Advise on

EltonLiberace

EltonLiberace

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello one and all!

New to this forum but it is incredibly fabulous and has been absolutely game-changing for me. Thank you for all your useful tips on the different pages and taking time to support eachother. I love it.

I really hope you can help me with my current conundrum.

I am a new guinea pig owner - so perhaps this seems very basic. Four months ago I rescued two gorgeous little guinea pigs - Trixie and ElVira. (they were originally named Thomas and Bob - but those names don't really coincide with my way of life.)

However, I am really struggling with their attitudes. They live with me in my flat / art studio - have a huge amount of space to gallop about and enrich themselves. They have lots of toys and activities to stimulate their brains and I feed them fresh vegetables which I buy them in shops every day. We have a rule that we play Radio 4 constantly so they are surrounded by lots of voices and different opinions (which I think is incredibly crucial to a good healthy attitude). I make sure I update the art in the room (I'm a painter) so they always have something new to look at.

Yet, despite this, they seem to have no aspirations or care to explore or stretch themselves creatively. I have tried to train them to respond to their names, and teach them to do practical and useful skills (like jumping through hoops and doing a mini guinea pig firendly tough mudder (without the mudd though OBVIOUSLY)) however they do not care AT ALL. I even made them a seesaw and they seem to lack any basic understanding of how brilliant this could be for their fitness and mental health.

If anyone else has any tips on how to train a guinea pig I would really appreciate it. I want them to have the best life they possibly can - full of culture, learning and discovery. In Guinea Pig years they are in their twenties so I want to broaden their world.

Do tell me If I am acting loopy. I can never tell. I've previously only owned reptiles* and this is my first step into the world of cavie culture!

Kindest,

Elt x

*Obviously, I do not have reptiles any more - that would seem very irresponsible with two sassy rodents. The reptiles are dead.
 
I have two boars Bill and Ted and unfortunately theirs desires are much more base. They like plenty of food followed by good spells out on the grass in their run, followed by afternoon naps. They do enjoy a bit of bird watching. A bit more grass and then brought in late afternoon for more grub and then to the land of nod until the morning. (Outside weather permitting)

They are not keen on any of my artwork and don’t seem interested in music or radio of any kind. They are both very keen gardeners though and can eat down plenty of grass if they get the chance along with a few flowers and shrubs if they get the chance. Don’t know what they are like with the ladies? But rub along nicely in their male only little household 😆
 
:)) Welcome to the forum to yourself, Trixie and Eleira :) Well done for rescuing them

Would be lovely to see some photos of them, i really enjoy seeing photos of others piggies.

As for enriching piggies lives, lots of hay and some comforts like cosies are the way to impress them they are not creatures that you can really train at all and have simple pleasures like myself such as snoozing, chillaxing and eating. Radio 4 is a lovely idea and while they may not understand the discussions or enjoy the topical nature of 'The News Quiz' they will certainly get used to people being around them and sounds.

Unfortunately a seesaw would not be good for them as they are not design for agility and any fall off a contraption like this could hurt them :( Maybe have a look at this thread here for safe piggy toys Guinea Pig Toys

Lovely to have you on the forum, I am sure you will enjoy your time here and once again be lovely to see photos of your piggies

Lee
 
Cosys bed, cuddles, food, hay, cupboard boxes.
Mine are really boring too, it's so funny when they start interacting, though, get the grumps when someone's in there box, so they start squeaking.
When at 8am they are all in line squeaking for breakfast.
The cuddles, kisses
It takes a long time for them to trust you.
When they do you know why you got them, I love the bones of mine.
 
My boys have a lot of toys and hideys that I change quite regularly so they always have a new cage everytime it's cleaned.
Some suggestions for enrichment:
- Thread toilet paper rolls on a string, stuff them with hay and/or veggies, and hang across the cage
- A wheeky treat ball - you stuff it with treats or pellets and they roll it around to get at the food
- Hide treats and veggies in a large area and have them search for the yummies

If you really want to train them (which you absolutely can), learn a bit about positive reinforcement and clicker training. My boys responded to it wonderfully and can now stand up, spin, and come when their names are called! Everything worth doing Is going to take a while though. I would recommend using the daily amount of pellets as the training treats so they don't get overweight. ;)

Best of luck!
 
