If your Guinea Pigs always run away from you, are scared of you, or just don't like human attention, it can take a lot of time, dedication and handling to tame them and calm them down. This guide is about how to tame your Guinea Pigs with instructions, videos, pictures and step by step guides. Having a tame Guinea Pig will mean you can enjoy each others company more, and hopefully they will begin to approach you and show you more affection.
(You may be interested in this guide on training)
(You may be interested in this guide on training)
Scroll down for videos
Step 1
In order to tame your Guinea Pigs,
we are going to create an association between you and treats.
we are going to create an association between you and treats.
- Keep the cage clear of all toys and treats during your training sessions to they have to come to you for them.
- Gather lots of treats and toys for use later on. Fresh vegetables such as carrots and green beans make great treats, and tunnels make great play toys. See a selection of recommended toys here.
Step 2
- Take your Guinea Pigs out of the cage and place them on your lap.
- Stroke them gently making soft noises for about 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat daily.
- This will help your Guinea Pigs become more comfortable around you.
Step 3
- One at a time, place your Guinea Pig on the floor in an enclosed, safe environment.
- Ensure there are no corners or obstructions to hide behind or under.
- Ensure there is no food or treats (although ensure there is a plentiful supply of fresh water and hay).
- Place your hand at the opposite end of the enclosure. Hold out a treat that you know your Guinea Pig enjoys.
- Persist until your Guinea Pig begins to come towards you and takes the treat out of your hand.
- Repeat until the Guinea Pig appears less scared / timid.
- Reach down and pick up the Guinea Pig and continue hand feeding treats.
Videos on how to tame your guinea pigs
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Detailed methodAbout 5-8 times a day, walk out to their cage, talking to them and making normal noise, open the door and offer them a treat. If they take it, great, but if they don't take it from your hand after a few minutes, take it away with you.
The purpose of these steps is to get the Guinea Pig to realise that they must come up to you if they want to get their treat. Eventually, they will build up enough courage to snatch the treat from your hand and run off away from you to eat it, but this is fine. We just want the Guinea Pig to realise that to get the treat, they must go to you and take it from you. |
Second steps (week 2/3)Now, the Guinea Pig should be happily eating food from your hand and/or taking food from your hand.
In these steps, we are going to step it up a notch, and introduce handling into this taming regime, in an attempt to get the Guinea to enjoy human handling and cuddles. You should pick up the Guinea Pig out from the cage about three times a day, and hand him treats whilst you hold him. Signs & noises: If you Guinea Pig starts chattering with his teeth, this is a sign of discontent. You should either adjust their position or put him/her back into the cage. Squeaks are good noises, as it means the Guinea Pig is happy and content. |
Follow upAfter you have completed these two steps, you should continue picking up your Guinea Pig a few times a day, for about 10-15 minutes at a time. You can feed them during this handling, but you don't have to as they will now be accustomed to you and will enjoy the hug even without food.
When feeding them their twice daily fresh fruit and veg, you can feed them from your hands, and stroke them as the feed from you. The more time you spend with your Guinea Pig, the more used to you he will be, so keep hugging, stroking, feeding and playing with your Guinea Pigs, and they will grow more social with you and become outstandingly tame. |
Taming Guinea Pigs is easy - just follow this guide. Help your Guinea Pig become more comfortable around humans, more tame, less shy, less timid, less jumpy and more confident.