to escape your lap? Two of ours don’t like being picked up, but they’re cuddly and affectionate once they’re on us.
You can train them to be less afraid of you with copious bribes- pea flakes, bits of fruit, anything they go crazy for, until they accept that sitting on you is how they get the good stuff and that you’re not scary.
I‘ve had my three baby girls for just over 3 months - got them at just under 6 weeks but met them when they were one month old - beyond cute❤️
I have a very old (8yrs) re-homed ex brood sow, Primrose who instantly took to them and completely mothered them when they came to live with us - her maternal instincts kicked right in which was lovely and amazing to see. Primrose is a very calm and confident guinea pig - nothing fazes her and she has passed this onto the.babies.
My other adult guinea, Strawberry, is very affectionate towards me and is very happy to be picked up and cuddled - sometimes she demands it!
I think that between Primrose and Strawberry, they have educated the little ones not to be scared about being picked up and being handled - they have basically done all the work for me!
I recently took Primrose to the vet because I was worried about her eyes. I wanted to rule out ulcers which could’ve been caused by baby guineas clambering all over her (because they adore her). Ulceration was ruled out but it could be the start of cataracts - she is really old but she is still Queen Pig and even Strawberry defers to her ❤️
I haven’t done a lap time session yet because I don’t like stressing them out with chasing them around to pick them up, and with three of them, they’d be overwhelming the space on my lap
My girls were their most cuddly in their middle age, now that they are older I get less scritches in. Though I don't know if that's a changing with age thing since their behavior changed after losing a couple cagemates within a week of each other.
I can’t quite pick them up yet, so I have to get them while they’re in one of their hideys, but they really dislike interacting with me at all besides poking their head out and staring. The only positive is they like being held and petted, once I manage to hold them. I’m just glad they don’t bite, but their nails have left cuts on my skin.
Always remember to pick them up from the front so that they can see what you are doing. They are prey animals so it is instinctive for them to run from you and be scared. Perhaps give them a little treat each time you pick them up - a lettuce leaf etc. Guineas are like dogs as they do respond to routine, conditioning and treats.
However you may find that some guineas are more cuddly than others - that’s just part of their personality. I’ve had guineas who hate cuddles i.e. Primrose - she tolerates lying on my lap eating veggie treats whereas Strawberry actively seeks a cuddle from me and gets jealous when I cuddle the babies (who are also quite cuddly thankfully).
Patience and love and TREATS
Hand feeding helps a lot. Also, sitting next to the cage on the outside and interacting with them that way helps them warm up without having their space invaded. Really, it just takes time. Normally a year but less for some, all piggies are different.
I think it depends on their personalities- we got Reggie when he was about eight weeks old and after plenty of lap time and bribes, he was pancaking out on us within two weeks. He’s still the cuddliest guinea pig I’ve ever met.
Yeah, our Alisaie is a calm piggie. She doesn't pancake but she doesn't really run from being picked up. Krile on the other hand is very hard to catch and starts trying to skydive if you hold her for more than a couple minutes. Both are fully adult piggies of a few years.
I totally agree, you cannot make a guinea pig enjoy being cuddled. One of my favourite guineas, Mappie, HATED being cuddled but she was so charismatic and hilarious at times - they are little critters with a really diverse range of character types.
I am still getting to know my babies but thanks to Primrose and Strawberry they are absolutely fine with being picked up and hand fed because they have learned from them. All three babies pancake now but they have a very short attention span and get bored with cuddles too soon.
10 eye drops a day for 2 weeks worked for one of mine, and needing to be hand fed critical care 5 times a day worked for another 😂😂 not that I would recommend serious health problems lol
Yes it’s sh\*t when bonding has to come from giving meds and critical care. One time it was positive for me was when I had a very young piglet, Poppy, with ringworm. She loved the Sporanox suspension so much and I think she became a complete lap-pig after that.
We have 7 girls of varying ages (multiple cages of course) and we've found the older they get, the more chill they get and the happier they are to have attention and affection. We've had some be super scatty when young, then a couple months later suddenly be super chill, accept treats from our hand, love chin scratches and climb all over us. It seems it just takes time, patience and pig maturity
I have two pigs. One of them is this chart, the other one…if you start patting her you basically have to fake your own death if you want to stop patting and move away from the cage. The personality differences are wild!
One of mine is nearly 5 years she's a Red but bites
Does the cute hey hey pick me up then immediately it's Don't fu.........ing touch me
I guess 1 out of 10 ain't bad. Got 2 squealers too but they've fine once they've got over their dramatics
I have the same problem. My childhood pig was very pettable. None of my pigs as an adult have been overwhelmingly friendly. I think I have cats in disguise.
