Why Does My Guinea Pig Go on My Shoulder? Everything You Need To Know!
Undoubtedly guinea pigs are one of the most interesting pet animals out there. They tend to bring different tricks out of their sleeve, and climbing on your shoulder is one of them.
So Why Does My Guinea Pig Go on My Shoulder? Briefly, guinea pigs do that to show affection towards its owner. They are passionate creatures who like to express what they are feeling. If you have stayed long enough with your pet and have a strong bond, then they may climb onto your shoulder. It’s a sign of trust and love.
Nevertheless, they are mischievous animals, and there are just too many things to know about them. So let us dig in deep into why your pet likes your shoulders.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Go on My Shoulder?
It’s quite common for a new guinea pig guardian to be wondering why does my guinea pig climb on my shoulder. Well, guinea pigs’ ancestors did live in the wild and have always been the ones being hunted. Thus, trying to protect themselves is their instinct.
However, now that you have given your pet a comfortable house and they don’t have to worry about finding food, they love you. But there are only a few ways that a guinea pig has to show that it does. As a consequence, climbing up your shoulder and just hugging it.
Apart from love, the shoulder climbing of guinea pigs also portrays trust and comfort. Guinea pigs don’t usually trust anyone easily. Thus, when you brought it home in the first place, it certainly didn’t want to come near you. So take it as a sign that it trusts you now.
On the other hand, comfort is something you have been trying to provide for your pet. So yes, you have managed to achieve it if it’s on your shoulder. Additionally, it’s a higher level of comfort for your pet if it’s on the shoulders rather than the lap.
Whether you like it or not is up to you, but you do have to understand that your small friend loves to express themselves.
Is It Good If I Put Guinea Pig Off My Shoulder?
![Is It Good If I Put Guinea Pig Off My Shoulder](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Is-It-Good-If-I-Put-Guinea-Pig-Off-My-Shoulder.webp)
Now that your pet trusts you and tries to show off affection towards you, it’s up to you whether you will allow it or not. However, when it comes to whether it is good or not, you should not put it off unless you got to go somewhere.
Letting it be on there for the time will enhance the bond that you two share. Undoubtedly, you got a pet in the first place to bond with it, and letting it be where it wants to be will fulfill your purpose. These will be the moments that your guinea pigs will remember forever.
How Do I Stop It From Doing This?
![How Do I Stop It From Doing This](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/How-Do-I-Stop-It-From-Doing-This.webp)
If you don’t like it to be on your shoulders, you certainly have your reasons. Rather than asking yourself why does my guinea pig like to sit on my shoulder, you can apply a few tricks that will keep them off.
First, you can put some of their favorite meal on your lap. Not only will it attract your small friend to come on your lap rather than your should, but it will also keep them playful as well.
Another way you can attract your pet to your lap is by keeping a warm covering cloth there. Did we mention that guinea pigs like warmth? Well, not extreme heat but giving them a warm cover makes them feel happy and comfortable.
Things To Be Aware Of When Guinea Pigs Are On Your Shoulder
![Things To Be Aware Of When Guinea Pigs Are On Your Shoulder](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Things-To-Be-Aware-Of-When-Guinea-Pigs-Are-On-Your-Shoulder.webp)
Your small friend deserves care and not to be hurt. Thus, there are things to be aware of when guinea pigs are on your shoulder. Whether you are sitting or standing, when it’s on your shoulder, make sure you provide a comfortable landing place if it fell off.
What you can do is keep your hands near them, so if they ever slip off, you get to catch them. Similarly, you can bend down to a lower height, so it doesn’t get hurt when it slips off.
On the other hand, never wear slippery clothes when you are with your friend. The chances of it falling get a lot higher when slippery clothes are present.
We also recommend that you wear clothes that don’t matter anymore. As they will get nature calls and have a chance of peeing in them.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Favor My Shoulder Than Others
![Why Does My Guinea Pig Favor My Shoulder Than Others](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Why-Does-My-Guinea-Pig-Favor-My-Shoulder-Than-Others.webp)
By this point, you have probably noticed that your pet doesn’t go to other people’s shoulders. That’s because you have spent more time with it and the other person didn’t. As mentioned before, guinea pigs have instincts that protect them from being hunted. Here, the other person is seen as a threat as it’s a stranger to your friend.
Similarly, the reason why it only favors your shoulder is because of the bond. It trusts and gets comfort from you more than anyone.
What To Do If My Guinea Pig Don’t Get On My Shoulders
![What To Do If My Guinea Pig Don’t Get On My Shoulders](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/What-To-Do-If-My-Guinea-Pig-Dont-Get-On-My-Shoulders.webp)
It’s quite common for guinea pigs not to trust you if you just brought it to your home. However, if it has been long enough that you have been taking care of your guinea pig, then there are some things that you might not be following.
Never try to force them to climb on your shoulders. Doing this will only trigger their instincts of not trusting you. Forcing anything will not do any good to you and your pet.
Another thing you might be missing is feeding your pet with your own hands. It’s certainly important to establish a connection with them. The guinea pig will be able to recognize you as a friend if you do it so.
Lastly, if you just got your friend, then try sitting next to them for some time. Even if you have kept them in an aviary, why not sit next to them for a while every day? Especially in the daytime because guinea pigs are more active at that hour.
FAQ
It’s time that we take a look at the most useful section, where we answer some frequently asked questions. Who knows, we might answer the question that has been bugging you for days.
How do guinea pigs show affection?
Apart from climbing up on your shoulder, guinea pigs also like to lick when they want to show you affectio
How long do guinea pigs stay on my shoulder?
It entirely depends on how much affection your guinea pig wants to show you. Generally, it’s from 15 minutes to half an hour.
In the End
To conclude, we hope you got the answer to why does my guinea pig go on my shoulder? There is nothing to be scared about as they only do it to show affection towards you. The guinea pigs only do this after you have established a bond with them for some time now.
On the other hand, be careful when they get on your shoulders as they have a chance of falling. Thus, keep your hands near them while also providing a soft landing spot. Overall, it surely is a blessing for you to receive such affection from them.