Guinea pigs are lovely pets, and you have to know how to tame a guinea pig.
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), also called the cavy or domestic cavy is a rodent species belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae.
In western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed great recognition as a puppy seeing its advent to Europe and North America by way of European traders within the 16th century.
Their docile nature, friendly responsiveness to dealing with and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them have made guinea pigs a continuing famous household pet’s desire.
This article will show you how to tame your pet, and maybe they will come in handy for you; therefore, keep reading further.
Table of Contents
How To Tame Your Guinea Pig?
Guinea pigs, or cavies, are beloved pets in maximum parts of the world.
They’re pleasant, easy to handle, and energetic.
When you first convey a guinea pig home, you should be an affected person as it receives use to you and its new surroundings.
As soon as it is tame, you and your pet can have an excellent time snuggling and playing.
So, here are some of the simple ways on how to tame your guinea pig.
1. Take Care of Your Guinea Pig
Ensure your guinea pig has its very own space.
Your guinea pig should have a suitable cage or hutch (to be had from puppy shops) to spend his/her own time in.
It can stay indoor or outdoor, so long as it’s miles at ease and safe.
But, if you stay in an area with cold seasons, the pig must be brought to warm places.
Guinea pigs are social animals and love companionship; however, this works best whilst the guinea pigs have grown up together so they could, in reality, recognize you.
If you have more than one, hold them in same-sex groups to avoid breeding, and make sure there is a hiding place for each, a good way to have solitude once they pick out.
In any other case, they will try to combat each difference from asserting dominance (male-male) or reproduction (male-female).
Good Features To Look For In A Guinea Pig Cage
Your guinea pig cage should have a minimum of 8 square feet of floor area.
Timber production with stable flooring (no twine bottoms or every other string-like hair seeing as this will be very hurtful and purpose a problem with the pads of their sensitive toes and cause something very nasty to refer to as bumblefoot.)
Separate walking and napping regions in case they do not need to huddle.
It should be protected from the weather if it is placed outdoors.
Bedding should be straw or hay is quality, and fluffy substances should be prevented for safety reasons, as guinea pigs may also devour their bedding.
Stainless steel cups that clip to the cage or hutch (for food and water).
A door that could be opened so that the guinea pig can input the run location without being picked up (optional).
Provide quiet surroundings for your guinea pig.
Guinea pigs have a touchy hearing, so they’ll be most comfy in an area that is free from predominant sources of noise (along with site visitors, loud televisions, and rambunctious play).
Maintaining things, in particular, quiet for the first few days that your guinea pig is at home might help it adjust.
You can also cover your guinea pig’s cage or hutch with a mild material for some days, which may help it sense greater comfort and peace.
2. Give Your Guinea Pig Space
On a primary day, you carry your guinea pig home, don’t bother it by looking to play or cuddle; silently test on it now, after which to make certain that it’s miles ok.
Guinea pigs should build belief in you, as they may be prey animals in nature.
Giving yours some time alone before everything will assist it to get used to its new home.
If you have young kids, make sure they consider that the guinea pig needs a few by me time initially.
3. Feed Your Guinea Pig At The Same Time Every Day
Having a regular supply of food will preserve your guinea pig healthy and satisfied.
In case you feed it regularly (attempt doing so twice an afternoon), it’ll companion your sounds with meals and comfort.
You need to ask your vet or pet supply shop for food tips.
Still, typically, your guinea pig needs to devour hay, guinea pig mix, and vegetables and fruits (for vitamin C): melons, oranges, spinach, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and lettuce.
4. Be Sure That Your Guinea Pig Is Eating
Before everything, guinea pigs are not going to eat in front of you.
To ensure that yours is ingesting and healthful, test its meals and water dishes in the morning.
In case your guinea pig has eaten, you will see that those substances have been depleted.
Some guinea pigs might not devour or drink a whole lot or at all at some point of the primary day or two in a new house.
If it’s been several days and you are certain that yours is not consuming, however, contact your veterinarian.
The guinea pig’s natural food plan is grass; their molars are mainly desirable for grinding plants to remember and grow continuously throughout their life.
Guinea pigs benefit from a diet plan of clean grass hay and timothy hay, similarly to food pellets, which are frequently based on timothy hay.
