guinea pigs on leads?

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sarahp

sarahp

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Has anyone ever bought a lead for their guinea pig? I saw them in my local pet shop and was wondering if people actually buy them.

I can't imagine they would like it... and how would it stay on? It's not like they have proper necks like dogs do. I'd have thought they'd be better off running free in a garden run.

I also saw a lead for hamsters... surely that can't be a good idea?!
 
must admit i did buy one a few years ago for my daughters pig scooby , he actually loved it, will try to find pic of him wearing it, I have'nt used it since as I dont have a pig thats the same temprement as Scooby, he was up for anything the most laid back pig ever, but he died a while ago,

scoobyswalkandairshowVEday003.jpg


heres the man himself
 
we dont have a garden so I bought a lead for my rabbit (who has sadly passed away a couple a weeks ago). We have nice big fields where we live, so I wanted to give him the opportunity to go there without me having to be afraid that he runs away.

obviously you cant walk them like dogs, its basically the rabbit that leads the way and you follow, he can go wherever he wants and i just hold on to the lead to make sure he is not making a runner ;)
I would only go for a lead if there is no other way the pet can get some excercise outside. Because they will always prefer to be able to run around without.

Btw,as far as I know, all guinea pig / ferret / hamster / rabbit leads are harnesses, and dont have a collar? I dont quite understand your question about the neck. ?
 
I think it's not so much the neck, I think I would just be worried that they would wriggle out of them and run away - especially hamsters! ;D

Picture of Scooby is lovely, by the way.
 
They make leads for everything these days don't they?! My brother bought a lead/harness for his lizard - not sure why as it had the speed of a slug ;D and I bought a lead/harness for my cat a few years back when living in a flat, wanted to be able to take her out to the park and it really didn't work, she was sticking her claws into the ground or bounding off and when she saw a dog - well, that was her up my leg and down my jacket sleeve :)

I don't know about everyone else here but when I put my Freddy on the ground he tends to follow me anyway so wouldn't need a lead - now teaching Flo to be as tame.
 
I tried Riffy with one ages ago. He had hysterics, so it went straight back to the pet shop and they refunded me!
 
Personally they aren't something I like and I wouldn't want a guinea I rehomed to be put on a harness under any circumstances.
I simply can't fathom out why anyone would want to use one? As someone mentioned, I don't believe that they are safe to be used outdoors. Just my thoughts :-\

Barbara
 
I don't like the idea of them either - you have to be very careful fitting a harness on a dog to make sure it doesn't rub or dig in, and I think with a guinea it could be easy to hurt/injure them without realising. I think it's better that they have an area they can run loose in, and make it different by changing things round & making hidey places etc.
 
I got one for Misty but he doesn't really like it. He'll let you put it on sometimes but won't walk in it so I've stopped putting it on him. Sooty doesn't mind it but only because I think he knows he's really silky so he will slide out of it anyway :D
 
the one scoobys wearing is a harness that actually fitted his body like a small jumper so no injurys could happen, daughter was so attached to scooby she would permantly be walking about with him , it made him one lazy little man, the lead and harness encouraged him to walk, he would lead the way and she just followed, he never injured himself and never got out of it, just actually loved wearing it, mad pig, but as i say none of my pigs have had any reason for using it as they have runs but scooby was a lazy monkey that needed encouragment and he was too quick if you just put him down on the grass, but on the harness he doodled around, getting some excercise instead of just waiting for a cuddle,
for the right reasons they are fine harness type only though, but not an everyday or year in my case item though,
 
I've been tempted to get one, but wouldn't actually take them out in the open in one, for fear of them getting away. But, when I call my lot after a free run, they come to me :)
 
I only tried it because at that time I didn't have a run for them at my parents' and I did want them to be able to mow the lawn. :)
 
Before I knew any better (I was around 11 - 12 or so!) I did once use a lead and the guinea pig slipped right out, so not much good are they? But now, I have learnt a lot more I personally would not use one again and would much prefer to use a secure run!
 
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