Disappointing information from G’pig social media platform.

[Hannah_xx]

Guinea Pigs Australia has gained followings and reputation over the past few years, I’ve watched their platform grow on FB and Instagram. I was disappointed today when they shared a video they had made about bonding Guinea pigs. Firstly they recommended a ‘bonding bath’ which I don’t agree with but I think many people do- so that’s okay. And then they said about a neutral clean cage to bond them in. Which is correct as we know. However I would never bond in an existing cage even with clean bedding, I’d personally only ever do it in another room of the house.
But my main issue was she put hideys in the cage, all with just one exit.
I messaged them to advise them that this could be dangerous for many piggues during first introductions as if they have a fight and have no way out and stuck in the hidey, will end in injury. I put it politely and also said that for any inexperienced owners watching the video it’s not informing them safely.

They just replied to me that:
“ We would always suggest to supervise piggies when introducing them for the first time. Thanks again”


Very frustrating.

 

[Truffolo]

I agree with you, even one bite can be a nasty injury and getting trapped in a hidey when piggies are tense does run the risk of them lashing out at each other. Not everyone can read the signs of fights and even those who can should try to prevent teeth making contact

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea Pigs Australia has gained followings and reputation over the past few years, I’ve watched their platform grow on FB and Instagram. I was disappointed today when they shared a video they had made about bonding Guinea pigs. Firstly they recommended a ‘bonding bath’ which I don’t agree with but I think many people do- so that’s okay. And then they said about a neutral clean cage to bond them in. Which is correct as we know. However I would never bond in an existing cage even with clean bedding, I’d personally only ever do it in another room of the house.
But my main issue was she put hideys in the cage, all with just one exit.
I messaged them to advise them that this could be dangerous for many piggues during first introductions as if they have a fight and have no way out and stuck in the hidey, will end in injury. I put it politely and also said that for any inexperienced owners watching the video it’s not informing them safely.

They just replied to me that:
“ We would always suggest to supervise piggies when introducing them for the first time. Thanks again”


Very frustrating.

It is - especially when you know that defence bites from a trapped piggy on edge happen in split seconds. Most bites to the mouth/nose are actually the result of trapped piggies trying to fight free.

 

[Hannah_xx]

It is - especially when you know that defence bites from a trapped piggy on edge happen in split seconds. Most bites to the mouth/nose are actually the result of trapped piggies trying to fight free.

Yes exactly, even being supervised like they replied means absolutely nothing when it only takes a split second. And it’s not like a human can just stick their hand in a hidey to separate two boars in the middle of a fight..fingers would definitely be bitten!

I know myself recently having a couple of bad bonding experiences. With one resulting In a mouth injury and tooth loss! And that happened in an open space!

 

[Wiebke]

Yes exactly, even being supervised like they replied means absolutely nothing when it only takes a split second. And it’s not like a human can just stick their hand in a hidey to separate two boars in the middle of a fight..fingers would definitely be bitten!

I know myself recently having a couple of bad bonding experiences. With one resulting In a mouth injury and tooth loss! And that happened in an open space!

I have my own share of mouth bites. It is so frustrating that people won't listen to practical concerns and just perpetuate outdated tips and tricks that have most definitely not stood the test of time.

If we advise against something on here, then it is because there are bad experiences behind it; usually quite a number of them.
If somebody makes a valid point on here that gets me thinking/investigting or I stumble onto it myself, I will bring it up in my advice and work it into the relevant guide if it holds up in practice/member feedback.

Experience is something that accumulates but you are never totally right or know it all at any given time. You can just keep on improving if you strive for excellence - it is an unachievable goal with constantly moving posts. That is why I keep going over my guides from time to time in order to update them where needed and why our forum advice also keeps changing over time.

But if we refute something outright, then it is on the basis of plenty of bad experiences and not because it questions our authority or knowledge. If we recommend or advise against things then it is because we have tried them ourselves first to see whether they work our not.

It is always about the best for our piggies never about personal pride or authority. What goes into our guides and recommendations is a collective feedback from tens of thousands of members and threads over a now considerable number of years that have seen great changes. We are a now a good 12 years past the level of that kind of bonding advice when 'buddy baths' became all the rage around ca. 2010-12.

Unfortunately, what is nigh impossible to fight is the growing collection of urban online myths, often perpetuated by people who lack the necessary personal in-depth experience that our forum has, never mind the collective compendium of experience on so many issues and levels that we have behind us on here and which is one of the things that makes us different as a forum.

 

[Hannah_xx]

I have my own share of mouth bites. It is so frustrating that people won't listen to practical concerns and just perpetuate outdated tips and tricks that have most definitely not stood the test of time.

If we advise against something on here, then it is because there are bad experiences behind it; usually quite a number of them.
If somebody makes a valid point on here that gets me thinking/investigting or I stumble onto it myself, I will work it into relevant guide or bring it up in my advice.

Experience is something that accumulates but you are never totally right or know it all at any given time. You can just keep on improving if you strive for excellence - it is an unachievable goal with constantly moving posts. That is why I keep going over my guides from time to time in order to update them where needed and why our forum advice also keeps changing over time.

But if we refute something outright, then it is on the basis of plenty of bad experiences and not because it questions our authority or knowledge. If we recommend or advise against things then it is because we have tried them ourselves first to see whether they work our not.

It is always about the best for our piggies never about personal pride or authority. What goes into our guides and recommendations is a collective feedback from tens of thousands of members and threads over a now considerable number of years that have seen great changes. We are a good 12 years past that the level of that kind of bonding advice.

Unfortunately, what is nigh impossible to fight is the growing collection of urban online myths, often perpetuated by people who lack the necessary personal in-depth experience that our forum has, never mind the collective compendium of experience on so many issues and levels that we have behind us on here and which is one of the things that makes us different as a forum.

The forum is the most valuable and resourceful online platform to learn all things Guinea pig. like you said the years of information and knowledge that has developed through it over the past few years through personal and real experiences just cannot be compared to any of these newer social media based platforms with inexperienced staff members being paid to post pretty videos, they don’t actually know that most of their advice is outdated and portraying a false reality of guinea pig ownership. And they aren’t willing to take advice, research and learn.

Your research, heart and soul you’ve put into your guides Wiebke, is invaluable!

 

[Wiebke]

The forum is the most valuable and resourceful online platform to learn all things Guinea pig. like you said the years of information and knowledge that has developed through it over the past few years through personal and real experiences just cannot be compared to any of these newer social media based platforms with inexperienced staff members being paid to post pretty videos, they don’t actually know that most of their advice is outdated and portraying a false reality of guinea pig ownership. And they aren’t willing to take advice, research and learn.

Your research, heart and soul you’ve put into your guides Wiebke, is invaluable!

Thank you.

I wasn't fishing for that; I just wanted to make an important point.