Thinking about getting guinea pig for kids

J

Jonno

New Born Pup
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
4
Reaction score
11
Points
55
Location
Sheffield
Hi, we’re toying with getting some guinea pigs or dwarf rabbits for our 3 kids. I’ve only ever had dogs, cats or hamsters but read that Guineas pigs might be more suitable than rabbits for young kids. My better half is set on rabbits though.

if I create a shed space (with natural light) about 4ft x 5ft, with maybe 2 or 3 shelves so they can’t fall of 4ft x 2ft, would that be enough for 3 guinea pigs? Could I split the space and have a couple dwarf rabbits too? So not same cage but next door? I would put entrance to external run too but can be closed at night or winter. Maybe tile floor with underfloor heating or get a green house tubular heater as well.
Is it a non starter having dwarf rabbits and guinea pigs in proximity, even if not same cage?

Thanks as no experience of either, I’ll just be building the shed!
 
Sorry, one more question. We know we have nocturnal visitors like foxes and badgers. If the guinea pigs/dwarf rabbits were in the shed and fox/badger outside would it unduly stress them out? I would close the entrance to the run at night and shed would be solid on concrete base.
 
Hi, good questions! I think it's great that you're doing your research first! There's lots of great guides that you can read (green links on the homepage) that will give you some good information. Can I suggest that you take into consideration your children's ages? Perhaps you already have, but unfortunately there's a lot of misinformation out there about guinea pigs being good starter pets. They're not good starter pets. They have a very specific diet and need near constant cage/living space clean up. You need to have access to an exotic vet which can be hard to come by depending on what country you live in and naturally is often more pricey than a regular vet. They sometimes nibble on your fingers and although very docile animals they may unintentionally scare young children when they do this. There's many other things to consider. You'll have to give the guides a read. Don't get me wrong they are wonderful pets. (My family has 5 so far!) They have brought so much joy into our lives. BUT I do wish I had done more research about just how expensive things would be. Maybe we've just been unlucky, but we've had so many vet visits despite taking excellent care of our babies. I don't mean to sound negative and sorry if this is not the advice you are looking for, but the long and short of it is to please think carefully about whether or not your children are old enough, mature enough, etc. to care for these delicate creatures.
 
Hi , I will look at the guides. My kids vary in age from 6 to 16! The hamster we had nibbled but kids didn’t seem to mind but it only came active after their bed time.
I’m not thinking they’ll be clearing up. They might do occasionally but it will be us grown ups most of the time. If I’m honest I would personally prefer a dog as always had them growing up but my better half not too keen. She is a rabbit person. I’ll make sure we read those guides.
 
I'm a parent too, my first thought would be to make sure that these are pets that you and your spouse want as well! Parents are the ones who end up paying all the bills and doing all the work, so make sure you're on board as well!

As others have suggested, reading the guide is a good place to start. I've got no idea about keeping guinea pigs outdoors, as I'm in Canada and it's far too cold for us to try that here! Ours are in the family room and we really enjoy having them there... they're very accustomed to people, they perk up when the kids go past because they are always hopeful for treats, and they're just generally really great pets. I love having them... they're large enough to plunk on your lap, after an initial fearful warm-up phase, all of ours have been very friendly, they have a decent lifespan for rodents (we have hamsters as well and the 2-year lifespan is really getting to us all!), and they don't have to be walked or entertained like a dog.

One thing I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned is that if you are looking at 3, makes sure they are females. Three males are likely not to get along, males are best kept in pairs.

Another thing to consider if you are thinking of rabbits as well is that rabbits can carry bordatella, which is a bacteria that can be very serious in guinea pigs. They are also a lot stonger and can injure a guinea pig if they were ever to be in the run at the same time. There are people who keep rabbits and guinea pigs both, and hopefully one of them can come along and let you know how much distance you would need to safely keep both so that you can be sure your space is a good fit for both species.

Hope this helps!
 
Well done for doing your research first. As mentioned above, please make sure that you and your partner want the guinea pigs as well. Children can lose interest quickly and I wouldn’t recommend getting them for them.

The other thing you have to consider is cost. They can be expensive - they’re considered exotic pets so vet fees can vary and be a little steep depending on what’s being treated. We always advise people to start up a vet fund that you top up monthly.

Living outside is fine, as long as it’s warm enough during the nights. I would also say they would need a hutch inside the shed, rather than just building the shed as their living space. I’m not sure whether underfloor heating would be suitable if they’re to have access to the floor. Access to warmth should be an ‘option’. In other words if they want, they can move away from the heat source.