To be honest guinea pigs do only have the most basic understanding about many things. I am not saying guinea pigs aren't bright but they don't understand gravity or the laws of physics so why would they understand how to use a seesaw? Guinea pigs dont think about calories or feel like they need to burn off some chub, they just like to do zoomies and eat anything they arent supposed to! I usually just change my piggies set up once and awhile or buy them some new beds to make things a but more interesting in their daily lives. I also had havehayin paper tubes or hide veggies around the cage. I have trained my guinea pigs a bit, like how to stand, go onto my hand, and fetch for a small willow ball. All of those tricks where achieved with a bit of patients and a lot of treats! Some took a few minutes other a few days. There are many youtube videos about training guinea pigs. I have never taught mine to answer to their names but I know you need to have the same tone and pitch if you want them to respond. We need some pigtures! :))
 
denverguineas said:
My boys have a lot of toys and hideys that I change quite regularly so they always have a new cage everytime it's cleaned.
Some suggestions for enrichment:
- Thread toilet paper rolls on a string, stuff them with hay and/or veggies, and hang across the cage
- A wheeky treat ball - you stuff it with treats or pellets and they roll it around to get at the food
- Hide treats and veggies in a large area and have them search for the yummies

If you really want to train them (which you absolutely can), learn a bit about positive reinforcement and clicker training. My boys responded to it wonderfully and can now stand up, spin, and come when their names are called! Everything worth doing Is going to take a while though. I would recommend using the daily amount of pellets as the training treats so they don't get overweight. ;)

Best of luck!
Click to expand...
This is just wonderful. Thank you. Luckily I get through a lot of toilet paper so I have many, many rolls. And I will get a clicker. I have bells, but that may not work! And good idea regarding the pellets. Thank you! Elt x
 
Thank you for all the replies. This is very useful and informative. I feel invigorated. Will take some photographs soon. I am doing a painting of them at the moment and will soon upload that! They are such inspiring creatures to have in ones artistic world! x
 
Eva121 said:
To be honest guinea pigs do only have the most basic understanding about many things. I am not saying guinea pigs aren't bright but they don't understand gravity or the laws of physics so why would they understand how to use a seesaw? Guinea pigs dont think about calories or feel like they need to burn off some chub, they just like to do zoomies and eat anything they arent supposed to! I usually just change my piggies set up once and awhile or buy them some new beds to make things a but more interesting in their daily lives. I also had havehayin paper tubes or hide veggies around the cage. I have trained my guinea pigs a bit, like how to stand, go onto my hand, and fetch for a small willow ball. All of those tricks where achieved with a bit of patients and a lot of treats! Some took a few minutes other a few days. There are many youtube videos about training guinea pigs. I have never taught mine to answer to their names but I know you need to have the same tone and pitch if you want them to respond. We need some pigtures! :))
Click to expand...
 
Trixie is Gorgeous! :love: Is that Elvira that is in the cosy? I thought i can see a piggy nose!
 
Welcome to the forum
Mine are perfectly happy eating and having space to run around.
A paper bag filled with hay or small pieces of veggies are a perfect toy for piggies.
They are not the type of animal you can really teach tricks to, although some have done so.
All my girls know how to do is use a wooden bridge to get out of their cage and go back in.
The prospect of free ranging time and food are the triggers.
I have a variety of tunnels and hideys for them in the cage.
Trixie is a real beauty and looking forward to lots more pictures
 
Love this! I don’t think you can train piggy’s as such but they do respond well to routine, for example try feeding them at the same times each day, they will learn when food is coming and as they get more used to you and their surroundings they will wheek for food and get all excited. You could even get a tunnel or large pipe and they may run through that to get to food? The way to a piggy heart is always food :luv:
 
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