Alfalfa hay is also a famous food, and maximum guinea pigs will devour big amounts of alfalfa while offering it.
However, a few controversies exist over oversupplying alfalfa to person guinea pigs.
Healthy foods for guinea pigs require a complex balance of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and hydrogen ions.
However, good enough amounts of vitamins A, D, and E are also important.
Poor diets for guinea pigs have been associated with muscular dystrophy, metastatic calcification, problems in pregnancy, diet deficiencies, and tooth problems.
5. Guinea Pigs Can Be Fickle
Eaters about sparkling fruits and veggies after learning early in life are no longer appropriate to consume, and their ingesting conduct may be hard to exchange after maturity.
They do not respond well to unexpected adjustments to their diet, and they may stop consuming and starve as opposed to receiving new food sorts.
A steady supply of hay is usually encouraging, as guinea pigs feed constantly and might broaden bad habits if food isn’t always present, along with chewing on their hair.
Due to the fact, their enamel develops continuously (as do their nails, like people), they automatically gnaw on things, lest their teeth become too huge for their jaw (not unusual trouble in rodents).
6. A Guinea Pig May Eat Toxic Materials
Guinea pigs bite on cloth, paper, plastic, and rubber if they’re available.
Several plants are poisonous to guinea pigs such as bracken, bryony, buttercup, charlock, lethal nightshade, foxglove, hellebore, hemlock, lily of the valley, mayweed, monkshood, privet, ragwort, rhubarb, speedwell, toadflax (each linaria Vulgaris and linaria dalmatica), and wild celery.
Moreover, any plant that grows from a bulb (e.g., tulip or onion) is typically considered poisonous, and ivy and all oak ree leave.
7. Let Your Guinea Pig Get to Know You
Talk in your guinea pig, whilst you stop in to check to your guinea pig, speak to it softly and lightly, whilst still retaining your distance at the beginning.
This will assist in getting your guinea pig slowly used to the sound of your voice and presence.
Allow your guinea pig to sniff your hand; after a few visits, you can attempt sticking your hand to your guinea pig’s cage.
If your guinea pig is feeling adventurous, it would come and sniff your hand.
Don’t try and select your guinea pig up simply yet, but alternatively, hold your hand nevertheless.
Be patient if your guinea pig won’t sniff your hand; it could make an effort to build belief.
Try selecting your guinea pig up, as soon as it appears greater used in your presence, trap it right into a corner of its cage.
Setting one hand under its stomach and your different hand under its rear ceases, lightly pick it up; alternatively, wrap one hand around its shoulders and place your other hand below its rear end.
Keep it against the chest and speak softly to it.
In case your guinea pig seems calm, you can sit down with it in a chair and pet it; if it isn’t calm, position it returned in its cage and attempt once more later.
You could also try wrapping your guinea pig in a towel as you pick out it up, keep it to your chest region, as this seems to make a few experiences safer.
Attempt selecting your guinea pig up on a daily foundation for the first few weeks; even if yours appears a little worried or nervous, you will eventually become pals in case you are continuously calm and patient with it.
In case your guinea pig starts to evolve to make a purring sound, this is a good signal and means they may be cozy.
Guinea pigs are typically mild but can chew or scratch if they are worried.
8. Have Fun With Your Guinea Pig
Offer your guinea pig plenty of treats.
Especially during the first few weeks, whilst you are attempting to get your guinea pig uses to you, treats can praise it and assist it in experiencing cozy.
On every occasion, you attempt to get near your guinea pig or pick it up and offer it a deal.
However, don’t try to “trick” it into being picked up by using offering it a treat, as this could purpose it to mistrust you.
Excellent alternatives for snacks encompass leafy green veggies, bits of meals that might be rich in vitamin C, like broccoli and melon, and guinea pig pellets.
9. Provide Your Guinea Pig Indoor Playtime
Outdoor guinea pigs might also have large cages and greater areas to run around.
In case your guinea pig stays indoors and is nicely-tame, then you can periodically let it have a little free time, too.
Look for a room this is free from holes or openings (so your guinea pig won’t by chance getaway) and wherein your guinea pig will be secure from harm (there aren’t any cords or plastic that can be chewed, for instance).
