Behavior: piggies still nervous

[theboy]

I have had my pigs for about a year and a half but they are still quite nervous of me - running away when i walk up to the run and also when i go to stroke them. Any suggestions would be greatly received.
Thanks.

[Ly&Pigs]

Some pigs are just naturally skittish no matter what you do, how much time you spend with them, etc. It doesn't mean they hate you, they are just skittish by nature as they are prey animals.

[Heady]

Hi theboy! Ly is absolutely right.

My pigs do that...well the one isn't as skittish as the other, but what I try to remember when approaching their cage is that they are prey animals, just as Ly said, so it's their instinct to run when being hovered over...or anything really. So thinking about that helps.

Also, I find bringing a treat with me helps a bit too! Maybe a piece of good lettuce or something... Mine are starting to associate me with treats, and usually I'll go over to the cage with nothing in hand...all I want to do is pet, and sometimes they'll allow it!

[theboy]

Thanks so much, I will try this next time.
This is the first time I have had pet Guinea Pigs!

[foggycreekcavy]

It's much more common for guinea pigs to run from you than let you reach in and pet them. Of my own 6 pigs, only one will let you stoke his nose while he's in his cage, the others run like crazy! Out of the current rescue pigs, only 2 out of 36 will sit still for petting when you reach into their cages.

As Heady says, bringing a treat will help. I encourage my adopters to "bribe" their pigs with leafy greens when they go up to the cage!