I really want guinea pigs and I have done about a month of research but I was wondering if they are even right for me. I have 5 dogs who bark at every little thing.....I'm not kidding the wind will blow and they will bark. I also have reptiles (no snakes just lizards)so my question is would the dogs effect the guinea pigs? Would the reptiles effect the guinea pigs in some way? I know about salmonella and I would wash my hands thoroughly so that wont effect the guinea pigs but would the guinea pigs get scared if they see the reptiles in their enclosure? There are so many questions I'm sorry!
Are guinea pigs right for me?
- Thread starter EmilyD
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Hi!
It is very good that you are doing your research first. You are obviously a very caring and conscious owner.
Guinea pigs are prey animals. 5 loud dogs will affect them unfortunately. You would have to keep them in a room well away from the dogs and ideally in another room to your reptiles either.
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Welcome to the forum
You obviously love and care for your pets and doing research first is excellent.
Have a read of the care and guidance threads for new and wannabe owners.
@Wiebke has also made a very good point about the dogs.
Let us know how you get on with your research and what you decide.
You obviously love and care for your pets and doing research first is excellent.
Have a read of the care and guidance threads for new and wannabe owners.
@Wiebke has also made a very good point about the dogs.
Let us know how you get on with your research and what you decide.
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
Some good advice above. I'm a little confused though, when you say would the guinea pigs be scared if they see the reptiles in their enclosure... Do you mean the reptiles would be in the piggy enclosure or just if the pigs see reptiles in their vivariums?
Sophie B
Senior Guinea Pig
I think she means if the reptiles in their vivariums would affect the guinea pigs
That's exactly what I mean
Eriathwen
Senior Guinea Pig
To be honest my piggies dont care at all about the reptiles they share the room with and I have a couple of snakes. They're pretty much odourless otherwise they wouldnt be able to ambush rodents. You would have to see how your own individual pigs reacted I would think. When in doubt keep them separate so as not to spook them. I would definitely keep them somewhere the dogs can't stand and bark at them though 
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
I thought that would be the case but thought I would double check as it took me a couple of reads to see it that way. Piggy eyesight isn't great and I would imagine slow moving reptiles at a distance and behind glass wouldn't freak them out. We have a gecko and I have had her in the same room as the piggies before without any issues
My bet is that they won't notice the reptiles at all (my pigs are pretty oblivious to other animals unless they are literally right next to them... at the cottage we have chipmunks come up to their run and check them out through the bars all the time and they seldom ever seem to notice, and that's another rodent a foot or so away!) They will, however, hear the dogs barking and this will be stressful to them if they aren't accustomed to that sound. I would try to keep them somewhere where the dogs are unlikely to be barking in the same room as them if at all possible. They will adjust to it better as background noise than having a dog actually barking at them (or right next to them.) I have three kids and my pigs have definitely adjusted to noise, but it's going to be scary for them initially. They definitely respond to strange noises, but learn to tune out noise that they are accustomed to over time.
CocoAndOreo
Teenage Guinea Pig
Guinea Pigs are very sensitive to loud noises. Loud noises can give them stress. Do you have a room that can block out most of the noise?
Yeah I always close my bedroom door would that work
flowerfairy
Senior Guinea Pig
My 6 guinea pigs live in a downstairs room just next to the front door, my two dogs bark a lot when the door bell goes and when people come in.
The guinea pigs have got used to it and just sit out in the open munching away. The dogs are never allowed in the pet room. There are also 2 house rabbits there, on the floor. Gpigs are up on tables.
They seem to adapt remarkably well to new noises. The rabbits were more sensitive to our visiting cockatiels than the guines pigs were. All are fine now.
The guinea pigs have got used to it and just sit out in the open munching away. The dogs are never allowed in the pet room. There are also 2 house rabbits there, on the floor. Gpigs are up on tables.
They seem to adapt remarkably well to new noises. The rabbits were more sensitive to our visiting cockatiels than the guines pigs were. All are fine now.