Do Guinea Pigs Like Adventures?

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Gypsydog

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In general, do pigs like leaving their home to go places like the park, or riding in a pouch for a "walk" with a person?

I think I already know the answer, just wondering if guinea pigs are more adventurous than I thought or if they would be happier just to stay home munching hay :hmm:

I am trying to decide whether guinea pigs or rats are better companions for me and I think that of the two, rats are probably the more willing ones to leave the house with their human. They also, according to other forums, seem to want to interact with their humans more than piggies do.

What do you all think?
 
I think they are two very different animals to be honest!

Yes Guinea Pigs might be seen as 'lazier'
But they enjoy lots of things like
A new environment to explore like floor time or a run.
And they quite like sitting on the sofa with their human to be petted and explore a little.
But then again Rats like similar things
You probably wouldn't take a Guinea Pig to a park but that doesn't mean they don't like new environments to explore :)
 
You're right they seem very different from each other, I love both though and I am having such a hard time choosing between the two. There are so many reasons to consider them both...I just wish I had the space and time to keep both kinds lol. That would solve me having to choose one over the other:love:
 
Very very different animals.

But having owned both at the same time I can honestly say rats for me,.

I like how I never have to catch one..they come right up to the cage door. That I can teach them all sorts of things, that nothing really scares them much at all not even a thunderstorm.
I just love their confidence. Sure guineas can be confident too but as a prey herd animal they tend to be much easier to spook.

If you did go for rats you will also need to decide between males or females because although there are exceptions the general observation of the pet rat world is this.

Males are lazy but more cuddly and more likely to travel about on your shoulder for longer.
Females are more active and slightly easier to train.
Males have a slightly stronger smell but it's not a bad one!
Females are more prone to tumors but on average tend to live a few months longer than males.

A male cage should have plenty of places to "hang out" and snooze. Female setups should have a few more toys and things to keep them entertained. Males should have toys too of course but men being men most of the are couch potatoes!

Of course there are exceptions to every rule and some rat personalities don't follow the averages.
 
Definitely no to taking piggies out to the park or walking them around in pouches.

Pigs are prey animals so like to feel very secure in their environment with plenty of hides to go into if they feel threatened. Taking them out to a park would not be pleasant or a nice experience for them.

it is very good you are doing your research before hand
 
sport_billy said:
Definitely no to taking piggies out to the park or walking them around in pouches.

Pigs are prey animals so like to feel very secure in their environment with plenty of hides to go into if they feel threatened. Taking them out to a park would not be pleasant or a nice experience for them.

it is very good you are doing your research before hand
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I couldn't agree more with @sport_billy. If you are looking for a pet to carry around with you on your travels and outings to the park then piggies are not for you. They need the security of their home as they are prey animals.
 
my baby guinea pig escaped from the run aged 8 wks and spent a night in our neighbours garden, she didn't want to come home!
 
If carrying your pet around with you is a priority, rats are probably a better bet. They are simply a more agile animal, more flexible and better able to hang on. Guinea pigs are more solid and, though some don't mind being carried and most of mine have really been outgoing and love human contact, they need back support when carrying them around (it's more of a two-handed carry.) They aren't climbers and can't cling to you the way a rat can. My pigs definitely go on 'adventures' (we take them to the cottage, they have an outdoor run there, etc.) and are definitely very friendly and social and interactive with people, but they are less 'portable' than a rat, if that makes sense.
 
Freela said:
If carrying your pet around with you is a priority, rats are probably a better bet. They are simply a more agile animal, more flexible and better able to hang on. Guinea pigs are more solid and, though some don't mind being carried and most of mine have really been outgoing and love human contact, they need back support when carrying them around (it's more of a two-handed carry.) They aren't climbers and can't cling to you the way a rat can. My pigs definitely go on 'adventures' (we take them to the cottage, they have an outdoor run there, etc.) and are definitely very friendly and social and interactive with people, but they are less 'portable' than a rat, if that makes sense.
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Yes that does make sense, thank you!
From all of these answers it does sound like I am leaving more toward pet rats I suppose because right now I would prefer something more portable than a piggie so I can spend time with them while still doing my normal things (and obviously set time aside specifically to play with them too). But I didn't realize some pigs enjoy traveling or being outdoors. But that's part of the beauty of critters, they are all different little personalities. I have put a hold on looking for one or the other species to adopt until I am really sure which I will get on with the best.
Part of my hesitation with rats is that guinea pigs live so much longer. I don't want to say goodbye to a friend after only a few years together, it would be less heartbreaking to have a pet that lives longer like guineas do.
 
Gypsydog said:
Yes that does make sense, thank you!
From all of these answers it does sound like I am leaving more toward pet rats I suppose because right now I would prefer something more portable than a piggie so I can spend time with them while still doing my normal things (and obviously set time aside specifically to play with them too). But I didn't realize some pigs enjoy traveling or being outdoors. But that's part of the beauty of critters, they are all different little personalities. I have put a hold on looking for one or the other species to adopt until I am really sure which I will get on with the best.
Part of my hesitation with rats is that guinea pigs live so much longer. I don't want to say goodbye to a friend after only a few years together, it would be less heartbreaking to have a pet that lives longer like guineas do.
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Hey if your finding it hard to decide between the two and don't want to commit to a long ownership why don't you try fostering for a rescue

That way you could foster some rats for a short time
Then maybe foster some guinea pigs fo a short time
That way your not tied into a commitment for a lifetime and can get to know the types of animals :)
And it would be helping out a rescue :)
 
Gypsydog said:
Yes that does make sense, thank you!
From all of these answers it does sound like I am leaving more toward pet rats I suppose because right now I would prefer something more portable than a piggie so I can spend time with them while still doing my normal things (and obviously set time aside specifically to play with them too). But I didn't realize some pigs enjoy traveling or being outdoors. But that's part of the beauty of critters, they are all different little personalities. I have put a hold on looking for one or the other species to adopt until I am really sure which I will get on with the best.
Part of my hesitation with rats is that guinea pigs live so much longer. I don't want to say goodbye to a friend after only a few years together, it would be less heartbreaking to have a pet that lives longer like guineas do.
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My choice was between rats and guinea pigs too, and longevity was a major factor. It's so hard to have pets that live such a short time. You don't love them any less than a larger pet. I also have kids who are obviously upset to lose a pet too. Given that guinea pigs can live to be seven years or more, that was a big plus for me. After years of small animals, I feel at times like I have small animal burnout because of the short lifespan. We have a Syrian hamster as well who turned one last April and I am already dreading losing her. And she's not even really my pet, my teenage daughter takes care of her.
 
Freela said:
My choice was between rats and guinea pigs too, and longevity was a major factor. It's so hard to have pets that live such a short time. You don't love them any less than a larger pet. I also have kids who are obviously upset to lose a pet too. Given that guinea pigs can live to be seven years or more, that was a big plus for me. After years of small animals, I feel at times like I have small animal burnout because of the short lifespan. We have a Syrian hamster as well who turned one last April and I am already dreading losing her. And she's not even really my pet, my teenage daughter takes care of her.
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I adore rats but there limited life span puts me off keeping them
 
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