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Have you just adopted a new guinea pig, but don’t know how to get your guinea pig to trust you? Do they ever run away from you when all you want to do is bond with your guinea pigs? Guinea pigs are naturally very skittish and tend to hide because they are prey animals. They have an instinct that tells them that they are perfectly small to be prey to any predators around them.
You may be wondering things like how long does it take to bond with a guinea pig, or how do you know if a guinea pig likes you?
Here are 4 tips on how you can build a stronger relationship and make your guinea pigs like you.
1. Spend lots of time with them and be consistent
This is especially important if you own a guinea pig by him/herself. Since guinea pigs are herd animals, they are actually very social and require a lot of attention. Being consistent with interacting with them will build trust and they’ll be more likely to approach you and feel comfortable around you.
Guinea pigs are programmed to go by a routine and anything that is different may make them feel uncomfortable. Whether it be a stranger walking in the house or a new loud sound that they have never heard of, be sure to try and keep things consistent with them so that it will make bonding with guinea pigs go smoother.
2. Lay down to bond with your guinea pigs
Have some floor time sessions by laying or sitting down with your piggies to become closer to them. Get yourself a fleece liner or blanket and just let the guinea pigs explore around you and become familiar with your presence. They can be nervous, but in most cases, they will be curious about what you are doing and walk closer to you. If they trust you, they most likely will come up to sniff you or crawl onto you. It’s a great way to bond with your guinea pigs!
Our GuineaDad Liners are great for floor time sessions when you want to bond with your piggies! Whether it's for you to lay on the floor with them, or to use for veggie feeding sessions, the liners will be able to keep your floors dry and clean.
3. Hand-feed to increase bonding with guinea pigs
Hand-feeding your guinea pigs is another great way to build a sense of trust. Food to them is a positive reward so if you feed them food out of your hand, they will associate you with something positive. To keep them interested you can give your piggies different types of veggies like cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and many more (you can read about vegetables that are suitable for your guinea pigs here). You can also feed them pellets, treats or hay and see if they’ll take it straight from your hand!
Tips on hand feeding guinea pigs:
- Be sure to not be too forceful and scare them away. Getting trust from guinea pigs takes time and patience to grow.
- If they seem like they are curious but still too scared to take the treat straight from your hand, try lightly tossing over to them so that they know you want to give them the treat.
- Once they feel more comfortable, lay the treat on the palm of your hand and rest your hand on the floor. Sometimes piggies get scared by sudden movements so this way, the guinea pig is in control of walking closer.
- Try coaxing them towards you with a friendly voice.
4. Talk to them a lot (Feat. High Pitch)
Speaking to your guinea pig frequently will allow them to become more familiar with your voice and your presence. You can talk to them whenever you feed them a treat, clean their cage, wash their bottle, etc. Remember that when you do speak with them, it’s in a friendly and calm tone so as to not scare them away.
The most important thing to remember is to be patient and give them plenty of time to get your guinea pig to trust you. It may sometimes feel frustrating when you don't see any change or progress, but the reward is worth it.
Conclusion
The best way to bond with your guinea pig is as follows:
- Spend lots of time with them in a consistent manner so that you began the bonding process with your guinea pigs.
- Have some floor time with you laying or staying within the vicinity. By doing this you will familiarize yourself with your guinea pigs and in return get guinea pigs to trust you.
- Hand feed them veggies, treats, or hay. Guinea pigs just love to eat and being able to provide this will help to bond with your guinea pig.
- Talk to them frequently so that they will recognize your voice. By doing so you will be able to get your guinea pig to trust you, and continually be able to bond with guinea pigs.
Here's a video of Getting Closer to Your Guinea Pig: 4 Ways to Bond!:
19 comments
this was so helpful thank you
Hey how can I get my Guinea pig not to run from me
I have found that the more you talk to them in a sweet voice, especially while doing something that may frighten a nervous piggy like cleaning out their enclosures, or simply walking past them, really Helps and makes a huge difference in the time it takes for them to feel comfortable and confident. I also don’t start attempting to pick them up until they’re trusting and relaxed when my hand is nearby or light scratches behind the ears. The reward is worth the time and patience. It’s so wonderfully fulfilling when you see them come out of their shell and open up :) That first time they come to you, sniff your hand, give you a happy wheek, a little popcorn lol they’re the sweetest!
So I have had Mr.Pig for a while now and he is currently laying on my bed with me. But whenever I go to pick him up or even pet him he starts to teeth shatter. ANY TIPS
Good idea of being on the floor with your little creature,I’ve had Miss Piggy for only two weeks and she is very happy when I talk to her. She takes treats from my hand with no hesitation.