"Disciplining" a guinea pig

[Whimsy]

My guinea pig Melvin has always been a bit of a biter and will almost always nip at my shirts, so I basically have specific guinea shirts as I call them, where it's ok if he chews on them. It used to be when I pick him up, but lately he's getting worse. When I have him out on the couch with me, he has started to come over and nip on my sleeves or something else and I don't know why. I have tried feeding him something and sometimes it helps, but often it doesn't. It's getting kind of annoying, so I'm wondering how you try to discipline a guinea pig - if it's even possible?

[3piggles]

Most pigs nip as babies, but outgrow it. It's a way of communicating something important to you, just as baby humans cry because they don't have words to express what's wrong. If he's getting worse, I tend to think it's one of three things.

First, if he's an any pain or discomfort, he will bite to tell you that. That would include if he has to go to the bathroom, as guinea pigs don't like to go to the bathroom on their people or the furniture. He could be asking to go back in the cage so he can pee, and if he feels you've missed all the other signs he's given you, he may be desperate enough to bite you to get your attention. Try giving him a place to pee or hide, by having a cuddle cup or snuggle sack where he can go in and out as he wants to. Also try using a cuddle cup as a conveyance to get him out of the cage, put him back in and keep it nearby while he's out of the cage. He'll relate that cuddle cup to cage/safety, and that added sense of security might be all he needs.

Second, if there's something about the environment he doesn't like. Have you added something that might have a smell or texture he doesn't like, or put something where he likes to go? It may seem totally insignificant to you, but be very significant to him. Try changing somethings, or removing anything you've recently added, and see if that works. Again, having the conveyance cuddle cup handy for him to use as a hidey or to pee, could be the comfort factor he needs.

Third, he's trying to be the boss, using biting as way to dominate you. Some pigs nip other pigs to remind them who's boss. Try the first two options, having the cuddle cup there for him. If that doesn't work, and you know he's not in any pain or discomfort, then it's most likely a dominance issues. You need to stymie him every time he tries to bite you. Watch him closely, and be prepared to pick him up in a way that he can't get his teeth near enough to bite your clothing or you. Perhaps pick him up with one hand under his armpits, and one under his butt. Hold him just far enough away from you that he can't bite you, and when you snuggle him, point him away from you, so again, he can't get your clothes. He should learn quickly that you're not going to let him get away with dominating you, and stop trying.

Good luck, and I hope you figure out what's causing it

[jolovespiggies]

Oh dear, naughty piggy. I hope he gets out of it soon hun. Great post as usual Piggles love.

Hugs
JO xx

[Whimsy]

Thank you for the answers. I'm leaning toward the dominance thing, because of a few things. I don't think anything has changed in the environment, he always has a snuggle bag he can go into and he pretty much pees whenever he wants, which is why I have him in two blankets. Because he is losing weight, I am syringe feeding him and it usually happens when we sit on the couch. Sometimes when he starts nipping, I offer him some more food and it works. Other times it doesn't work.
I think I read something about blowing a little air in his face once, to let him know it's not ok whatever he is doing. It works for about 2 seconds and then he nips again. I will try the picking him up option and see what happens. I can't let him be the boss....I mean he is only about 850 grams!! I should be able to boss him around a bit :-)

[Bean]

How is his health in general? With him having the tumour, if he's still losing weight (and especially if he still has soft poos), it really would be wise to have him assessed by the vet to make sure he is doing okay. I know the vet's tests weren't conclusive before, but to me biting is often a sign of agitation or frustration and it might be that he's simply not comfortable, so exaggerating a behaviour he's done before which gives him some release.

If I were getting nipped, I'd probably just put them back in the cage - if he's getting veggie treats when he's out with you, he probably won't like it getting cut short. If he genuinely doesn't want to be handled that might not bother him, but if he's a pig who's previously enjoyed coming out with you, I'd be looking to find out why that's changed - could it be that being moved or in different positions than he's used to is causing discomfort? This may not also work given that you need him to be eating as much as possible if he's losing weight, so don't want to dent him extra veg by returning him without them.

I hope it's just a behavioural issue, but our pigs are so good at hiding illnesses, that they can easily be in a lot more discomfort than we realise. So given there are existing health issues with continued weight loss, I'd really be wanting to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Good luck anyway, I know you love this little guy to bits and want him to be happy.

