A question about harnesses

[MommaPiggy]

I always thought they were kind of...Not cruel, exactly but I didn't think they'd be nice for a poor Guinea.
But we've had some problems lately. The weather being one of them...the other being that the run I have for the outdoors is half the size of their normal cage...And they seem to view this as a punishment. (Or so I feel), with the way they both sit in a corner the whole time they're there; and when I bring them in, they're sopping wet with their own urine and have smushed poop stuck to them.

When I made a trial run for them, out of spare cubes (Left over from my C&C cage.) I made the run a little bigger than their cage and they LOVED it.
I was worried that the outdoors might have scared them but it was the lack of space that seemed to upset them.

My dad is building a larger run for me, but he's built half of it and it's been 6 weeks since he even looked at it.
I can't afford one that's going to be big enough. Not for a while.

I was wondering if getting a harness for them both was a better idea. Just for the time being.
But the things that bother me are, the Harness breaking and them getting loose, or it just being so stressful for them.

I always viewed it as a bad thing to do but now...With them unable to play outside...I find myself questioning that.

Help :{ please!

 

[Wiebke]

Unlike ferrets, guinea pigs haven't got a flexible spine, so when they run off and fetch up against the end of the leash, they can seriously hurt themselves.

Before I joined the forum, I was playing with the idea, but in reality, they won't just placidly sit by your feet...

I'm using their indoor cage top for quick trips on the lawn or when I want to move their big run during the day.

 

[Briony_S]

yep harnesses are a no no as they can be really hurt by them. the cube idea is a good one maybe stick with that until your dad gets your new run sorted!

 

[kristie]

piggys are also really good escape artists as their fur is deceiving and so would proberbly escape from them anyway, even if they were safe (which they are not)

 

[MommaPiggy]

Thank you, guys.

I wasn't sure, which is why I asked. I never really liked the idea of them but my poor piggies need some exercise.

I let them run on my bedroom floor when I can but my dad gets really angry at me...So I can only do it when he isn't home.

And as for the cubes, I used them to extend their cage, so I can't use them anymore.
I did actually order some more today, though.
So they should be here sometime over the next week. xx>>>

(Not for this purpose but hey, my piggies come first. So I guess I should stick with the cube idea.)

 

[Kira]

Just thought I'd say that I found this a REALLY helpful thread as I have been wondering the same thing!