I just got two female GPs last week. They freak out when I even come near the cage. The short haired isn't quite as bad, but the Abyssinian goes berzerk. I don't mistreat them and I take the time to cuddle them everyday. I feel so bad about it. How long did it take for your pigs to get used to you? Did you do anything special to help this process along?
2006-12-15 07:33:48 · 4 answers · asked by zoointheburbs 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
No former owners. They were purchased from my local Petco and they are 12 weeks old.
2006-12-15 07:51:06 · update #1
That's completely normal behavior. Guinea pigs are prey animals, and their instincts tell them to run immediately from anything that may be a danger.
More than likely, they'll always run under a pigloo when you come to the cage. Most guinea pigs do. It's as ingrained in their instincts as a cat sharpening it's claws or a dog chasing a rabbit. They may overcome this with time, patience, and lots of treats, but don't take it personally if they don't.
2006-12-15 07:41:07 · answer #1 · answered by Lotus Effect 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you remember where you got them? What was their life like before you got them?
Were there children in the house?
Maybe they were from a pet shop in an area where people had the opportunity to torture and poke at them?
Or were they raised without much human contact?
All these things can make them get kinda scared of people
Just remember that you need to go up to their cage regardless of how theyre acting. Maybe start out just feeding them through the bars of their cage from your hand and then working up to feeding them without the safety of the bars separating them from you.
The more you pay attention to your piggies, the more they'll warm up to you and other people. Treat them well and feed them lots of veggies ;)
2006-12-15 15:47:09 · answer #2 · answered by Starlight*Angel 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They may just take time to get used of you, as others have said, but also they all have their own personalities. We have two, and one will greet us and loves any attention. The other freaks when we come near her. She likes to be petted, but trying to pick her up is always a trick, that's just the way she is. Both were young when we got them, both from the same pet store. Both got plenty of attention from the start....so it just boils down to tempermant/personality.
2006-12-16 02:57:57 · answer #3 · answered by tina 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you just have to slowly get them used to you. my gf's still dosnet like my hand in the cage so it may be awhile but it takes alot of time
2006-12-15 16:48:36 · answer #4 · answered by andy s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