Very difficult to get over in title without sounding terrible so full details below
I adopted 2 piggies 3 months ago from a local breeder they were 5 and 6 months old and came from a group i.e. not a bonded pair. I wanted pets that would be friendly and easy to handle for my son who absolutely loves animals.
I specifically asked that as they were a bit older were they friendly and well handed and was assured that they were.
When we got them as the weather was bad we initially had them indoors we paid them loads of attention but they were incredibly nervous and hid everytime they saw you. They also didn't seem to get on that well. I contacted the breeder who said just to persist and they were friendly when she had them. They have improved as in they don't hide instantly but they are still very hard to catch and stroke. One is calm and will sit on your lap once caught the other tries to get away. I would say that they tolerate each other.
They are now outside as its summer as well as their hutch with run I get them out give them a cuddle and put them into a big pen if its dry and my son sits in there with them. I would like to handle them more but they are still very difficult to catch. I also have a indoor playpen.
Anyway I recently took them to a lady to get their nails clipped, we got talking and discovered that she currently had 80 GPs from the same breeder who had been evicted and had to find homes for them all. She said they were all totally wild and had not been handled at all. Which had been my suspicion.
She offered to take one of my GPs and let me have a baby. I said no as I felt bad and that I would persist. A month on and we really haven't got anywhere. As I said they tolerate each other I don't believe they are bonded. Whenever I look in their hutch they are sat on opposite sides. They never eat together and they do sometimes squabble over food. however if I take one out and then put them back together they do go to each other.
I feel really sad for my son as they just aren't ever going to be the pets that we hoped. Would I be really terrible to take this lady up on her offer? The new baby would be handled lots from the outset. I absolutely love animals and want them to have the best life but also for my son to have a pet he can truly interact with
I adopted 2 piggies 3 months ago from a local breeder they were 5 and 6 months old and came from a group i.e. not a bonded pair. I wanted pets that would be friendly and easy to handle for my son who absolutely loves animals.
I specifically asked that as they were a bit older were they friendly and well handed and was assured that they were.
When we got them as the weather was bad we initially had them indoors we paid them loads of attention but they were incredibly nervous and hid everytime they saw you. They also didn't seem to get on that well. I contacted the breeder who said just to persist and they were friendly when she had them. They have improved as in they don't hide instantly but they are still very hard to catch and stroke. One is calm and will sit on your lap once caught the other tries to get away. I would say that they tolerate each other.
They are now outside as its summer as well as their hutch with run I get them out give them a cuddle and put them into a big pen if its dry and my son sits in there with them. I would like to handle them more but they are still very difficult to catch. I also have a indoor playpen.
Anyway I recently took them to a lady to get their nails clipped, we got talking and discovered that she currently had 80 GPs from the same breeder who had been evicted and had to find homes for them all. She said they were all totally wild and had not been handled at all. Which had been my suspicion.
She offered to take one of my GPs and let me have a baby. I said no as I felt bad and that I would persist. A month on and we really haven't got anywhere. As I said they tolerate each other I don't believe they are bonded. Whenever I look in their hutch they are sat on opposite sides. They never eat together and they do sometimes squabble over food. however if I take one out and then put them back together they do go to each other.
I feel really sad for my son as they just aren't ever going to be the pets that we hoped. Would I be really terrible to take this lady up on her offer? The new baby would be handled lots from the outset. I absolutely love animals and want them to have the best life but also for my son to have a pet he can truly interact with