The Cavia Porcellus (This is how it is scientifically called) is, after the hamster, the rodent that is most commonly kept as a pet. Not only is it due to its manageable size, but because owning a guinea pig is much more like owning a dog or cat than other animals. This is because guinea pigs are affectionate and playful. Who has some at home, knows it well.
However, being less common than other domestic animals, their behavior is more difficult to identify. Surely you have been sharing space and life with your guinea pig for a long time and, even so, you continue to ask yourself questions such as: How long does it take a pet to get used to its owner? Do youHow to know if my guinea pig is happy? In this oneHOWTO article you will find the answer to these questions.
My guinea pig nibbles me
Guinea pigs often lick or lightly suck the skin of our hand, our arm or even our foot. These sucks, which we can confuse with nibbles, are actually a gesture of affection. In addition, it is also a gesture typical of guinea pigs to give small bites on the feet or shoes. The way he does it, you will notice that he wants to play with you, ask for food, or get your attention. This is how you can tell that your guinea pig is happy.
Now if your guinea pig gives you biting the skin with the teeth, it may mean that you are not entirely comfortable. Guinea pigs like to run and move freely, so they do not feel safe if we pick them up. What for you can be a gesture of affection and a game, for her it is a cause of stress. In these cases, he is only letting you know that he does not feel comfortable.
My guinea pig eats from my hand
Guinea pigs are quite cautious and skittish animals. If he eats from your hand it means that trusts you and that, therefore, is happy with you. If he still doesn’t eat from your hand, you need to be patient. As you would do with any pet you just adopted, you must give him his time and space to trust you.
At first, it is best to feed her by leaving the food in a container for her to come by herself. Once time passes and you notice that your guinea pig feels more secure, slowly approach it with food in your hand. Maybe the first few times you won’t be able to get him to come close, but he will at some point and then you will know that your guinea pig is happy.
If your guinea pig not only does not eat from your hand, but also refuses to eat, take a look at this other article on Why my guinea pig does not eat.
My guinea pig gets caught
Precisely because it is a scary and nervous animal, when a guinea pig lets itself be caught it is because for it you are a trustworthy and you represent a protective figure.
As with everything else, you shouldn’t be in a rush for this to happen. It is best to give it time and space. If you force her, she will feel the pressure as a threat and you will become a danger signal to her.
My guinea pig butts me
It is important to clearly identify the movement of your guinea pig. Sometimes they give little hops which, depending on their posture and where they are at the moment, can look like head butting. These little hops are known as popcorning, since they resemble the jumps that corn makes when it is made into popcorn.
Guinea pigs usually give these little satitos around their cage, entering and leaving it or, even, when you have them on your arms. It is a clear sign of joy. Means that your guinea pig is happy and feels comfortable with the environment in which you live.
On the other hand, you should know that, as with most animals, guinea pigs feel helpless when they lose vision. Therefore, when you caress it you must be attentive. Maybe sometimes you cover his eyes without wanting to, a situation that causes stress and can cause him to give you the occasional head butt, such as trying to remove your hands from his eyes.
Will do the same if you caress him against the grain. Animals, especially guinea pigs, resent being stroked in the opposite direction of hair growth. That is why it is so difficult to pet swirling guinea pigs, something quite common.
Sound of a happy guinea pig
When your guinea pig loves you, you can tell that it enjoys your caresses and makes a very characteristic sound that indicates that it is happy. It is not very difficult to recognize, as it is a small high-pitched, intermittent moan which is accompanied by a kind of purr. If you want to know what it is, try stroking your guinea pig gently between the ears and you will be able to see it.
How to know if my guinea pig loves me
When guinea pigs recognize their owners and love them, they let themselves be caught by them and they follow them around the house, sometimes giving them those little nibbles on their feet, as if they were calls for attention. If your guinea pig loves you, you will notice it because it will be by your side instead of moving away from you, insecure.
Remember the most important thing: guinea pigs need their time and space. Treat your guinea pig with patience and affection and, above all, take care of it as it deserves. To do this, you may be interested in these other oneHOWTO articles: How to take care of a guinea pig and How to make baby food for guinea pigs.
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