Help! i need advice on guinea pigs...how long does it take them to fully trust you?

Guinea pigs are nervous creatures at the best of times but persistence in handling them pays dividends. Take them a treat in the form of fresh green when you go out to handle them and they will usually come to you for it, they then learn that if they come when they hear you coming to the hutch they get a reward. Try whistleing like they do as you approach the hutch and they will not be as frightened. Allways do every thing calmley never panic, if you are nervous the animal will be nervous as well. Be confident when you take hold of any pig so that they feel safe and will not wriggle. Try to supprt thier legs when you are carrying them about, they do not feel safe if their legs are dangling in mid air and not on something solid. Do all this regulary and they should calm down in a couple of weeks.I have kept pigs for nearly 50 years and now sell them in my pet store.


Care sheets are available for free on my web site.Help! i need advice on guinea pigs...how long does it take them to fully trust you?
guinea pigs are very sensative creatures. Its taken quite a bit for mine to finally trust me. Just give it lost of attention and dont' get discouraged when they shy away from you. Keep plugging away and be friendly but not too aggresive. They will warm up to you in their own time.Help! i need advice on guinea pigs...how long does it take them to fully trust you?
It can be different for different guinea pigs, just like we trust some people faster than others. Go slow and steady and you shouldn't have any problems. I'd say give it at least a month or so, and that's if you spend time handling it every day. make sure you're in a quiet place where they can't escape, too. They can move pretty quick when scared!


Good Luck
both my brothers have had guinea pigs all their lives. My older brother has two now. they both are not that old. Benny trusted people right of the bat,were Teddy doesn't like to be touched. It took them 6mo.to get Teddy to come to them and not flip out. Yet some times, if the animal has a patient owner and they keep doing the same thing - feed, talk, pet. the Guinea pig will soon get use to the owner. Most animals don't like to be held. They all have a fear of falling, so if it freaks out, just hold it close and let it know that you will not let it fall. Good Luck !!