So, as long as you supervise, your guinea pig will enjoy the danger of running across the room and get some exercising.
Indoor playpens with tubes, ladders, packing containers, and other devices to amuse guinea pigs are another alternative.
You can create one on your own; however, elements for them can also be found at puppy stores.
You can try to teach your guinea pig tricks, along with leaping on a field or jogging via a tube to get a treat out of your hand.
10. FindBonding Sports
As soon as your guinea pig is used to you and to being picked up, spend a while each day bonding with it.
Please keep it for your lap and pet it while watching your favorite television show, paying attention to the song, or speaking (guinea pigs are very, very, very vocal).
What Cute Tricks Can You Teach a Guinea Pig?
Do you know that guinea pigs can learn some adorable tricks?
Guinea pigs, also called cavies, are pretty clever!
With time, patience, and consistency, you can show your charming little furball a few tremendous lovable instructions.
Below a veterinarian discusses 5 amusing tricks you may teach your guinea pig.
Come When You Call
That is one of the simplest tricks to educate your guinea pig.
Earlier than you begin to train your furry friend, ensure he settle into his home and is cozy with you.
When you think your cavy is ready to begin gaining knowledge of, preserve a treat and get in touch with him using the name.
You can start this trick while he’s still in his cage, after which pass it out of doors the cage down the street.
Flip In Circles
To teach your guinea pig to show circles, maintain a deal without in front of him.
As soon as you’ve got your little friend’s interest, pass your hand in a circle.
Your furball will probably comply with the deal.
If he goes in a circle, tell him to ‘flip circles’ and then surrender the snack.
While you think your bushy pal has this down, begin giving him the vocal command before you keep out the snack.
Stand Up
Preserve a deal with above your tiny furball’s head, just excessive enough so that he has to arise to get that yummy snack.
When your pet stands on his back legs, tell him to ‘rise,’ after which deliver him his praise.
Be sure to try this no longer too often, and don’t maintain your cavy standing too long.
Jump Through Hoops
Start by protecting the ring on the floor with one hand.
With your other hand, hold out a delicious treat, positioning it so that your hairy little pal has to undergo the hoop to get his snack.
When your little pal movements through the ring, say ‘Jump’ and give him a yummy prize.
Go Home
To teach your cavy to return to his cage, toss some yummy snacks into his home.
Make sure he sees you do that, then tell your tiny furball to move home.
Maintain doing this until your puppy is going into his cage on command.
Things To Consider When Taming a Guinea Pig
Habitat Protection
Clean and disinfect the habitat and its contents at least once a week with a 3% bleach solution.
Rinse and permit to dry completely earlier than placing the guinea pig back into the habitat.
Put off wet spots daily, change bedding at least twice a week, or greater often as important.
Grooming And Hygiene
Guinea pigs stay clean and infrequently want baths but can be spot-wiped clean with a damp washcloth or unscented wipes if wanted.
It can be brushed with a soft-back brush.
Hairless guinea pigs benefit from a small amount of non-toxic aloe-primarily based lotion rubbed onto pores and skin to maintain it gentle.
Guinea pigs need their nails clip approximately as soon as a month, and it’s miles normal for a guinea pig’s teeth to be yellow; cleaning isn’t vital.
Talk over with a veterinarian if a guinea pig’s tooth or nails appear too lengthy.
Signs of a Healthy Guinea Pig
Lively, alert, sociable, eats and drinks regularly, healthy fur and clear eyes, breathing is unlabored, walks properly, and communicates by squeaking red flags.
Weight reduction, ordinary hair loss, diarrhea, distressed respiration, torpid, eye or nasal discharge, skin lesions, and overgrown enamel.
Final Thoughts
As we have concluded, we hope some tips on how to tame a guinea pig will help you with your pet in the future.
While a guinea pig can stay indoors and outdoors, keep in mind that they do not like excessive warmth or immoderate cold and vicious wintry weather conditions.
When you keep it indoors, take a look at your home for risks and additionally while outdoors.
This includes poisonous vegetation, insecticides, and herbicides, electric-powered cables, and predators.
Considering that they no longer live a completely long life, make sure to deliver those little creatures all the love they deserve.