Lastly, guinea pigs shouldn’t share air space or anything else with rabbits. As mentioned above, communicable diseases etc.

And you have to bear in mind that not all guinea pigs will want to be held. Some members on here have piggies that hate being handled. Of course you have to do it for nail clipping and weekly weighing but if they don’t like it then they don’t. So I’d say they’re not really cuddly pets. And if you do decide to go with piggies, I’d suggest you adopt from a reputable rescue. If you decide to go with a breeder or pet shop then you need a backup plan in case they come to you pregnant, missexed or ill.
 
I would add that I think piggies are friendlier than bunnies. I’ve had both and would not have bunnies again. Piggies are so much fun. I bring my two boys into the house every evening (in the bathroom) for play time. They love to run through tunnels and hide in boxes. Your children could sit with them. Mine don’t really like to be cuddled but they will sit next to me for tickles and treats. 😃. The children may get bored with them if they are in the shed and not easily accessible.
 
I have two guinea pigs and three rabbits. Both species require a lot of time and work and neither are starter pets. the guinea pigs need to be kept warm but the rabbits require a huge amount of space. I’ve kept rabbits for 30 years and they are fantastic animals but not easy as they are made out to be. Dwarf rabbit life span is 8-12 years, guinea pigs 6-8 years so as parents you need to want it too. My children are 13 and 9. I have an 8 year old rabbit and a pair of youngsters who are coming up to 1 year old. The piggies are 3 years old. My youngest child is great with the rabbits but can’t bond with the piggies as they don’t like being handled (which is very normal for all prey animals - rabbits and piggies alike) and finds sitting and watching them boring (for me it’s watching them going about their piggy business together which is the charm of having them). My eldest child wanted the eldest rabbit but since becoming an older child and now a teenager, has lost interest in all our pets. Hence why they were always my pets and I never got any of them for the children.

Rabbits and guinea pigs cannot share a space and would need to be kept entirely separate - ideally you do not want rabbits and piggies in the same air space.
My rabbits are never anywhere near my guinea pigs in living space or run space due to the transmission of illnesses risk from the rabbits to the piggies. Their runs are at totally opposite sides of the garden. Their equipment is never at risk of cross contamination as it is kept in separate places. I ensure the piggies are always dealt with first, hands are washed between dealing with each species and I don’t wear the same clothes to clean out the rabbits and piggies unless I have definitely done the piggies first.

Space wise, if the shed was considerably bigger you can probably make having rabbits one side and piggies the other work but with it being a 5x4ft shed I don’t think it is going to be anywhere near enough to split

Rabbits require a huge amount of space - a lot more than guinea pigs do and being dwarf rabbits doesn’t make their space requirements less. Rabbits need 60 square feet of space as a minimum - that can be split between a shed and a run but the internal shed space itself needs to be big enough for two rabbits to be locked into at night. If you were to have a 5ft x 4ft shed space but it was split in half with piggies on one side and rabbits on the other, it’s unlikely the rabbits would have enough space inside the shed - the rabbits would need the entire shed space to themselves with a large attached run as well.

For guinea pigs, as siikibam has said It can be best to have a hutch inside a shed to protect them even further from predators and cold weather. For three female piggies you need 12 square feet of living space (a hutch of 6ft x 2ft) So this is also where splitting the shed in half may not work. However, if the shed is properly insulated and heated, then they don’t need a hutch and can have run of the shed.

There is also the other requirements of rabbits which differ to piggies - rabbits need annual vaccinations which fortunately can be done as one triple vacc now rather than the double and single vacc it used to be, and all rabbits must to be spayed and neutered around 4-6 months of age to prevent cancer and behavioural issues.
Spaying/neutering isnt routinely done on guinea pigs for the same reasons - it’s done purely to prevent pregnancy if keeping a mixed sex pair or when the medical need arises in female guinea pigs due to ovarian cysts.
 
Last edited:
weepweeps said:
I would add that I think piggies are friendlier than bunnies. I’ve had both and would not have bunnies again. Piggies are so much fun. I bring my two boys into the house every evening (in the bathroom) for play time. They love to run through tunnels and hide in boxes. Your children could sit with them. Mine don’t really like to be cuddled but they will sit next to me for tickles and treats. 😃. The children may get bored with them if they are in the shed and not easily accessible.
Click to expand...

