Taming my Girls (10mo)

[florna]

Hi, I got my girls on 29th January and I'm practicing the below taming exercises suggested by Saskia at the LA GP Rescue. I'm eager to get them used to being handled as their are both long-haired, so I need to groom them weekly, and one is underweight, so I need to weigh her regularly. I realise, however, according to some sources, this is too soon to be handling them at all, but I hope you understand my reasoning. It also makes a lot of sense what Saskia says, that getting them used to my hands and being handled is better for them in the long term as they learn that I'm safe and won't (hopefully) have to live in such fear. Here's the links:











I've been doing this since Friday with mixed results. They seem to have stopped struggling when I go to put them back in the cage, so I can let go immediately as they are calm, but catching them is still traumatic, though I speak to them lovingly as I always do and try to move slowly as is feasible as they are SO fast. They teeth-chatter at me a ton which is awful to hear as I don't want them to be stressed. They're not generally very vocal girls (no idea what they were like at their last home at the rescue) but they seem to flip back and forth between teeth-chattering and contented chutting when I have them up on my shoulder, snuggling them gently and feeding them veggies - which is confusing! They don't seem to like ANY touching that apparently "all" guinea pigs like e.g. chin and head scratches, though they will allow me to gently stroke and scratch their upper body (I stay away from the bum apart from to hold them securely!). Often, when I'm touching them they will ruffle their fur too, which seems to signal "get off", so I do. I just have no idea how to make them happy. They hide / rest a lot in their hideys when I'm around and I'm worried they're afraid of coming out when I'm here.



Can anyone please advise? I want to learn how to make them happy! I want to hear happy sounds and see some happy jumping so I know they're okay. I only seem to be getting overt negative signals at the moment.

[Bean]

I haven't got time to look at the videos now to comment on what's in them, but my gang just went nuts at the squeaking at the start of the second video - they're dashing about looking for their new friends!

It sounds like you have some pretty nervous pigs there, and coming from a rescue, you don't know what their previous experiences are. Of the pigs I have now, Reggie is the least keen on being handled (she was so wriggly at first, the rescue had specified she needed to go to an experienced home as she was difficult to handle) and she'd been rescued from a shed where dozens of pigs were running wild in pretty filthy conditions with no human interaction. So you can understand it. It takes some longer to settle in than others, and I think Reggie settling down was sped up by being around the other pigs I already had who were totally chilled out. So if you have two skittish ones, it might just take longer.

As much as some people do prefer to leave pigs to their own devices more, you do need to be able to handle them if they need nail clipping, grooming, vet visits etc, and it's so much less stressful for them if they're comfortable with being handled. So I don't think there's any issue with you having started. I normally give my new ones a few days or so, and will then start the process of having them learn to trust us.

The veggie bribes are a great idea - keep that up as it's a sure fire way to get them to relax while being handled. If I have one who's a bit nervy, I will also often wrap them in a towel so they feel a bit safer, more 'held', and they can snuggle into it if they wish. That can really help, compared to having them out in the open on your lap. Sometimes with nervous ones, it can also help to offer them a bit of cucumber (or something tasty) before picking them up, as the cucumber will have their attention, and they'll be less likely to skitter off!

But it's really early days, and it can take weeks or even months for pigs to warm up, so don't worry that you're not seeing much in the way of change yet. It sounds like you're doing a great job, but I totally understand that it's hard when you feel like you're traumatising them. For me, I find keeping handling sessions short at first, and ending them before they get restless (so at the start, veggies bribes consumed and back!), really helps.

I'll try to watch the videos later so I can respond more specifically.

P.S. I have met very few guinea pigs who genuinely enjoy a chin scratch, and I think most of the videos I've seen of guinea pigs supposedly enjoying them are just them tolerating it. Most of mine enjoy a nose rub, but not Reggie - she'll throw her head back in outrage if anyone tries! So just go with what feels right when you're petting your girls, once they relax a bit you'll soon be able to decipher what's working.

