How Would You Describe Keeping Guinea Pigs?

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Fable

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Hey everyone :) New here, and looking at getting myself a pair of pigs. I love all the info here, but there is one question I haven't seen; How would you describe/sum up keeping guinea pigs? Do they help you on your bad days? Is it incredibly stressful at times? Etc. :)
 
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWESOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :D

I love them if I'm down their faces make me smile, I dont find them stressful unless I have a migraine at veggies time!
 
I find they are a constant source of fun and they cheer me up whenever I feel a little down. The bond you can build up with some piggies is amazing, it is really rewarding when they start to trust you, take food from your hand and will settle for laptime. Watching pigs interact with each other is also very fascinating.

The only time it is stressful is when they are poorly but the good always outweighs any negative moments.
 
Thanks for your replies! Would you recommend them as pets?
 
HIGHLY addictive...

They provide cheer and comfort; it was the piggies that kept me going through the taxing last years of my MIL's life by making me laugh and chuckle when I needed it most. I wouldn't want to live without at least a couple in my life (currently I have a few - erm, a lot - more)!

But also heart-breaking and stressful when you come up against illness, round the clock hand feeding and ultimately loss. It is the price you have to pay for all the love and joy - the more you love, the more you grieve. But without it, your life will be so much poorer!
 
Fable said:
Thanks for your replies! Would you recommend them as pets?
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Without a shadow of a doubt. When we first had them it was very different to anything we had had before and it takes time and patience to build a bond but you get there quite quickly. I can never imagine a time in my life where I won't have pigs now.
 
Big individual personalities wrapped in a disproportionally small cute furry package... What makes guinea pigs so unique is their vocal interaction.

The safest place to get piggies from is from a good standard rescue (we have got a UK rescue locator of rescues we can vouch for on the top bar).
 
What a fantastic question!

It did take some time in the beginning to figure out the right veggie routine for the boys and how to tell whether they were healthy or not but having the forum really helped with that. You also need to be very patient with them as it takes time to build up their trust in you but it does come with time, love and affection. I'd say not so great pets if you're really impatient for cuddles - I have a friend who (unintentionally) terrorises my poor boys trying to insist on hand feeding them or trying to catch them for a cuddle, doesn't matter how often I explain/plead with her to be patient and ultimately leave them be (she really does upset them!) she just can't help herself, she wants them to love her but isn't willing to be patient enough to let them get used to her first! If you think you could be patient enough to build up the bond gradually (different piggies take different amounts of time, it took us about 3 months and I'd say after 4 months we're still building the bond everyday) then I'd definitely recommend them, I would not be without my boys! I challenge anyone to look at a little piggy face and not just automatically smile! I love just watching them, especially when they're eating! Also, since I've started preparing their veg in the same room as them it's lovely to see/hear them getting so excited for their food!
 
I have only found them stressful when there have been health problems and vet bills! Apart from that they are great. I love the way they run around, their pigsonalities, the way they eat veggies like they have been starved for weeks!
 
Stressful (at present) but normally Stress Relieving. Nothing better than relaxing with a cuppa watching your piggies interacting.
 
The only times I find them stressful is sickness, bath time, bickering and nail clipping! Other then that they are a joy to have. Especially and just recently. I put two piles of veggies one pile for the three girls who like to be out the snug and the other for the two who prefer the snug. So anyway - Rambo decides to push past Maple and Patch to find the other pile for a pepper even though there was pepper in the outside pile! I say to her 'You do realise that there was pepper in that pile right?' she stops munching, move her head and carries on. 'Clearly that pepper is better then the others... Plonker'

When I was having a bad day... and when I get home just hearing them (Mainly Rambo) makes me happy. It's like a WELCOME HOME MUMMY.... FOOOOOOOOOD NOW!
 
They are the best pets. No other small animal like them. Degus come close with vocalisation but in a a different way. The bond you can have with them is amazing. I have 24 boys and they are all so different. When I feel mad or sad I just go cuddle one and makes everything better. The only stress is when they are ill but the good times make up for it :)
 
They are expensive and can be time consuming mind you I do have 8 but thry are so special.I suffer from depression but totally relax when I am siting in the cage with them and 4 of mine are snuggle monsters and another one popcorns round me when I am emptying litter trays. They do need a lot of space too but you get out what you put in.They make me laugh all the time and I wouldnt be without them
 
Hmmm let me think...

Pigs : wheel wheek
Me : morning piggies, whose hungry then? Aww are you all hungry, blimey boys you ate all your food during the night, greedy guts.
Pigs : jump jump, wheek, rumble, purr
Me : ok ok, mummies going to get food now
Pigs : zoom zoom
Me : ok let's do cuddles later, why oh why am I talking to guinea pigs.

Says it all, they are a great distraction.
 
As already said, have plenty patience and let them get to know you in their time and they'll trust you implicitly.
Sickness is very stressful time but I found after syringe feeding, medicines etc that I had a closer bond than before and the delight in nursing a piggie back to health is very rewarding.
3 years ago I got our first pair, sadly lost one but I now have 5 boys. All individuals, with amazing character's
 
Ummm,

Freakin cute fluff balls with amazing personalities that wake me up and 9oclock on the dot for their breakfast veggies! ( i have to cover them up at night time or they squeak all night)

There very rewarding pets and very cheerful and happy but in times of sickness or unexpected pregnancy it was pretty stressful...

I can't imagine not coming home to them now... there just amazing little things.

:yahoo: :wub: :lol:
 
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