Is the novelty is wearing off

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claire8234

claire8234

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone

I have two boars who are coming up for a year old and we have had them since they were seven weeks. They were living in a hutch outside over summer and are now in a c&c cage in my daughters room.

My daughter is five and was desperate to have guinea pigs. Now I am not stupid and knew that any pet belonging to the kids would be looked after by me. Not a problem I love the piggies.

However over the last few months my daughter seems to have lost a lot interest in them :( She used to rush outside before and after school to help feed them and sit with them on her lap and now its good old mum that does it all!

I get the guinea pigs out most evenings and they sit on the sofa on a blanket but they are not really cuddly lap piggies so they will sit on her lap for all of ten seconds before zooming off to sit on their own and then she gets fed up! I have set up a large indoor run in the lounge so the guinea pigs can run about and the kids can sit in with them but again they will come up every now and again to give you a quick sniff before running off, again she then gets fed up of sitting still for ages waiting to see if the piggies will come to say hello. We also have a two year old so have to be careful about letting the piggies run about on the floor as he can be a bit over excited and scare them.

I am not after a lecture about children and pets or a "what did you expect" type of reply. Obviously I cant wave a magic wand and make the guinea pigs ultra cuddly and my daughter is still fairly young but OH is now starting to moan that we may as well get rid of the piggies as she doesnt have any interest in them (not going to happen!)

I imagine as she gets older she will be able to sit more patiently with them but for now is it better to adopt a little and often approach to interacting with them, and they can then have their out of cage running about time when the kids are in bed? I had thought of making up a little jobsheet and she can get a sticker for every guinea pig job she does. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has experienced this.

Thanks for reading

Claire

x
 
I think that 5 is a difficult age... she's going to get bored with them, but it's also the prime time to teach her responsibility etc.

I think a job sheet and reward system would work really well, even if it's just feeding them in the morning and/or evening. She might be able re-kindle her love for them by hand feeding them some veggies?
 
My on-line shop is closed at the moment, but I make and sell cavy cozies in aid of animal rescues in the UK: www.cavycozies.com

A cavy cozy is a padded fleece pocket that makes it much easier for children to handle guinea pigs. Put simply, they cannot zoom off as they are snug and secure in the cozy and are much easier to handle. My eight year-old nephew has used my cozies for two years and now he is able to go and get the piggies from the cage himself. This makes it less stressful for us and for him and gives him a degree of independence. He always asks, but the fact that he can choose which piggy he wants himself now makes it more interesting for him. He also feeds them parsley which the piggies really love :))
 
My Rabbit and first Piggy were bought for my 2 older children 4 & 5. Its me that does all the feeding, cleaning and lets them out for exercise/floor time.
The kids take notice as and when they feal but they do help out if asked and do ask to hold and (sometimes) feed them.
I get my oldest (girl) to help out when its cleaning out time (not so much if its cold/rainy) but she will help if asked :).
They have had animals around since birth (a fair few tbh :))) so they understand that they need care & love :).
Maybe ask her to be more involved in there care and explain why the need feeding cleaning loveing etc (i know it sounds self explanatory but children like the basic run down and it gives them a talking point).
:)

Plus my second piggy was mine all mine, but my youngest (who was 15 month at the time and peppa pig mad!) called her Peppa (i called her star) so she has in a way become his, he will go to the hutches and shout peppa, and when they are in for floor time he shouts her too. He loves to put veg in the indoor run for them :). (He's 2 next month)
 
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We first got piggies when I was eleven and I have always been the main carer. My mum loves cuddling them but always takes the 'you-want-them-you- care-for-them' approach. Since the age of six my youngest brother has help cleaning out the piggies and helping pick fresh veg. The reward was being allowed to have a piggy on his lap and groom with a babybrush once a week.

He's now proved he's so responsible my dad (who claims to hate animals) has agreed to two more piggies, one of which will belong to the aforementioned brother.

A reward chart would be a good idea and almost certainly encourage her interest in the piggies once more. You just don't want to make it a chore which she resents.

Amy
x
 
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A cosy cavy is a great idea. thanks.

She does love them and finds their popcorning hilarious! however its not easy for her when the piggies don't want to sit on her lap and want to hide so that could keep them both happy!
 
I agree, the sticker chart sounds like a really good idea. :)
Your daughter is luck in that even if she bores of them, they will still be there when her interest resparks because you love them too! :)

Depending on your daughters personality other ideas are...
Piggy shopping lists. Where she can be in charge of the list for the piggies (veg etc) and your in charge of the list for you guys, this way she will not only be learning about what the piggies need but also bonding with mum. I used to love being given my own little list when shopping. (as a child, ofc)

Piggy diary. My sister is an avid writter and anything she gets to write a "diary" about she loves. She was like this from the moment she could draw! But again, depends if she likes that kind of thing. She could record their day, *ie if she saw them munching carrot, draw ..... munching carrot*

My brother, is ofcourse completly different and he was always the big softie. *the piggies will miss you if they dont get to see you, I'm sure you miss them too* kinda thing.

Your daughter if ofcourse not like any of us, but if none of those sounds reasonable, then perhaps pick something she does enjoy, and try linking it with the piggies.