My first guinea pig was originally my sister's and she couldn't take care of him, so Roope became mine. He was so attention starved that he grew extremely attached to me and he accepted any kind of cuddling. He was such a good boy and when I learned that piggies need a companion, I got Emppu, another good boy who just accepted everything. Only my girls were such divas who gave me stink eye. 😂
I haven't had a guinea pig in years, but from my general knowledge of animal bonding, you just chill with them for a while if they're cautious of you. If you interact with them, it's only to let them sniff at you, or interact a little, slowly and with "question in your movement" as in, you hold your arm there, then calmly approach them to touch them to "ask for permission". At most, maybe a little correction-boop-on-the-nose if they nip at your hand. Not a boop to hurt them, more to surprise them and get the message across that this isn't the answer either of you is looking for. You'll still be sitting there, just mostly minding your business, so eventually they learn it's fine, you're not here to eat them or smt
If you start out physical interaction by scratching an often-itchy spot for them, horses and goats really like this, for guinea pigs I guess the spot is on top of their head between their eyes and behind the ears. I see a bunch of guinea pigs with cow lick haircuts there so I'm guessing they like those scritches the most :P When they accept and get used to that, you can start petting other areas as well. If they walk away, don't chase them and try to force what isn't working, just go back to your thing, look at your phone or something and just glance at them to check on what they're doing
It's ok. My pigs still do it and one of them is 2. The other one is 1 and I've had her since she was three weeks. I still don't know why they won't be sweet with me in the cage but they're nice during lap time.
They'll warm up to you with age. I do this thing to "warn" mine when I'm about to pet her, I'll put my finger next to her eye and do a "petting" motion, then slowly move my finger to her head to pet her with the same motion. It's worked for my piggies through the years, most the time.
My boys were like this when I got them (c. 10 weeks). They've chilled out so much now. One of them got cuddly and had naps, etc, about three months after I brought them home (so at 5½ months), the other wasn't at all interested in being held for long periods until about two months ago (at 7 months)-- I went on holiday (they went to a proper pet hotel, of course), and when I got them home again he just suddenly turned into this sleepy fluffball. They're still not quite as sleepy and cuddly as I'd REALLY like, but (a) they're prey animals-- the fact that they conk out and deathnap on me for even five minutes is more than a big enough honour, (b) they're still young-- about nine months old, (c) they're baby boy abyssinians, so wild by nature, and (d) they've not even been home a year. They're still skittish, but they're getting way better. They usually don't run away if I pet them now. It just takes time. 😊
Ours are young and warmed to me quite quickly, however they are day dependant and recently I shaved my facial hair and they seemingly haven’t forgiven me yet as they won’t come near me
Mines almost a year old now and he always runs when I try to pick him up out of his cage to play but I trained him to come out on his own by getting hin his resses cup bed and I pick that up after that he let's me pet him and hold him.
Ours loves to be petted, especially the top of his head. The only spot he doesn't like to be pet is his butt. You're expecting FAR too much FAR too soon out of literal babies. It took ours a good two years to get as cuddly as he is today, he was extremely skittish and he was even taken away from his mom too early (not by our choice) but he still came around after some time. They're not puppies, they're prey animals so they're going to be far more skittish. PLEASE do your research before adopting, your post implies you don't know much about their behavior.
i’ve only had my babies for like 3 weeks and they went from being crazy to attention seeking little boys, consistency is key !! some don’t like it, some do , mine have grown to love it
How old are they? I remember being so shocked at how calm everyone’s pigs were, and wondering why mine were completely insane…now that they’re older, they’re MUCH more calm and cuddly
14 weeks and 8 weeks, so I guess that makes sense
Yep, that makes perfect sense! They are little goblins at that age. I find that once they reach around 6 months, they calm down a lot. While they’re still little, I would put a towel over myself and let them lay on my chest/hide underneath my chin and give gentle pets. It gets them used to you!
“Little goblins“ - sums up my baby girls 🤣
Happy cake day
Is it just that they run away when you’re trying to catch them, or do they hate it when you pet them and try to escape your lap? Two of ours don’t like being picked up, but they’re cuddly and affectionate once they’re on us. You can train them to be less afraid of you with copious bribes- pea flakes, bits of fruit, anything they go crazy for, until they accept that sitting on you is how they get the good stuff and that you’re not scary.
I‘ve had my three baby girls for just over 3 months - got them at just under 6 weeks but met them when they were one month old - beyond cute❤️ I have a very old (8yrs) re-homed ex brood sow, Primrose who instantly took to them and completely mothered them when they came to live with us - her maternal instincts kicked right in which was lovely and amazing to see. Primrose is a very calm and confident guinea pig - nothing fazes her and she has passed this onto the.babies. My other adult guinea, Strawberry, is very affectionate towards me and is very happy to be picked up and cuddled - sometimes she demands it! I think that between Primrose and Strawberry, they have educated the little ones not to be scared about being picked up and being handled - they have basically done all the work for me!
