Biting!

[pd]

We got a gp about 2 months ago. She was just a baby and now she has started biting. She's a fiesty little thing--always chewing on something, and the chewing/biting gets more aggressive as she gets more nervous. Is this normal? I had wanted a pet my kids could hold and love, but I find myself not letting them hold her because she's so mean!

She has been treated very kindly--it's certainly not because she's neglected or mistreated. I'm considering getting another gp but have two concerns: that the second one will learn the behavior from her or that she will beat up a newcomer!

Any advice?

[estelle]

Hi pd, I have 2 gp.Every now and then when they come to my hand one will try,I just blow into her face and tell her no kinda yell.Then too if you have the smell of some kinda food on your hands maybe thats it too.

[kailee]

Hello estelle and pd,

I also blow into my guinea pig's face when some biting or chewing starts. Soon, the biting and chewing stops. I also give some wood for it to gnaw on.

Estelle, how are you guinea pigs? Mine is growing and getting fatter. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

[pd]

Thanks for the advice--I'll try that. At least I was smart enough to put on gloves last night when I clipped her nails! She wasn't too happy about that!

[pd]

Oops--forgot to thank you for just letting me know mine isn't the only one that bites! Everything I've read says they don't bite and I wondered why mine was the oddball!

[Trin]

In my experience pigs usually only bite when they feel threatened or just want to be left alone. When I hold my piggie Cadbury shes lets me know by a bite to the hand(not hard) whens shes had enough and wants to go back to her cage. Maybe your pig is over stimulated by being held too much? Pigs get cranky just like us when they don't feel like doing something.