HTH
 
Here are some pics of my nephew holding my piggy Danny this Christmas:

IMGP1246.jpg


Danny munching on some parsley:

IMGP1247.jpg


I honestly don't know what I would have done without these cozies for my nephew to handle the piggies in. I would have worried sick about it and the constant supervision would have made it no fun for him.
 
Thanks everyone :)

Some really great ideas. She was about to rush straight downstairs this morning until I said is there someone you've forgotten to say good morning too! She cleaned them out, changed their water and sat feeding them some carrot :)

I love the idea about giving her a guinea pig shopping list, I usually just chuck extra bits in the trolley at the supermarket so I am sure she will enjoy deciding what the piggies have to eat and ticking everything off the list. I put a list of safe foods on the fridge this morning so she can decide what to feed them that day.

I will definitely look at getting a cosy they look great as like most piggies they do like snuggling up inside something and my youngest (2) can hold them more securely. I know she loves them but at that age they need a bit more encouragement to keep them interested and you have all given some really great ideas.

We have had cats since before the children were born (sadly Floss died last year) and it was easier for her to engage with the cat as she was just a great big softie who would happily sit and be stroked, brushed and cuddled so I think she expected the guineas to be the same :))

Thanks
 
threelittlepigs said:
My on-line shop is closed at the moment, but I make and sell cavy cozies in aid of animal rescues in the UK: www.cavycozies.com

A cavy cozy is a padded fleece pocket that makes it much easier for children to handle guinea pigs. Put simply, they cannot zoom off as they are snug and secure in the cozy and are much easier to handle. My eight year-old nephew has used my cozies for two years and now he is able to go and get the piggies from the cage himself. This makes it less stressful for us and for him and gives him a degree of independence. He always asks, but the fact that he can choose which piggy he wants himself now makes it more interesting for him. He also feeds them parsley which the piggies really love :))
Click to expand...

PLEASE, Please tell us when your shop is back on line :-)

Ive just had a look at your excellent website and have FINALLY FOUND what I refer to as a guinea pig chair (lols) and I'm desperate to buy it. I brought one about 12 months ago from a garden centre and have never found one like it since, until now.

It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. xx
 
claire8234 said:
Thanks everyone :)

Some really great ideas. She was about to rush straight downstairs this morning until I said is there someone you've forgotten to say good morning too! She cleaned them out, changed their water and sat feeding them some carrot :)

I love the idea about giving her a guinea pig shopping list, I usually just chuck extra bits in the trolley at the supermarket so I am sure she will enjoy deciding what the piggies have to eat and ticking everything off the list. I put a list of safe foods on the fridge this morning so she can decide what to feed them that day.

I will definitely look at getting a cosy they look great as like most piggies they do like snuggling up inside something and my youngest (2) can hold them more securely. I know she loves them but at that age they need a bit more encouragement to keep them interested and you have all given some really great ideas.

Thanks
Click to expand...

So glad that we have all been able to make a difference to your piggies lives and your enjoyment of your pets. All too often piggies in the same situation end up in rescues so it's nice to be able to make constructive suggestions before it gets to that stage.
 
Dawny said:
PLEASE, Please tell us when your shop is back on line :-)

Ive just had a look at your excellent website and have FINALLY FOUND what I refer to as a guinea pig chair (lols) and I'm desperate to buy it. I brought one about 12 months ago from a garden centre and have never found one like it since, until now.

It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. xx
Click to expand...

Hello Dawny!

Thanks for your kind words about my website. I am busy updating with my new products and fleece patterns but will definitely make an announcement on the forum when I re-open. I think you might already have liked my Facebook page which I post on regularly, but for anyone who hasn't who would like to the address is www.facebook.com/cavycozies
 
Great suggestions from everyone :)

Just had to say DANNY! drooldrool more pigtures please?! "):))
 
Guinea pigs <3 said:
Great suggestions from everyone :)

Just had to say DANNY! drooldrool more pigtures please?! "):))
Click to expand...

:(|) He's such a star, isn't he? He's my nephew's favourite. :))

I am planning to make him the cavy cozies mascot and feature his story in a youtube video.
 
threelittlepigs said:
:(|) He's such a star, isn't he? He's my nephew's favourite. :))

I am planning to make him the cavy cozies mascot and feature his story in a youtube video.
Click to expand...

Aww, that's such a lovely idea! Let us know when you've done it! Does he still chatter away to himself?! :))x)
 
threelittlepigs said:
So glad that we have all been able to make a difference to your piggies lives and your enjoyment of your pets. All too often piggies in the same situation end up in rescues so it's nice to be able to make constructive suggestions before it gets to that stage.
Click to expand...

Thank you

I would NEVER get rid of a family pet just because the kids get bored, although unfortunately a lot of animals end up in rescue for that very reason. I want my children to understand that you care for and love a pet for its entire life and you have to be responsible for it. If you get rid of a pet because its lost its appeal you just teach children that animals are disposable. All the suggestions have just meant that my little girl will be able to enjoy them even more which will be great.

I adore them, their cute little faces, their ear splitting wheeking and yes I even love them when its bum cleaning and hair cut day! :)) So they aren't going anywhere :)
 
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