[Whimsy]

I do think it's behavioral, but of course I can't be sure. This morning when I had him out, he didn't nip at my clothes at all, so that's good. Last night he did and I ended up putting him back in his cage. It's almost like he's losing patience with being out, but I don't know for sure, because sometimes he is good for quite a while and sometimes he seems restless.
His overall health hasn't really changed much since we found the tumor. His weight seems to stabilize for a bit and then he will lose weight again, then stabilize and then lose...etc. Overall he is obviously still losing weight slowly, but seems happy. I know guinea pigs can hide when they're not well, so I'm really trying to keep an eye on him. He eats well and seems happy and just as thought his poo was getting a little firmer, I just found some pretty soft poop in his cage when I got home from work.
If the nipping is behavioral, I can obviously live with it. I was more curious of what techniques to use when you try disciplining piggies. If it's a sign of some other health problems, then it's a whole other story. I will keep trying different things to teach him nipping my clothes is not acceptable and if it continues, I will take him to the vet again.

[Bean]

I've only generally had pigs nip at my clothes when they want to go back to the cage for a wee. Or if they have a skin condition or something else that's making them a bit uncomfortable.

But if you think it's purely behavioural, I'd probably just go with putting him back when he's doing it. It might be a sign he wants to go back for whatever reason. If he's quite comfortable, enjoys being out and is doing it without thinking, he'll eventually connect up that doing it is ending his lap time (it can take a while, some are brighter than others!) and hopefully cut back on it.

Has he got things in his cage that he can chew and pull with his teeth, if that's a sensation he enjoys? Get it out of his system in more productive ways! I just mean like cardboard tubes stuffed with hay or cardboard boxes to destroy. I received a delivery with the 'paper snakes' yesterday (the long thick brown paper packing) and my lot have been having a great time with those - chewing them, pulling them around, hiding under them and rearranging them as internal walls!

Cadders can be a bit of a bar chewer at mealtimes (when he hears the food is coming) so when he does that, we just don't give him the food until he's stopped biting the bars (unless we're about to go out). It reduces the association and stops him thinking him chewing the bars makes the food come. They can definitely learn associations.

[3piggles]

Considering that he is sick, he may just feel more comfortable in the cage than out. If he has a good time out of the cage, he may be feeling better than he is when he starts pulling on your clothes. Cancer patients have good and bad days. Know Morty did. He didn't always want to be picked up or taken out of the cage, but he always wanted attention. I just tried to figure out what type he wanted each time. I think the best you can do is to let him tell you when he's uncomfortable, and let him go back in the cage where he's comfortable.

[jolovespiggies]

How is he doing love?

Hugs
Jo xx

[Whimsy]

He's doing ok. Some days he nips more than others, so I'll probably just go with what 3piggles said and "listen" to Melvin and do what he wants. I just want him to be happy :-)

[3piggles]

Considering he's having good and not so good days, just as Morty did, I think that's a good choice. Morty started nipping when I picked him up, if he didn't want to be picked up. We can't tell how they feel, and as you said, they do their best to hide pain and disability, so I figured if Morty tried to nip me, he was in no condition to be picked up. I always felt guilty when I had to pick him up anyway, to give him his meds, but I did use the cuddle cup as often as possible, so I never put pressure on his body.

[Whimsy]

There's nothing really new to report on Melvin. He still seems fine, but doesn't seem to like staying out on the couch as long as he used to. He starts nipping at my clothes fairly quickly and then I just put him back in his cage. The other day he was out on the floor and he was apparently in a really good mood. He was sprinting around doing zoomies, which made me really happy. He doesn't do that very often, so it was really cool to see. I'm going to attach a picture of him in the window of his newest card board house :-) There's also one of him eating some Critical Care.

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[jolovespiggies]

Oh bless him, what cute photos. Isn't it lovely when the zoomies/popcorn, it is as if they are jumping for joy and we know they are alright?

Hugs
JO xx

[Bean]

Gorgeous pictures! Must have been lovely seeing the zoomies too.

[3piggles]

Aw, he's still looking great Glad he found the oomph to do some zoomies, and that he likes the critical care. Can't say I've ever had a pig who would just take it that way, and not need some encouragement. Signs of a happy guinea guy

[Whimsy]

Thanks. He quite likes the Critical Care and so far I haven't had to force him to eat it. Sometimes I'll even leave a little in a bowl for him and he eats that too. He will actually come over and put his front legs on my legs when I'm getting the syringe ready. I think he really likes the baby food I mix it with :-)

[3piggles]

I found the baby food was much more successful than the fruit juices. I'm so glad he likes it. That makes feeding him so much easier

I'm also really glad that he's enjoying his life. Morty did until very close to the end, and I will always be glad that I let him have that time

[jolovespiggies]

That sounds gorgeous Whimsy love, I am glad he is enjoying it and it is easy for you to give to him.

Hugs
JO xx