I Guess That Guinea 'pig' Name Really Is Confusing!

Freela

Freela

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I was at the pet store last night buying guinea pig pellets and overheard the following conversation between a shopper and a pet store employee:
Shopper: "So what kind of animal is that?"
Employee: "It's a hairless guinea pig. They're called skinny pigs."
Shopper: "So, it's just a regular pig, then?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of a guinea pig, not an actual pig."
Shopper: "So it's like a potbellied pig?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of guinea pig that has no hair. It's a guinea pig."
Shopper: "So will it grow the size of a normal pig?"
Employee: "No, it will grow the same size a normal guinea pig. It's not a pig, it's a type of guinea pig without hair."
Shopper: Pause. "So it's a pig, then?"

LOL! Never realized that name was so misleading before! She just wasn't going to figure it out! I can understand not knowing much about guinea pigs, but it always baffles me when people don't even have a clue what they are!
 
Freela said:
I was at the pet store last night buying guinea pig pellets and overheard the following conversation between a shopper and a pet store employee:
Shopper: "So what kind of animal is that?"
Employee: "It's a hairless guinea pig. They're called skinny pigs."
Shopper: "So, it's just a regular pig, then?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of a guinea pig, not an actual pig."
Shopper: "So it's like a potbellied pig?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of guinea pig that has no hair. It's a guinea pig."
Shopper: "So will it grow the size of a normal pig?"
Employee: "No, it will grow the same size a normal guinea pig. It's not a pig, it's a type of guinea pig without hair."
Shopper: Pause. "So it's a pig, then?"

LOL! Never realized that name was so misleading before! She just wasn't going to figure it out! I can understand not knowing much about guinea pigs, but it always baffles me when people don't even have a clue what they are!
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I've always got to remember when I say Piggies that people are aware they are guinea pigs as I often get asked " You've got pigs running about your garden? LOL
 
Tiamolly123 said:
You mean a pet shop had a hairless piggy. OMG
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Is that uncommon in the UK? It's weird what breeds are prevalent in different areas. In Ontario where I am, the breeds I see all the time are short-haired pigs, abby pigs, some short and abby pigs that obviously have some longer haired genes in them, and skinnies. I very, VERY seldom see longer-haired breeds (I have actually never seen a full sheltie or Peruvian in person.) Very, very occasionally I will see a teddy. Pet stores here sell skinnies for a lot more than other breeds (a skinny is about $100 dollars, a pig with fur, no matter what the coat type, is about $35.) So I think pet stores want plenty of skinnies because they are essentially the most expensive mammal that most pet stores will carry.
 
Janice C said:
I've always got to remember when I say Piggies that people are aware they are guinea pigs as I often get asked " You've got pigs running about your garden? LOL
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Hamsters seem to be more familiar to people here. I have had people ask me why my hamsters are so big. Which is confusing because we do have a hamster as well, and she is the size of a normal hamster. It always takes me a minute to realize that they think the guinea pigs are hamsters too.

The craziest moment I ever had was when I used to take my pet hedgehog to the park across from my apartment years ago. Once I had someone ask if she was a possum. I said that she was a pygmy hedgehog and thought that would be the end of it, but this guy stuck around arguing that he really, REALLY thought she was a possum. I explained the difference between possums and hedgehogs (hedgehogs have spines, possums have tails, etc.) but I couldn't convince him. I mean, it's MY pet... don't you think I know what species she is? Jeesh!
 
Freela said:
Is that uncommon in the UK? It's weird what breeds are prevalent in different areas. In Ontario where I am, the breeds I see all the time are short-haired pigs, abby pigs, some short and abby pigs that obviously have some longer haired genes in them, and skinnies. I very, VERY seldom see longer-haired breeds (I have actually never seen a full sheltie or Peruvian in person.) Very, very occasionally I will see a teddy. Pet stores here sell skinnies for a lot more than other breeds (a skinny is about $100 dollars, a pig with fur, no matter what the coat type, is about $35.) So I think pet stores want plenty of skinnies because they are essentially the most expensive mammal that most pet stores will carry.
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Indeed, I've been curious about it too. In Bulgaria, most piggy owners in the country form a fairly close community, which developed in response to the fact that vets and the general public aren't all that knowledgeable about piggies and we're kind of sticking together. Anyway, not one of us has ever seen in real life a number of very popular piggy breeds and colours. For instance, there are no grey, black, tan, beige, lilac pigs around here, and there are also no skinnys, no rexes, teddies, or ridgebacks.

In contrast, we have quite a few lunkaryas, himalayans, shelties, peruvians, abbys, etc.

I've dreamed of having a grey teddy since a little girl :drool::
teddy1.jpg


I know it's the pig's personality that matters more than looks, but oh my, they are so, so unbelievably cute!
 
That has made me chuckle :)

We don't have skinny pigs in pet shops here. You mainly have to go to a breeder to get one although rescues will sometimes have them in but most rescues quite rightly won't let them go to inexperienced owners
 
Freela said:
I was at the pet store last night buying guinea pig pellets and overheard the following conversation between a shopper and a pet store employee:
Shopper: "So what kind of animal is that?"
Employee: "It's a hairless guinea pig. They're called skinny pigs."
Shopper: "So, it's just a regular pig, then?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of a guinea pig, not an actual pig."
Shopper: "So it's like a potbellied pig?"
Employee: "No, it's a kind of guinea pig that has no hair. It's a guinea pig."
Shopper: "So will it grow the size of a normal pig?"
Employee: "No, it will grow the same size a normal guinea pig. It's not a pig, it's a type of guinea pig without hair."
Shopper: Pause. "So it's a pig, then?"

LOL! Never realized that name was so misleading before! She just wasn't going to figure it out! I can understand not knowing much about guinea pigs, but it always baffles me when people don't even have a clue what they are!
Click to expand...

If I was the employee I would have given up and said “It’s a type of Cavy”
 
I said something about 'the piggies' in work the other day, and someone asked if I've got pigs now as well as the guinea pigs.....hmmmm
 
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