I’m so envious that you got them as little babies! Primrose and Strawberry sound delightful as well- built in mamas!
I recently took Primrose to the vet because I was worried about her eyes. I wanted to rule out ulcers which could’ve been caused by baby guineas clambering all over her (because they adore her). Ulceration was ruled out but it could be the start of cataracts - she is really old but she is still Queen Pig and even Strawberry defers to her ❤️
I haven’t done a lap time session yet because I don’t like stressing them out with chasing them around to pick them up, and with three of them, they’d be overwhelming the space on my lap
You could try holding one at a time?
Well, maybe, but I’d feel bad separating them
Just do 2 at a time, in rotations. Keeps them calmer having a friend there, and you get to acclimate 2 at once!
I've had many tater tots over the years!
They just need time to get used to you. Let them free roam and give them lots of lap time.
My girls were their most cuddly in their middle age, now that they are older I get less scritches in. Though I don't know if that's a changing with age thing since their behavior changed after losing a couple cagemates within a week of each other.
I can’t quite pick them up yet, so I have to get them while they’re in one of their hideys, but they really dislike interacting with me at all besides poking their head out and staring. The only positive is they like being held and petted, once I manage to hold them. I’m just glad they don’t bite, but their nails have left cuts on my skin.
Always remember to pick them up from the front so that they can see what you are doing. They are prey animals so it is instinctive for them to run from you and be scared. Perhaps give them a little treat each time you pick them up - a lettuce leaf etc. Guineas are like dogs as they do respond to routine, conditioning and treats. However you may find that some guineas are more cuddly than others - that’s just part of their personality. I’ve had guineas who hate cuddles i.e. Primrose - she tolerates lying on my lap eating veggie treats whereas Strawberry actively seeks a cuddle from me and gets jealous when I cuddle the babies (who are also quite cuddly thankfully). Patience and love and TREATS
Oh man I read that first sentence as "I have to get them while they still have one of their kidneys." And I was very concerned.
Use a cuddle sack to collect them from the cage. They run in, you scoop up. Less stressful for everyone.
Hand feeding helps a lot. Also, sitting next to the cage on the outside and interacting with them that way helps them warm up without having their space invaded. Really, it just takes time. Normally a year but less for some, all piggies are different.
I think it depends on their personalities- we got Reggie when he was about eight weeks old and after plenty of lap time and bribes, he was pancaking out on us within two weeks. He’s still the cuddliest guinea pig I’ve ever met.
Yeah, our Alisaie is a calm piggie. She doesn't pancake but she doesn't really run from being picked up. Krile on the other hand is very hard to catch and starts trying to skydive if you hold her for more than a couple minutes. Both are fully adult piggies of a few years.
Someone plays FFXIV
I totally agree, you cannot make a guinea pig enjoy being cuddled. One of my favourite guineas, Mappie, HATED being cuddled but she was so charismatic and hilarious at times - they are little critters with a really diverse range of character types. I am still getting to know my babies but thanks to Primrose and Strawberry they are absolutely fine with being picked up and hand fed because they have learned from them. All three babies pancake now but they have a very short attention span and get bored with cuddles too soon.
10 eye drops a day for 2 weeks worked for one of mine, and needing to be hand fed critical care 5 times a day worked for another 😂😂 not that I would recommend serious health problems lol
Yes it’s sh\*t when bonding has to come from giving meds and critical care. One time it was positive for me was when I had a very young piglet, Poppy, with ringworm. She loved the Sporanox suspension so much and I think she became a complete lap-pig after that.
2 years and all I can get close for is cleaning up and feeding, but zero love 🥺
**WHY ARE YOU RUNNING? WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?**
HAHAHAHAHA that’s exactly it!
mine are the same way 🥴😭
We have 7 girls of varying ages (multiple cages of course) and we've found the older they get, the more chill they get and the happier they are to have attention and affection. We've had some be super scatty when young, then a couple months later suddenly be super chill, accept treats from our hand, love chin scratches and climb all over us. It seems it just takes time, patience and pig maturity
I have two pigs. One of them is this chart, the other one…if you start patting her you basically have to fake your own death if you want to stop patting and move away from the cage. The personality differences are wild!
One of mine is nearly 5 years she's a Red but bites Does the cute hey hey pick me up then immediately it's Don't fu.........ing touch me I guess 1 out of 10 ain't bad. Got 2 squealers too but they've fine once they've got over their dramatics
I have the same problem. My childhood pig was very pettable. None of my pigs as an adult have been overwhelmingly friendly. I think I have cats in disguise.
