The most recent edition of Guinea Pig Magazine had an article about guinea pig intelligence and a couple of simple ideas for IQ tests you could perform with your guinea pigs at home.
Naturally both of my kids think our guinea pigs are the smartest creatures on the planet - just look how good they are at wheeking whenever they hear a knife touch the chopping board
- so were keen to try the tests.
For the first test we put a large handful of parsley underneath one plastic cup, and a small piece of parsley underneath a different cup that was closer to the guinea pig, to see if they would travel further for a bigger reward.
For the second test we put a large and obvious treat (a piece of carrot) under a cup right next to the guinea pig to see if they would push the cup over to get the treat.
It was actually a lot of fun and very interesting.
Ruby:
Test 1- Why are you putting me down next to these stupid cups. I only want to be held by my favorite slave.
Test 2- see above
Oreo:
Test 1- These cups look quite scary, but I smell food so I shall bravely investigate. Nope - too scary, I'm off.
Test 2- see above
Eddi:
Test 1- Ohh, cups, a new towel, and are we in a different room? Hmm, I must explore and weave in and out of these large plastic cups, and sniff the towel a bit.
Test 2 - Carrot? I definitely smell carrot. Oh look, someone stupidly put a large piece of carrot underneath a flimsy plastic cup. I will just head butt that cup out of the way and claim my prize.
You may all call me 'Eddi - Hunter of wild things' from now on.
Lucy:
Test 1- This is new. I am going to lay down and look at both cups for a while so I can work out what the best thing to do is. That cup all the way over there has a lot of green stuff in it, so I am going to go over to it and try and push it over. I will walk right past the closer cup with that tiny piece of green stuff - not worth my time and effort.
Test 2 - Only 1 cup this time - no decision to be made then. I shall just knock it over and eat that yummy carrot.
Naturally both of my kids think our guinea pigs are the smartest creatures on the planet - just look how good they are at wheeking whenever they hear a knife touch the chopping board
- so were keen to try the tests.For the first test we put a large handful of parsley underneath one plastic cup, and a small piece of parsley underneath a different cup that was closer to the guinea pig, to see if they would travel further for a bigger reward.
For the second test we put a large and obvious treat (a piece of carrot) under a cup right next to the guinea pig to see if they would push the cup over to get the treat.
It was actually a lot of fun and very interesting.
Ruby:
Test 1- Why are you putting me down next to these stupid cups. I only want to be held by my favorite slave.
Test 2- see above
Oreo:
Test 1- These cups look quite scary, but I smell food so I shall bravely investigate. Nope - too scary, I'm off.
Test 2- see above
Eddi:
Test 1- Ohh, cups, a new towel, and are we in a different room? Hmm, I must explore and weave in and out of these large plastic cups, and sniff the towel a bit.
Test 2 - Carrot? I definitely smell carrot. Oh look, someone stupidly put a large piece of carrot underneath a flimsy plastic cup. I will just head butt that cup out of the way and claim my prize.
You may all call me 'Eddi - Hunter of wild things' from now on.
Lucy:
Test 1- This is new. I am going to lay down and look at both cups for a while so I can work out what the best thing to do is. That cup all the way over there has a lot of green stuff in it, so I am going to go over to it and try and push it over. I will walk right past the closer cup with that tiny piece of green stuff - not worth my time and effort.
Test 2 - Only 1 cup this time - no decision to be made then. I shall just knock it over and eat that yummy carrot.
