So, a few months ago I re-fell in love with guinea pigs, and decided I wanted to get some again. I had them when I was younger, so suffice to say, I'm not completely experienced. Knowing this, I spent hours and hours researching, finding all the best brands, behaviours, etc. And even went as far as repurposing an old dresser to give them plently of space.
It was a little while after Christmas I went into Petsmart and picked out two piggies (both male). I later named them Comet and Bandit. I gave them a week to settle in and kept handling to the bare minimum and then started handling them. I tried to hold them every day, but ended up getting busy as school started up again. Originally, Bandit was the easy one, and Comet was quite difficult. But it seems like lately it's completely switched around.
I keep up with feeding them, changing bedding, keeping water clean and all the basics and handle them as often as I can. Though it just seems like I'm not doing enough. Bandit has become so diffcult, and it breaks my heart so much. I'm able to hold Comet, and he likes to be pet, but Bandit is less amused by such actions. If you try to pick him up, he flips out and scratches your hands like crazy, and has even lept out of my hands before. He makes weird sounds (sounds like purring, but I KNOW it's not purring) and even does something that sounds like he's chattering his teeth. I've tried so hard to connect with him and I'm feeling really discouraged and this whole thing is started to make me feel like maybe I'm not cut out to have guinea pigs. I can't commit 100% of my time with school and homework and it just seems so much like I'm not doing enough to connect with him. I'm desperate at this point and would do anything to hold him without having scratches to show for it afterwards.
Is it my fault? Am I not doing enough?
He's still kind of young (He's pretty small) if that means anything..
It was a little while after Christmas I went into Petsmart and picked out two piggies (both male). I later named them Comet and Bandit. I gave them a week to settle in and kept handling to the bare minimum and then started handling them. I tried to hold them every day, but ended up getting busy as school started up again. Originally, Bandit was the easy one, and Comet was quite difficult. But it seems like lately it's completely switched around.
I keep up with feeding them, changing bedding, keeping water clean and all the basics and handle them as often as I can. Though it just seems like I'm not doing enough. Bandit has become so diffcult, and it breaks my heart so much. I'm able to hold Comet, and he likes to be pet, but Bandit is less amused by such actions. If you try to pick him up, he flips out and scratches your hands like crazy, and has even lept out of my hands before. He makes weird sounds (sounds like purring, but I KNOW it's not purring) and even does something that sounds like he's chattering his teeth. I've tried so hard to connect with him and I'm feeling really discouraged and this whole thing is started to make me feel like maybe I'm not cut out to have guinea pigs. I can't commit 100% of my time with school and homework and it just seems so much like I'm not doing enough to connect with him. I'm desperate at this point and would do anything to hold him without having scratches to show for it afterwards.
Is it my fault? Am I not doing enough?
He's still kind of young (He's pretty small) if that means anything..