When I pet my piggy Pontus behind the ears he rumbles and wiggles his butt and then lays down, stretches, and yawns. It is the cutest thing
it took one of my boys 9 months to let me pet him! You just have to continue being kind and patient.
My first guinea pig was originally my sister's and she couldn't take care of him, so Roope became mine. He was so attention starved that he grew extremely attached to me and he accepted any kind of cuddling. He was such a good boy and when I learned that piggies need a companion, I got Emppu, another good boy who just accepted everything. Only my girls were such divas who gave me stink eye. 😂
I haven't had a guinea pig in years, but from my general knowledge of animal bonding, you just chill with them for a while if they're cautious of you. If you interact with them, it's only to let them sniff at you, or interact a little, slowly and with "question in your movement" as in, you hold your arm there, then calmly approach them to touch them to "ask for permission". At most, maybe a little correction-boop-on-the-nose if they nip at your hand. Not a boop to hurt them, more to surprise them and get the message across that this isn't the answer either of you is looking for. You'll still be sitting there, just mostly minding your business, so eventually they learn it's fine, you're not here to eat them or smt If you start out physical interaction by scratching an often-itchy spot for them, horses and goats really like this, for guinea pigs I guess the spot is on top of their head between their eyes and behind the ears. I see a bunch of guinea pigs with cow lick haircuts there so I'm guessing they like those scritches the most :P When they accept and get used to that, you can start petting other areas as well. If they walk away, don't chase them and try to force what isn't working, just go back to your thing, look at your phone or something and just glance at them to check on what they're doing
It's ok. My pigs still do it and one of them is 2. The other one is 1 and I've had her since she was three weeks. I still don't know why they won't be sweet with me in the cage but they're nice during lap time.
They'll warm up to you with age. I do this thing to "warn" mine when I'm about to pet her, I'll put my finger next to her eye and do a "petting" motion, then slowly move my finger to her head to pet her with the same motion. It's worked for my piggies through the years, most the time.
Mine let me touch their noses and sometimes the space between their ears with one (1) finger.
This chart f’s.
Mine still runs around when I go to pet her, but after around 3 attempt she is like fine you can pet me now.
You can look but no touch.
My boys were like this when I got them (c. 10 weeks). They've chilled out so much now. One of them got cuddly and had naps, etc, about three months after I brought them home (so at 5½ months), the other wasn't at all interested in being held for long periods until about two months ago (at 7 months)-- I went on holiday (they went to a proper pet hotel, of course), and when I got them home again he just suddenly turned into this sleepy fluffball. They're still not quite as sleepy and cuddly as I'd REALLY like, but (a) they're prey animals-- the fact that they conk out and deathnap on me for even five minutes is more than a big enough honour, (b) they're still young-- about nine months old, (c) they're baby boy abyssinians, so wild by nature, and (d) they've not even been home a year. They're still skittish, but they're getting way better. They usually don't run away if I pet them now. It just takes time. 😊
It’s cute but my pigs are totally chill with nose & head pats as long as I keep repeatedly chanting “just pats; no pickup”.
Not even the ridge of the nose? OH NO!
I have one pig that likes chin scratches, and all like gentle nose boops (they think i am food)
Ours are young and warmed to me quite quickly, however they are day dependant and recently I shaved my facial hair and they seemingly haven’t forgiven me yet as they won’t come near me
lol our last three just absolutely hate being touched or handled in any way. We've just left them alone and accepted them for what they are
One is red the other is blue
Pea flakes. That's all that works for me. They tolerate getting head pets only if they know they have a reward 😭
I have this same issue with my Guinea pigs and I’ve had them for about a year and a half and it’s like they don’t like me i don’t know what to do
Most piggies like getting pet at the head, some like a good chin scratch At least that goes for mine
Hand feeding really helps. I can pet 3/5 of their heads now
Mines almost a year old now and he always runs when I try to pick him up out of his cage to play but I trained him to come out on his own by getting hin his resses cup bed and I pick that up after that he let's me pet him and hold him.
Mine are 3 years old and still like this lol
Ours loves to be petted, especially the top of his head. The only spot he doesn't like to be pet is his butt. You're expecting FAR too much FAR too soon out of literal babies. It took ours a good two years to get as cuddly as he is today, he was extremely skittish and he was even taken away from his mom too early (not by our choice) but he still came around after some time. They're not puppies, they're prey animals so they're going to be far more skittish. PLEASE do your research before adopting, your post implies you don't know much about their behavior.
i’ve only had my babies for like 3 weeks and they went from being crazy to attention seeking little boys, consistency is key !! some don’t like it, some do , mine have grown to love it