I love hearing other people’s perspectives!
I'm totally opposite here. I’ve kept rabbits for 30 years and other than one who was a bit psycho (she used to hide under the hutch and dash out to attack when I entered their enclosure!) many years ago, they have all been so much friendlier in terms of handling and playing than the piggies are. All my rabbits have loved cuddle time, my current old boy thinks he’s a dog and behaves exactly like it! My current two young girls are a bit more stand off-ish but they are friendly. They are netherland dwarfs girlies who are known for being very slightly more bad tempered than the English and English cross breed I have had most often.
Whereas my piggies do not like being touched and handled - a quick chin scratch is tolerated by one of them on his own terms!
 
Jonno said:
She is a rabbit person
Click to expand...

If your wife is already a rabbit person, stick with rabbits. Never buy pets for children.

Choose the pets that you and your wife prefer. The kids will learn by seeing your interest and care of the animals. Set a good example with passion and care and your children will follow where you lead.
 
I agree with what everyone else has said, but just wanted to offer you a link to another thread that you may find useful:
Hamsters VS Guinea Pigs: cost, workload, etc
A forum member who owned a hamster was considering adopting guinea pigs and several other members (myself included) weighed in on how much our guinea pigs cost us - it’s a lot more than you think due to high vet bills! I think it’ll be a good read to put into perspective how much you need to fork out for them. And because of this, you absolutely cannot get guinea pigs for children, or any pet for that matter. You will be the pet owner, not your children, and you will have to care and love the pet fully if you’re going to be happy emptying your pockets for them.
One of the most common reasons guinea pigs are surrendered to rescues is that the kids got bored of them, or outgrew them. And that WILL happen. Guinea pigs are pets you observe, not hold. Sometimes you can drop on a cuddly piggy, but these are few and far between and so you have to have the mindset with every piggy you get that they won’t like to be handled. I’ve now owned 7 piggies and only 1 has been extremely cuddly, with another 1 enjoying a cuddle once in a blue moon. Not to mention that forcing cuddles on a piggy who doesn’t enjoy it to ‘get them used to it’ can trigger a stress-related illness.
Try and think about the situation as though your kids aren’t there, if you nor your partner are interested in owning guinea pigs then don't get them! If you’d both like to own rabbits yourself, then consider it as a potential option. I’ve never owned rabbits, so can only speak from piggies. My opinion is that getting a cat or dog would be more cost effective and also do a lot more in the way of teaching children empathy and responsibility - or whatever reason it is that people get pets for children. A dog or cat is physically part of the family whereas guinea pigs aren’t as much. They’re also cheaper, in my experience. The children will also get a lot more enjoyment from a cat or a dog. They will lose interest once the novelty has worn off to some degree, but this way the pet is actually a constant family member inside the house rather than in a shed which the kids haven’t set foot in for three months. I wish we good completely erase the idea that small pet = children’s starter pet. The difference is that these small pets are prey animals and so freeze when afraid which promotes the idea that they’re good for kids when they aren’t. Small pets have a much more complex behavioural system, one which even adults can sometimes struggle to understand and ones which children definitely can’t understand. With a dog or cat, it’s much easier to understand their behaviour, not to mention it’s more common knowledge to people. With guinea pigs, and other prey animals, it can be difficult to read their very small and subtle signs of fear or discomfort, which can lead to accidents such as a deep bite from terror at the sound of a child’s high-pitched laugh.
 
Its great to see you here before you commit! I wanted to throw out life span. I did lots of research before I got mine (like you, I joined here first which is where I learned the importance of acquiring through a good rescue rather than breeder or shop) But I still missed how long they can live. I wanted a pet that lived a bit longer than a hamster but wasn’t too long a commitment and I thought they lived 3 maybe 4 years tops. Mine will turn 7 over the summer.
If one of you has a particular interest in something and the other has no strong feelings then I’d go with the interest tbh.
 
Little Ones said:
With a dog or cat, it’s much easier to understand their behaviour, not to mention it’s more common knowledge to people.
Click to expand...


I agree with most of your post - but just wanted to caution on this part as i am also a cat and dog owner and lover.

Especially with the pandemic pup buying issue atm. (I know this is the guinea pig forum so will try to be brief!)

Kids aren't great at reading dog (or cat) body language and this is why most dog bites happen to children with the family dog.

And many adults are pretty awful at reading dog body language too. Dogs need to do dog things - sniffing, chasing, engaging their brains and having suitable outlets for their drives. They are not there to be cuddly things to provide emotional props for humans (though human well being can be improved by working in partnership with dogs, no doubt)

Cats generally prefer much older, gentler children.


This video is a must watch for anyone with kids and dogs


(Dont worry, it isnt too sad but it is powerful and makes you think about things from an animal perspective - it isnt guinea pigs but it will make you think about any pet and kids)




Rex pigs are the most child friendly breed of pig IMO. They are big pigs, generally laid back and very much lap pigs. They really do love a cuddle!


