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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Small Animal | Unknown - Small Animal | Male
I have three Guinea Pigs and all they do is eat and stay still afterwards. I hardly notice them drinking from their bottle or water bowl. They are also afraid to interact during floor time, as well as to human touch. They also dislike playing and being cuddled or petted. They always scurry away and huddle to a corner around me. What do I do to improve this behavior and have some time to bond with my piggies?
2 Answers

Answered By Elva Ma DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 17th, 2017
Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM
Veterinarian
Published on October 18th, 2018
Thanks for your question, and congratulations on your new pet. Guinea pigs are shy by nature, and it often takes a while for them to warm up to their caretakers. This is especially true if they arealone rather than kept with a cagemate. I didn’t see how long you have had your guinea pig or if it was kept alone, but I would advise to use patience and positive reinforcement training. Whenever you approach your guinea pig’s cage, you can bring something tasty, such as greens or Oxbow treats. This will help your guinea pig to associate you with good things. Over time, it will get more and more comfortable with you and you can start to approach closer and closer.
I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful