My guinea pig was 5 months old when I got him. I've had him for 4 weeks now. He seems content and happy, but he just does not like me. I talk to him constantly. When I walk by his cage, he runs into the far corner. When I feed him, he won't take anything from my hand. He sits in the corner and waits for me to walk away before he'll eat anything. When I try to pick him up, he runs laps around his cage until I can catch him. When I hold him, he freezes like he's scared. Then he tries to break free from me. I took him to the vet to have his nails clipped. The doctor did a full checkup and said he's good and healthy. She showed me how to pet and rub my guinea pig. But, when I pet him at home, he won't calm down enough to enjoy it. I live by myself and have no other pets. So, there's nothing around that would scare him. Will he ever warm up to me? After 4 weeks, I thought he'd be used to me by now.
2007-04-26 05:23:20 · 9 answers · asked by ☆skyblue 7 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
As far as pets go, I have always had guinea pigs. They need a lot of time to learn to trust someone. It takes a lot of effort, talking to him, playing with him, just rubbing him and not trying to hold him, feeding him treats. Also, its important to know that all guinea pigs have strikingly different personalities. I have had one guinea pig for a little over a year, witchdoctor, and he is very social, crazy out going, he loves to play and get into trouble, and he often calls for me to cuddle with him. He really trusts me, but I would spend hours and hours with him at first and it just took time to gain his trust. In november I got witchdoctor a brother, blackbird, who I rescued from a bad home where the people didnt know how to take care of guinea pigs and would let their cats paw at him through the cage. He was very unsocial and scared of everything. I couldnt touch him or feed him and when I held him he would freeze in fright too. In the past 6mths he has opened up a lot and enjoys playing and being rubbed and he has warmed to me a lot. I feel like I have finally earned his trust. Im sure your guinea pig will like you. Four weeks might seem like a long time, but just keep paying him attention and he will come around. He just sounds a little shy.
2007-04-26 05:47:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to give it time. The most important thing to do is hold him every day. It's the only way that he will get used to it. Start a routine, and after you play with him, put his dinner so he'll learn that playtime is good. Another suggestion would be to get him a friend. Guinea pigs really are social pets, and do much better in pairs. He's probably a tad lonely.
2007-04-26 07:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Guinea pigs are traditionally skittish animals. You will never have him where he's not so timid as to not run for cover when you come up to the cage. Its the nature of the beast.
However, if you pick him up and cuddle him, he will become more and more tame, and with time, you may even be able to coax him with food into a hand-feeding scenario.
My last guinea was always happy to see me come home, but she NEVER liked to be touched...it was just the way she was.
I've moved on to rabbits and hamsters...they're far more personable.
2007-04-26 05:28:55 · answer #3 · answered by Brutally Honest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to show your guinea pig that all you want to is be friends with it. He should get use to you after a while but if he doesn't, then ignore it for a few days and see if he misses you.
2007-04-26 05:30:55 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give it some time.maybe he is afraid because he doesn't know you well, like his past owners who had him for 5 months.pets just don't like you overnight, let him get adjusted to you, maybe don't try to overwhelm him so much, maybe just call his name and hold out your hand, try to make him feel comfortable as well
2007-04-26 05:29:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my hamster the same way you have to let him smell u so leave your hand in there and let him get calm enough to come over and smell your hand
2007-04-26 05:59:25 · answer #6 · answered by manateelovr3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea just treat it right okay so dont get all depressed since there not used to humans
2007-04-26 05:27:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I AM SURE YOUR GUINEA PIG WILL LIKE YOU SOON.
2007-04-26 05:31:37 · answer #8 · answered by geoffcantley12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea
2007-04-26 05:26:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