Here is a pic of my youngest daughter with one of our 2 rex (both passed on now) This was quite a few years ago!Screenshot_2019-12-17-16-28-37.webp

That was stan - he was never skittish. Very bold, confident and cuddly. Our other rex, my most beloved and all time favourite pig, Benson was a bit shyer but boldened up once stan died. Benson almost made his 7th birthday.

Belle, who we have just now, she isnt shy either - she is a teddy and i believe they are more human orientated (certainly been true of both my teddies - she also loves a cuddle)


It was my little dutch - mike - he stayed shy all his life and preferred pig company.

They are fascinating characters but you do have do be guided by the pig!
 
Totally agree, my brother aged 10 (so 20+ years ago) was bitten horrendously on his face by a friends dog we were caring for, literally ripped his whole cheek off and and he had plastic surgery several times. The dog, Patrick, was lovely but my brother just pushed him too far, despite all the growly warnings he got! He even came out of hospital and wound him up straight away again, he’s that kind of person 🙄
My nephew is also terrible with his dog, I’m surprised he’s not been bitten but she’s a softie and tolerates it as she’s great with kids (we do try!), however he’s had a fair few big scratches and bites from their cat! He’s been here with my oldie Daisy and sat pulling on her tail etc when he thinks I’m not looking but he’s 6 so think it goes straight over his head! :doh:

Sorry back to piggies! What a beautiful boy @tabelmabel! Jasper’s been my only rex, he was a total sweetie and loved a cuddle and fuss as soon as I rehomed him in sept! Although when he got with Cleo after his neutering I was slightly dumped and her cuddles are far better! :))
 
tabelmabel said:
I agree with most of your post - but just wanted to caution on this part as i am also a cat and dog owner and lover.

Especially with the pandemic pup buying issue atm. (I know this is the guinea pig forum so will try to be brief!)

Kids aren't great at reading dog (or cat) body language and this is why most dog bites happen to children with the family dog.

And many adults are pretty awful at reading dog body language too. Dogs need to do dog things - sniffing, chasing, engaging their brains and having suitable outlets for their drives. They are not there to be cuddly things to provide emotional props for humans (though human well being can be improved by working in partnership with dogs, no doubt)

Cats generally prefer much older, gentler children.


This video is a must watch for anyone with kids and dogs


(Dont worry, it isnt too sad but it is powerful and makes you think about things from an animal perspective - it isnt guinea pigs but it will make you think about any pet and kids)




Rex pigs are the most child friendly breed of pig IMO. They are big pigs, generally laid back and very much lap pigs. They really do love a cuddle!


Here is a pic of my youngest daughter with one of our 2 rex (both passed on now) This was quite a few years ago!View attachment 175188

That was stan - he was never skittish. Very bold, confident and cuddly. Our other rex, my most beloved and all time favourite pig, Benson was a bit shyer but boldened up once stan died. Benson almost made his 7th birthday.

Belle, who we have just now, she isnt shy either - she is a teddy and i believe they are more human orientated (certainly been true of both my teddies - she also loves a cuddle)


It was my little dutch - mike - he stayed shy all his life and preferred pig company.

They are fascinating characters but you do have do be guided by the pig!
Click to expand...
I definitely understand what you mean. No matter what pet you have with children, there will be a risk as children are irresponsible and lack a lot of understanding. Whatever the pet, the adult must supervise, teach and guide their children into being sensible and empathetic. I got my cat when I was 9, an age which many children have a dog/cat as a family pet. There were many aspects I didn’t understand, however my mum did and instructed me how to behave and what things upset the cat (eg, always picking him up, etc). I guess my point was that it’s up to the adults to monitor the pets behaviour as well as their child’s along with teaching the children accordingly. I do believe that information on cat and dog behaviour is a lot more accessible and well known compared to that of a guinea pig or a rabbit, though. For example, what the tail of each animal represents and how to behave when you notice these signs. OP has mentioned they’re an experienced cat and dog owner, not a newbie. I understand that body language is hard to read if you have no experience, but OP does and so likely is able to read the body language of these animals. Not to mention their body language and behaviour is a lot more obvious compared to a guinea pig who doesn’t express emotions via their tail for example. As a child, I quickly learned how to read our cat. At the same age, I also had been bought guinea pigs as a Christmas present by my mum. She bought the guinea pigs for me and not herself, and I was extremely irresponsible and I didn’t understand them in the slightest. They would nibble at me - just a nibble, and I would believe they were biting me. Along with other things, of course. After not long, they were rehomed. I learned a lot more about animal behaviour and how to respect animals through having a constant family pet that the adult understood than having a ‘starter pet’ that was mine that the adult didn’t understand either.
The bottom line is that when children are involved, it’s the responsibility of the adult to teach responsibility, how to be kind and respectful, and how to notice behavioural cues. I do feel like this is something best taught with a pet that is involved in family life, that is wanted and understood by the adults teaching the children. I think if any of us forum members who already own, understand and love guinea pigs had children as well then it’d be a different ball game. But it seems like OP has no guinea pig experience and wants guinea pigs purely as a starter pet for their child, which I think is completely different to you or I owning guinea pigs alongside teaching a child how to respect them. If that makes sense?