[florna]

Thank you so much for your lengthy reply!  I appreciate you taking the time.  This makes me feel so much better.  Just want to check though, whenever I'm near them they scatter and teeth chatter at me, which feels like a huge step back from the very early days of having them when they weren't being handled - they seem far less pleased to see me now!  Do I still need to persist as it's for their own benefit long term?  Part of me wishes to leave them along if they're so annoyed at me but then, we'll never move forward if I don't teach them that being handled is safe...

(No expectation to watch the videos btw, just thought some people might recognise these taming videos by the thumbnails)

[Bean]

So I've kind of skimmed watched the videos now, and am unsure of those sort of tactics, it's just so different to how I've always done things, which is working much more slowly to really earn their trust rather than imposing my will upon them. I don't doubt it will speed up the process of them accepting being handled, but I would think you would need to be an experienced and confident guinea pig handler to actually do it in the way she's doing it, rather than in a way which could cause the guinea pig unnecessary discomfort or stress.

In the situation a rescue is in, where if they can make large numbers of guinea pigs accept handling really quickly, it means more homes more quickly, and therefore more space to help other pigs, I can see it's a tactic that would help. But I just don't think I'd be comfortable doing it in an 'at home' situation.

Reggie was far worse than the girl in the second video when we got her, a total bucking bronco, and she's now totally fine when you go to pick her up, and will enjoy a bit of a fussing and a treat when she's out too. But she certainly lets you know when she's had enough of anything (often with a good head nudge) and we respect that. I really like that while she obviously enjoys some handling, she also feels able to let us know when she's not in the mood and won't simply tolerate it because she accepts that we hold more power - I think it's key to the trust she has in us. I've had pigs that I can tell will just put up with being handled past when they want to be, and that always makes me feel kind of sad for them (obviously we pay attention to those subtle signals, but others might not).

I'd say if your girls are chattering at you now, after a few days of doing this technique, then maybe it's not working for them right now, and you should follow your instincts. I think regularly handling them and giving them veggie treats will certainly calm them down, even if it's not a quick fix. But maybe in a way that feels more comfortable for you too? And I've always provided some kind of coverage on my lap (like a towel) too if I think they will appreciate it - they're prey animals so it's a natural instinct to want to hide and then feel into safety from there. I don't think allowing them that will hold them back.

I always find offering them veggie treats in the cage is a really great way of getting them to feel comfortable approaching you too. Not so you can grab them straight away, but just so they learn that good things happen when you're there and that they can relax around you.

Anyway, good luck, I hope you can find a way that suits both you and them, but it's still early days, so please don't think there's anything wrong if they're not really chilled out yet. It can take time, and more so the older they are as you've potentially got more time of them not trusting people to overcome. But you're clearly kind, caring and patient, I'm sure you'll all get there!

[3piggles]

I can't really comment on the videos. I think the important thing is to get to know your pigs and give each the treatment they respond to most positively. Yes, I realize they most positively respond to being left alone and fed a lot of treats, so obviously you have to overlook that I start handling my pigs from the very beginning. Nothing fancy, no chin scratches or behind-the-ear scratches, just handling. They aren't trapped and can move around. I do it for short periods so they don't get bored and fussy. Also, it's important to find a way to catch them/pick them up that doesn't involve dangling their feet. That's how predators would catch and carry them. If you have a store-bought cage, try removing the roof. If you have a C&C cage, have enough of an opening to be able to reach them gently and noninvasively. Most pigs hate being picked up, even if they like being held, so getting past the picking up is important. Good luck

Also, if they are very nervous, try having a towel or piece of fleece they can hide under, while you're holding them. You can still pet them through the fabric, so they know they haven't escaped, but they can also get the security they need, and will come out when they feel confident enough. It could take days/weeks or even months, but at least while you're holding them, they don't feel exposed and scared.