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Biting
May 5, 2009 9:35:04 GMT
Post by jackie on May 5, 2009 9:35:04 GMT
Hi Karen
I have a very healthy sow (Thelma) who is larger than life and shares top pig status with a boar (Mr Melt) in a herd of five.
She is a very friendly, intelligent girl and very healthy. She has a strong bond with me and will even jump from another person to be with me. However she does nibble and sometimes bites fairly hard. She used to do this when she needed a pee which was fine but now she just seems to do it for attention.
She will slide her teeth up and down my hand and then go for a nibble sometimes even picking up my finger and moving it with her teeth! Although this is cute I do think she needs to stop it as its getting out of control as its only a matter of time before she really bites hard.
She does not get treats when handled so its not food related and she does not do it with anyone else at the moment.
I obviously can't smack her, although she does get a firm 'No' verbally and a little tap on the nose when she bites hard but thats clearly not working!
Do you have any tips on what I can do? (she's 4 years old)
Thanks
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Biting
May 5, 2009 17:26:01 GMT
Post by KarenPlanetGuinea on May 5, 2009 17:26:01 GMT
You are giving her attention by saying 'no'! Maybe thats feeding it? If you are worried about it becoming a bad habit I would put her down when it starts or just move your hands away if she's sat on your lap but don't speak to her or start stroking her elsewhere immediately, however after some time has passed give her a chin tickle or whatever it is she likes? She obviouslywants attention and should have it for the right reasons Miss C was like this and I just used to put her down, it could be that she justs wants some space now. I take it she's been bathed and its not mites and theres no signs of anything else. Maybe just take time to have a look where your hand is when it starts and if its in the same place always look a bit closer- bathtime is great for getting up close for inspections and seeing whats going on with the skin etc. Let us know how you get on
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Biting
May 6, 2009 8:17:27 GMT
Post by jackie on May 6, 2009 8:17:27 GMT
Hi Karen I think you're right its a call for attention. She hates it if I am with another guinea as well, she was my first pig and after her sister died I think the considers me hers and not to share with the others!! Definitely no mites etc, she was bathed 2 weeks ago and her coat is stunning, her skin healthy, no signs of any itching or anything else. Its just behavioural I think, I just had no idea how you 'punish' a guinea for bad behaviour . I like the idea of putting her down in her box, will try that. She will hate it (she has perfected the art of begging like a dog as well so I suspect she'll do that as well!). She is a cutey, a real character and sometimes its hard to be tough with her but the biting is just not on. Thanks for the advice!
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Biting
May 6, 2009 15:54:06 GMT
Post by KarenPlanetGuinea on May 6, 2009 15:54:06 GMT
No problem, just make sure you totally ignore her when you put her down, don't call her anything or say her name, animals understand that much better and it gives them nothing to feed off except the action (which is 'being put into a box'). Think of it as learned behaviour rather than bad behaviour then there is no need to 'punish', only to correct it or deal with it
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