Taming Tips

So if you have recently got a pet guinea pig chances are it isn't very tame yet. Guinea pigs are prey animals and their instincts tell them to hide! which makes getting them to trust you sometimes difficult. Some piggies are naturally more inquisitive and more confident than others just like humans some are more shy. If your guinea pig is quite young they're usually easier to tame as they don't have much life experiences that could have frightened them, whereas when we have previously adopted pigs they have been older and not had such good starts in life. However these are some of the most rewarding pets we have had as seeing their personalities grow and their confidence increase is very heart warming. I have a few tips that might get you started on taming your new guinea pig or your old one if they're not as tame as you'd like them to be. Often on Instagram we get asked about taming and so i thought it would be good to have a more in depth post you can read at any time.

• Tip one: Housing

It is completely personal choice as to whether you keep your guinea pigs indoors, in a shed or outside. If you want them to become really tame i've found this is only really possible when they're inside. As often outside there is looks of bird noise/ cars etc which can be a bit nerve wrecking for them. When they're kept inside they also see you much more and so become used to your voice and being around people. If you do choose to house them outside its really important to spend time out with them and bring them indoors for handling ( be cautious of temperature changes between indoor and outdoor)

• Tip two: Get them used to you without picking them up

This is the most important step to taming your piggies, at first it may be difficult to hold them or even catch them in the cage. So in this case the best thing I've found is to offer treats/ fresh veggies with your hands. Get them used to seeing your hands bringing them treats and them will associate you with food! which for a piggie is a great start! Be patient remember its new to them and having giant hands reaching in the cage can be scary so give them time and talk softly to them so that they get used to you. If they begin to take food from your hands you can try stroking them in the cage its all about getting them used to you and the fact you aren't going to hurt them.

• Tip three: Handling

Once your guinea pig is getting used to its environment and new owner you can try handling. Now if they're particularly small or skittish id recommend trying to get them to walk into a fleece bed to be handled.This makes it easier to carry them. If you have other pets such as dogs and cats make sure they're out of the room incase your piggies gets frightened. I'd recommend actually holding them in a blanket/ fleece bed so they're encased in something where they feel safe. Especially if they're being handled by children its great to have them in something safe and cushioned so their nails won't press on them and also they feel safe so are less likely to wriggle. Offer treats/ veggies at handling times again as this helps build a bond and gave their trust. Make sure they're fully supported sitting flat on all for legs. 

• Tip four: Patience 

The biggest mistake i hear is people saying my piggies aren't tame, they don't like me etc. Its down the patience and time. I've had 21 pigs in my life and have never had a single one that couldn't be handled. They're not going to trust you if they're barely held or talked to getting them really tame takes a lot of hours of handling. Our Nellie was 11mths old when we got her and had barely been handled or if she had it was badly and she used to tremble so much and wriggle like mad when being picked up. She will be 3 this year and is now a completely different character she's unbelievably tame now and actually wants to be picked up. At first i thought she may never trust us or enjoy being held but with time she's learnt she is safe. If your piggie isn't enjoying being handled and is shaking talk softly to them place them back in the cage and try again the next day. The key is to keep holding them regularly.

I hope you may have found these tips helpful especially if you're a new owner, don't give up they can all be tamed to some degree it just takes plenty of love and time.

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