It’s funny you mention the Rex thing actually, my cuddly guinea pig I mentioned above was also a Rex. I know I've read before (outside of the forum) that each breed have different temperaments etc, but I always thought that was more of a myth than anything else. I’ve had 3 piggies of the same breed, and they’ve all had different temperaments and handling preferences. But like I said, my rex was my cuddle buddy from day one of owning him. Our first photo together was actually him fast asleep on me, and that’s how he stayed the rest of his life. We had cuddles almost every single day for 6 years, I miss that guinea pig with every part of me. Just you saying that makes me want to own another Rex ASAP on the chance I may experience another bond like that!
 
Well i got piggies for my kids and they soon became mine! I was ultimately responsible for all their needs and i love them! Good to do plenty of research before you make a decision and don't forget the vet fund!
 
The bottom line is that when children are involved, it’s the responsibility of the adult to teach responsibility, how to be kind and respectful, and how to notice behavioural cues. I do feel like this is something best taught with a pet that is involved in family life, that is wanted and understood by the adults teaching the children.
[/QUOTE]
I think this is a really important point. It is up to adults to monitor pets (ANY pets) with kids. However, I think it's possible for adults to go in as newbies and still achieve this... the adult is just going to have to be willing to invest time figuring out the animal as well. I actually found supervising kids easier with guinea pigs than with a dog or a cat, simply because I had all the control about when the kids had contact with the animal. We got our first pair of pigs when our kids were 7, 5, and 2 years old... we had the pigs in our family room and we had REALLY strict rules about them. No one opened the cage but me. No one picked them up out of the cage but me. Kids got to hold pigs with supervision, in a blanket on the couch. They had to sit still and be calm. We never had a bite, never had an incident where a pig got hurt, and the kids learned to read them pretty well pretty quickly. It definitely helped that I was all in on having guinea pigs- I've had a lifetime of small animals, I won't bring in a pet that I'm not willing to take care of. I guess I just disagree that dogs and cats are inherently an easier read, and the fact that that they roam free through the house can make it harder for parents to supervise interactions. I was bitten twice by my childhood dog... my kids were never bitten by any of our pigs.
 
Freela said:
I think this is a really important point. It is up to adults to monitor pets (ANY pets) with kids. However, I think it's possible for adults to go in as newbies and still achieve this... the adult is just going to have to be willing to invest time figuring out the animal as well. I actually found supervising kids easier with guinea pigs than with a dog or a cat, simply because I had all the control about when the kids had contact with the animal. We got our first pair of pigs when our kids were 7, 5, and 2 years old... we had the pigs in our family room and we had REALLY strict rules about them. No one opened the cage but me. No one picked them up out of the cage but me. Kids got to hold pigs with supervision, in a blanket on the couch. They had to sit still and be calm. We never had a bite, never had an incident where a pig got hurt, and the kids learned to read them pretty well pretty quickly. It definitely helped that I was all in on having guinea pigs- I've had a lifetime of small animals, I won't bring in a pet that I'm not willing to take care of. I guess I just disagree that dogs and cats are inherently an easier read, and the fact that that they roam free through the house can make it harder for parents to supervise interactions. I was bitten twice by my childhood dog... my kids were never bitten by any of our pigs.
Click to expand...
That’s all very true, I don’t disagree with it. Everything I’m saying is based on the context that they want the pets primarily for the children rather than themselves.
 
i have a cat ,she is with me where ever i go.i would say she is easier to look after,than the guinea pigs.you still need to be aware of cats needs and behaviour.i love guinea pigs,for all there fun,some like being held,some do not.each pet is an individual,all have different personalities.
 
Little Ones said:
That’s all very true, I don’t disagree with it. Everything I’m saying is based on the context that they want the pets primarily for the children rather than themselves.
Click to expand...
I totally hear you. I think pets really have to be family pets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top